Teach Yourself Portrait Photography

If you ask someone to tell you the most stunning photograph they’ve ever seen, more often than not they will recall a picture of a person: a Hollywood headshot of James Dean or Marilyn Monroe; a harrowing war photograph like Shell-shocked US Marine or The Battle of Hue by Don McCullin; a historic figure like Albert Einstein with his tongue out, or Che Guevara adorning a generation of t-shirts. To many people, powerful portraiture is the clearest crystallisation of the potential of photography. You don’t have to aim for these kinds of immortalising images though; shooting portraits can be one of the most enjoyable and sociable ways to put your camera to use – and of course, if you shoot for a living, one of the most profitable, too! Whether…

It’s comforting to know that in this day and age, you really can’t buy a bad camera. Even an entry-level system will deliver good results, meaning that virtually any body (and, indeed, anybody) can get an image worth framing. At the same time, there are a number that seem tailor-made for specific situations. Just as there are dedicated action cameras, there are cameras that are right at home in a studio or on a portrait sitting. If you shoot with supplemental lighting, for instance, you can choose a camera that prioritises image quality over dynamic range or ISO performance. Perhaps you prefer shooting on a tripod, making a heavier camera much more practical than if you were shooting handheld. Or maybe you want a mirrorless body that’s small and light,…

Photography is all about picking the right tool for the job. You wouldn’t shoot a landscape with a macro lens, after all; selecting a lens with the right focal length and the right characteristics for your subject, setting and situation will make the difference between a nice snap for Facebook and a powerful portrait that you’d want to put on the wall. When most people begin their photographic journey, they start with a zoom lens (usually the lens that comes with their camera). Taking the plunge into the world of prime lenses is key to getting images with the best quality, but it can be daunting. Primes are expensive and have a fixed focal length, making them less appealing. From sharpness and depth of field to low-light performance and compression…

You’ve got the perfect camera to suit your shooting style, and chosen the lens that enables you to take the picture that’s in your head. However, there’s a difference between just taking a picture and truly making a picture. With a camera and lens, a picture taker has everything they need. A picture maker, though, will make use of tools such as lights, modifiers, reflectors and gels. Light is the raw material of photography, so the ability to control it is crucial to create great pictures – and nowhere is this more true than with portraiture. It doesn’t matter what light you use – a speed light, continuous, studio, angle-poise; adding supplemental lighting will let you create shape, texture and form. This is achieved using modifiers like umbrellas, softboxes, snoots…

Portrait photography has always been incredibly popular. In the mid-19th Century, when photography was still very much in its infancy, capturing images of other people quickly became commonplace. Today, many of those who develop an interest in photography look to portraits as their main focus and many professional photographers earn their living through portrait photography. Its ubiquity can make it appear as though it’s easier than it really is, though. Much skill, patience and practice is required if you are going to take portraits that have plenty of impact and truly have something to say about the subject. Over the next few pages, you’ll discover how experienced, professional portrait photographers approach their work and how they ensure that they capture amazing portraits time and time again. From planning your shoots…

The art of successful posing is absolutely vital for great portrait photography. Unless one is shooting candids, the photographer must interact with the subject and direct them in order to achieve the very best possible results, as well as understanding how to place the subject within the frame for compositional purposes. This all sounds like an instinctive process that requires little conscious thought – and for some more experienced portrait photographers, it is – but for most it requires deliberate, considered attention. Over the next few pages, you’ll discover techniques for posing female subjects, male models and group shots, enabling you to take your portrait photography to a more professional level and create incredible images. POSE FEMALE SUBJECTS Discover how to work with female models to create seductive and sensual…