Learning Portrait Photography

Course details

Learn simple techniques for creating great portraits. In this course, Levi Sim shows how to find and make great light with basic tools, and demonstrates the easiest methods for helping people look their best while remaining comfortable. Find out how to use reflectors, diffusers, and simple strobe setups to maximize existing light, and adjust your camera settings to get excellent raw results. Levi, an experienced portrait photographer, also helps you understand the goal for each session, and bring out the best in every subject. Start watching to learn how to take better portraits with simple tools in almost all shooting situations.

Learning objectives
Finding a good spot to make a portrait
Making great light for a portrait in practically any situation
What camera settings to use for portraits
What accessories make portraiture better
How to talk to help people feel comfortable in a portrait

Concepts

Introduction

What you ll learn in this course
What tools you'll see demonstrated in this course

Choosing a Shooting Environment for a Simple Portrait

How to get great light
Three places to always find great natural light
Importance and impact of backgrounds

Camera Setup for Simple Portraits

Camera setup
Setting depth of field
Controlling focus
Choosing a shooting mode
Using a longer lens

Essential Tools for Simple Portraits

Using a reflector
Using foam core or pasteboard
Using practical lights
Essential tips for speed lights

Helping People Look Great

Tips for helping people look great
Using shadows to improve a portrait
Positioning your subject
The impact of camera height and lens angle
Directing people for portraits
Keeping the shoot moving

Additional Lighting Strategies

Using a diffuser in full sun
Using strobe through diffuser
Minding the height of the light and its mood
Adding a rim light

Conclusion

Summary