This paper analyzes the approach to human figure in photography. It displays and analyzes photography composition rules (framing, perspective, optical balance, centre of interest, lines, shades and colors), as well as the application of these rules in human figure photography. The paper also deals with basic types of portrait in photography (formal, informal, classic and ambient portraits). There are male and female portraits. Male portraits usually seek to stress imposing appearance, whereas female portraits try to emphasise skin softness and delicacy. Furthermore, the paper analyzes the role of make-up in photography. Camera settings (sensitivity, aperture, exposure time) and lighting (controlled or natural lighting) are also very important when it comes to portraits. After portraits classification, the paper elaborates on various fields of photography in which human figure is the central motif (sports photography, fashion photography, report photography, fine art photography). It also analyzes the use of human figure photography in graphic media from technical and creative point of view. The analysis is accompanied by human figure photography examples and explanations of minimal technical requirements for certain types of media, like newspapers, magazines, web-sites and social networks.