Complete Portrait Manual: 300+ Tips and Techniques for Shooting Perfect Photos of People

For beginners looking to master the portrait or lifelong photographers looking to try a new twist on the classic genre, this is your photo book. The Complete Portrait Manual provides over 200 tips techniques to help you successfully capture the portrait you want.

The editors of Popular Photography pooled all their knowledge from their 70+ years of experience to bring you the most comprehensive guide to portraits on the market: The Complete Portrait Manual. Whether you're after snapshots of loved ones laughing, impressive studio headshots, fun yet tasteful selfies on your smartphone, or lightning-fast captures of athletes doing the thing they love, this guide will help you produce the perfect portrait.

In chapters on how to flatter your subjects with poses and angles, light them just right, and retouch your photos in post-production, you'll learn how to:

Get to Know Your Subjects Pick Props that Show Personality
Snap a Nice Seflie Craft Environmental Portraits
Hide Flaws with Clever Angles Take Candid Street Shots
Pick Poses that Flatter Zoom In on Telling Details
Shoot Truly Joyful Holiday Portraits Freeze a Subject's Fleeting Reflection
Set Up Avedon Lighting Know Your Light Sources
Flatter with a Ring Light Mimic Film Noir Shadows
Slow a Spinning Ballerina with Long Exposure Combine Natural and Studio Light
Select Light Modifiers Capture Musicians with Limited Lighting
Make Nostalgic Portraits with Film Understand Retouching Tools
Go Classic with Black and White Conversion Craft Whimsical Composites
Repair Old Photos of Loved Ones Minimize Lines and Skin Flaws
Whiten Teeth and Eyes Make Cautious Use of the Liquify Tool
Brighten Exposure for Breezier Snapshots

For amateur photographers, there is no better resource. With high-quality design, intricate detail, and a durable, wipe-clean flexicover with metallic corner-guards--this manual is the perfect gift!

• ISBN10: 161628952X
• ISBN13: 9781616289522
• Publish Date: 12 January 2016
• Publish Status: Active
• Out of Print: 11 June 2021
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Weldon Owen, Incorporated
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 224
• Language: English

Reviews

[Joséphine]

The Complete Portrait Manual contains some great pointers and ideas. Although the synopsis also states this book is for beginners, I found it to be more geared towards experienced photographers who are new to portraiture. Yes, basics of photography are covered, but someone unfamiliar with the various terms (ISO, aperture, prime lens, reflectors, etc) might still find it a little too confusing to follow along.

Aside from that, this book covered a lot of ground from how to pose people to capturing certain themes and situations. I especially liked the sections that broke down basic techniques, particularly in terms of how to set up lights. Good for quick reference, though I doubt I'd primarily reach for this one. Some points weren't presented all too clearly, so I'll keep looking for another book that covers portraiture with more depth.