Complete Portrait Manual

[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.