This may be a heretical statement, but I'm going to say it.  I'm not a fan of portrait photography.  Even with an outstanding photographer, they always look too staged for me, like people are trying to photograph an image of the life they wish they had rather than the life they actually live: a life marked by bumps, bruises, crumbs, and a little dirt.

I much prefer to shoot lifestyle portraits, where it is my job to photograph the subjects in a comfortable and natural setting.  Rather than spend time positioning everyone and making them hold a (fake) smile, I'd rather be a fly in the background, watching how people interact with one another or their environment and capturing that relationship without them really noticing.  This feels more authentic to me.

Today, try taking a portrait where it is your job to find and capture the uniqueness of your subject without them having to "hold that pose."