Master Lighting Guide for Portrait Photographers

Time-tested lighting strategies that will improve the quality of a portrait are detailed in this book for beginning photographers. Terminology used by industry pros is explained, the equipment needed to create professional results is outlined, and the unique role that each element of the lighting setup plays in the studio is explored. Photographers learn how color, direction, form, and contrast affect the final portrait. The concise text, photo examples, and lighting diagrams enable photographers to easily achieve traditional lighting styles that have been the basis of good portraiture since the advent of the art.

About the Author

Christopher Grey is the author of Creative Techniques for Nude Photography and Photographer's Guide to Polaroid Transfer. He lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Portrait Photographer's Handbook

"This guide offers excellent advice on how to master the complex art of portrait photography."  —Shutterbug

Product Description

Combining time-tested practices with contemporary methods, this guidebook details the fine art of capturing formal and casual posed images. With advice and guidance from the finest and most decorated portrait and wedding photographers in the country, this instructional discusses subjects such as lighting in the studio and on location, improving improvisational shooting techniques, and how to retouch images in the post-production process to create truly flawless looks. A chapter addressing the common problems in taking portraitures—from working with subjects with glasses to subjects that vary in size, facial features, and skin tone—is also included.

 

Digital Portrait Photography For Dummies

A full-color guide to the art of digital portrait photography
Portrait photography entails taking posed photographs of individuals or set scenery and is the most common photo style among the most novice photography hobbyist to the most advanced photographer. With this easy-to-understand guide, bestselling author and professional photographer Doug Sahlin walks you through the best techniques for getting professional-quality digital portraits.
Packed with hundreds of full-color photos and screen shots, this book discusses best practices for taking formal portraits, wedding photos, event photos, casual photos, and more. You'll examine the difference between using the built-in flash and natural lighting and take a look at the benefits of upgrading to a photo lighting kit and pro backdrop.

• Portrait photography is the most popular style of photography
• Features helpful information for everyone from beginner hobbyists to advanced photographers
• Shares insider tips for selecting equipment and choosing from the various tools for portrait photography
• Walks you through working with a wide range of subjects, including children, pets, and wildlife
• Discusses lighting and editing images
• Takes a look at ways to create a portrait that is suitable for framing

Make sure your subjects are ready for their close ups with this fun and friendly guide to digital portrait photography.

 

From the Back Cover

Learn professional techniques for shooting great portraits of kids, pets, and family groups Done right, a good portrait captures much more than what someone looks like; it also reveals a bit of his or her life and personality. This guide shows you how to make that happen, with advice on equipment and lighting, tips for working with various subjects, information on how to choose the best camera settings for portraits, and instructions for fine-tuning your images on your computer.

• Choose the right equipment — find out what to look for in the ideal camera, lenses, filters, and lighting sources
• See your subject — sharpen your observation skills by paying close attention to your surroundings and the people near you
• Location, location — place your subject in natural surroundings that say something about the person
• Meet challenges — discover the secrets of photographing babies, young children, and pets, especially cats
• Make them even better — enhance the effects you've created with appropriate cropping, sizing, and retouching

Open the book and find:

• Important details about composition
• How to work with props
• Various lighting approaches and the results they achieve
• Tips for taking advantage of your surroundings
• What differentiates a portrait from a snapshot
• How to use focal length and aperture
• Ten top editing tips
• What a histogram is and how to use one

 

About the Author

Doug Sahlin operates a photography business that specializes in event, wedding, and portrait photography. He is also author of Digital Photography Workbook For Dummies and coauthor of Building Web Sites All-in-One For Dummies. Doug's portfolio includes both formal and casual portraits.