Getting Started in Portraiture

Portraiture is one of today’s most valued genres of photography. Whether it is a timeless portrait of a loved one or a headshot for the corporate world, portraiture is relevant across the broad spectrum of photography.

Having the ability to take your own professional looking portraits can not only serve as a way to save some money on expensive studio portraits but can also be a way to beautifully document the people you love in a way that is meaningful to you and that represents your unique style of expression.

If you want to advance your portraiture skills and techniques and begin taking portrait images that are high in both quality and aesthetics, this class is for you. With the skills learned in this class, you will have full control over all the elements that go into making a successful portrait.

Topics covered in this class will include:

• Baseline camera settings for portraiture* (white balance, ISO, f/stop, Shutter Speed)
• Composition (ie: hand placement, camera angle, filling the frame)
• Posing Do’s and Don’ts
• Evoking expression
• Controlling the amount of light falling on your subject
• Shooting portraiture with natural window light
• Shooting portraiture with artificial light (continuous studio lights)
• How to control shadows to be hard or soft
• How to correct White Balance using a gray card in Lightroom

Participants will get the most out of this class is they have a solid understanding of exposure basics and are comfortable working in either Aperture Priority mode or Manual mode.