Master of portraiture Monte Zucker presents page after page of essential photographic lessons to enable photographers to achieve and exceed their financial and artistic goals. Providing instructions on how to conduct a well-crafted client consultation, readers will learn which angles of the face to photograph, how to pose the body, where to place the camera, and the proper positioning of lighting equipment in order to cultivate an emotional connection with clients to produce an ideal image. Chapters with expert advice on digital imaging cleanup and finishing techniques, clothing and makeup selection, and location and studio backdrop options to reinforce portrait concepts are also included.
Author(s): Monte Zucker
Publisher: Amherst Media
Year: 2007
Language: English
Pages: 125
TABLE OF CONTENTS
About the Author
INTRODUCTION
How Far Will You Go?
Setting Goals
1. PREPARING FOR THE SESSION
Consultation
Choices for Clothing
Sleeves
Necklines
Colors and Patterns
Coordinating Clothing for Family Groups
Hairstyle and Makeup
Hairstyle
Makeup
2. BACKGROUNDS
Outdoor/Environmental Backgrounds
Painted Backgrounds
Projected Backgrounds
Contemporary Choices
3. THE SUBJECT
Doing a Facial Analysis
Determine the Best Angle
Full Face
Two-Thirds View
Profile
Additional Considerations
Hair
Eye Size
Noses
Follow Your Instincts
4. POSING FUNDAMENTALS
Basic Principles
Seating
Body at an Angle
The Shoulders
Posture
Two Simple Poses
The Basic Pose
The Feminine Pose
Back Poses
The Eyes
Expression
Posing Tools
Posing Stools
Posing Tables
Final Adjustments
5. GROUP PORTRAITS
Posing Strategy
Seating
Direction
Facing Toward Each Other
Facing the Same Direction
Head Height
6. LIGHTING EQUIPMENT
Buying Lighting Equipment
Studio Flash
What to Look For
My Studio Setup
A Secondary Use
Continuous Fluorescent
7. LIGHTING TECHNIQUES
Main Light
Distance to Subject
Which Side of the Subject?
Full Face, Basic Pose
Full Face, Feminine Pose
Two-Thirds View or Profile
Consider the Nose
The One and Only Lighting Pattern I Use
Emphasizing Detail
Reflectors
Reflector for Fill
Reflector as a Secondary Main Light
8. WINDOW LIGHTING
Direction of the Window
Common Pitfalls
Height of the Light Source
Window Treatments
Showing the Window
Distance of Window to Subject
Camera and Subject Positions
Position the Subject
Position the Camera
Using a Reflector with Window Light
Reflector for Fill Light
Reflector for Main Light
9. OUTDOOR PORTRAITS
Location Selection
The Scene
Lighting
The Lighting
Shade
Direct Sunlight
Bare Bulb
10. CAMERA AND LENS
Camera Angle
Camera Height
Full-Length Portraits
Three-Quarter-Length Portraits
Head and Shoulders Portraits
Profiles
Controlling the Background
Tilting the Camera
Hand-Hold or Use a Tripod?
Lens Selection
Personal Favorites
Telephoto
Wide Angle
11. COMPOSITION
Composing the Image in Camera
Include Some Body
Use the Rule of Thirds
Subject Placement
Size of the Subject in the Frame
Children
Head Size
12. EXPOSURE
What is a Properly Exposed Photograph?
Film or Digital?
Exposure Modes
Aperture Priority
Manual Mode
Additional Exposure Decisions
ISO
White Balance
File Format
13. ADDITIONAL CREATIVE CHOICES
Soft Focus
Black & White
Infrared
CONCLUSION
A Final Checklist
A List of Things to Avoid
In Closing
Index
