In this sexy, bold book, Pulitzer-Prize winning photographer Brian Smith tells the stories behind the photos and lessons learned in 30 years of photographing celebrities and people from all walks of life. Smith’s long list of famous and infamous subjects includes pro basketball players Dwayne Wade and Shaquille O’Neal; billionaires Bill Gates, Richard Branson, and Donald Trump; tennis stars Serena and Venus Williams; actors Anne Hathaway, Antonio Banderas, Christopher Walken, Taye Diggs, Jane Krakowski, and William H. Macy; and many more. You’ll get the inside scoop on what goes on at a celebrity photo shoot in this gorgeous guide to making professional portraits. Smith has mastered how to make a meaningful portrait on a magazine’s budget and on a celebrity’s schedule, which can sometimes be 15 minutes or less. Smith reveals his tips on connecting with people, finding the perfect location, telling a great story through portraiture, getting the ideal pose, capturing emotion and gestures, arranging unique group shots, and lighting the scene just right. You might not be photographing the rich and famous, but after reading Smith’s tell-all guide, you’ll know how to give everyone who makes their way in front of your camera the star treatment.

Featuring techniques and images from more than 40 of the industry's top photographers, this resource shows the best methods for lighting and posing individuals, couples, and groups, both on location and in the studio. Details are included on how to pose subjects, elicit expressions, create dynamic compositions, and utilize traditional lighting setups. Whether a photographer shoots weddings, group portraits, executive images or a little bit of everything, this book serves as a how-to guide and an idea file. Fully updated with all new images and covering the newest digital technology and latest software versions, this resource is an indispensable guide for photographers.

A pro’s guide to taking portrait photos—whether it’s framed on the wall or an online profile pic. 100 Ways to Take Better Portrait Photographs is a practical and informative guide to every aspect of portrait photography, from informal pictures of family and friends to professional studio techniques. It contains: Straightforward, practical tips and advice Over one hundred inspirational portrait photographs Invaluable digital manipulation techniques Whether you’re earning a living as a professional portraitist or snapping informal social shots just for fun, this resource offers clearly presented advice on the many aspects of digital and film portraiture: Composition and posing Outdoor and studio portraits Fashion, glamour, and beauty shots Group portraits—family, social, corporate, and business

Most photographers love photographing people—but they will also readily admit that there are a lot of challenges to making great portraits. In this book, professional portrait photographer Bill Israelson explores the skills that lie at the heart of a successful approach to portrait photography. First, he helps you set your overall objectives for the image and your depiction of the subject, which will determine the equipment you’ll need. Then, he lays out a simple six-step process designed to help you achieve your objectives(from location selection through lighting and posing) and create a great-looking portrait of any subject in any situation. Delving further into the process, he presents individual chapters dedicated to meeting the unique challenges of creating portraits outdoors, in the studio, and at indoor locations. Concluding with tips for editing your images, Israelson charts a simple course to more appealing, more flattering portraits!

From yearbook advertisements, postcard mailings, and promotions to website development and digital graduation announcements, every corner of the teen and senior portrait market is covered in this book of advice. Featuring the artistry of top senior portrait experts, this book showcases the blending of posing techniques with creative compositional and design methods in order to capture each subject’s full personality. Advice on posing, communication and expression during sessions, studio lighting, outdoor lighting, working with different client personalities, pricing, and proofing is provided.

Most amateurs dream of taking professional-quality portraits; Steve Sint can show them how. After shooting over a million portraits, he has a wealth of knowledge to share, on everything from the basics of good composition to the fine details of advanced lighting techniques. Sint simply delivers a complete course in digital portrait photography: he discusses set-ups and backdrops; the most flattering ways to pose both individuals and groups; tips on making the sessions fun and comfortable for everyone; and insider info on using electronic flash, both indoors and out. For those hoping to go pro, an entire chapter offers all the nuts and bolts information needed to turn your passion into a career!

All great portraits, whether they are taken on film or digitally, depend on the photographer's ability to use light and pose the subject. Learn the essential techniques of these two important elements and you'll produce remarkable images every time. Book jacket.