Yup, this webinar is a doubleheader. Levi Sim will be joined by two of our other authors, Erin Holmstead and Mike Hagen to help you learn how to make the most of your portraits and your travel photography. They'll teach techniques to make the most of your time shooting and then they'll demonstrate Perfectly Clear Complete to help make the most of your time finishing your photographs, too. There's something for everyone, so be sure to join us right here. We'll have some giveaways for live viewers, so be sure to join us live on … [Read more...] about Webinar: Perfecting portraits & travel photos with Erin Holmstead & Mike Hagen, December 17
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Portrait Tips: Have a conversation with your camera in hand
Having a conversation with your camera in hand doesn't mean you should talk to your camera — that's fine to do in private settings, but not recommended in public. I mean that you should have a conversation with your subject while your camera is doing the work. As you converse with your subject you'll discover subjects that bring their eyes to life and positions for their bodies that work best in the light. Here are a few ideas to help you camera-guided discussions. Don't look at the camera When folks are looking at your camera, there's very … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: Have a conversation with your camera in hand
Book Review: “Steve McCurry: A Life In Pictures,” by Bonnie McCurry
Normally, I'd read the entire book before writing a review, but this can't wait. I've skipped around and read several sections and the writing is good and engaging — almost as engaging as the photographs. This is a book you should buy for every photographer you know and probably everyone else, too. But you should have it dropped shipped to the recipient because if you get your hands on it, you won't be able to put it down. An actually famous photographer There are almost no famous photographers, especially this century when photographs come … [Read more...] about Book Review: “Steve McCurry: A Life In Pictures,” by Bonnie McCurry
Portrait Tips: How close should the light be to your subject?
This is a great question, but when you're getting going making portraits (and especially when you're buying gear) it often gets overlooked. How close should your light be to your subject? Furthermore, what effect does a different distance have on the photo? Let's start with the impact the distance makes. Feel free to skip to the last section for the quick answer. Closer is softer but more contrasty When you bring a light closer to your subject, you make it bigger in relation to your subject, and a bigger light is softer. For instance, … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: How close should the light be to your subject?
How to get colored light without using gels, part one
Lately, I feel like gels have become all the rage in the photography world and I am loving it. I was recently teaching at my son's school, as I am the teacher for their school's photography club. I was showing some images for colored lights when a student turned to me and said, "But how do I get a colored light look if I don't have any gels?" I couldn't come up with an answer and I was slightly bugged, so I went home and started doing some experimenting and came up with two ideas — a posterboard and a projector! Let me first show you how … [Read more...] about How to get colored light without using gels, part one
My 4 favorite headshot portrait tips for men
Gentlemen, before we get started I would like to just say, you are welcome. You are welcome for what I'm about to tell you. I know that you hate getting your headshots done. I know that you all have insecurities and that when you step in front of a camera they all come to the surface. I also know that when getting ready to get your headshots done you stand in your closet for a good 30 minutes trying to decide what to wear...right?!? Well, I am here to help you with all of that. I am going to give you a few easy tips I tell all my male … [Read more...] about My 4 favorite headshot portrait tips for men
Photographing portraits during Golden Hour
Shooting with speedlights on-location is a great way to be mobile, creative and light! We all know how heavy camera equipment can be. Speedlights on-location allows you to have the perfect light on your subject with a dramatic sky! I shot this photograph along the waterfront of downtown Sharjah, UAE during my Location Lighting Workshop at the Xposure International Photography Festival. I had a beautiful model and a beautiful golden light in the sky. How do I get dramatic color in the sky? You start with "the element you cannot control," … [Read more...] about Photographing portraits during Golden Hour
Portrait Tips: Holiday portraits
Holy cow, it's the holidays. Yeah, crept right up on me. With family and friends getting together, you could have a golden opportunity to make terrific portraits. If you don't blow it. Another picture...? The problem is that these people know you are crazy about making portraits and they've suffered you for years — or maybe only this year if you're new to this marvelous game. They may be a little tired of feeling compelled to participate in your hobby (no matter how much your peers realize it's a passion, it'll always be a hobby to family. … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: Holiday portraits
Weekly Wrap-Up: November 4-10, 2018
Welcome to a brand new feature — the Weekly Wrap-Up — a compendium of some of the articles published this week on Photofocus. Controlling the "feel" of an image with the Illuminati meter After years of shooting, I also tend to get set in my ways. However, sometimes it’s good to get out of your familiar bubble and explore with new techniques and equipment, especially if it can help you become more efficient. Read more... Photography Marketing: Are leave-behinds effective? As we sat down to enjoy an amazing ice cream cone from Brooklyn Ice … [Read more...] about Weekly Wrap-Up: November 4-10, 2018
Portrait Tips: Street Portraits
The other day I was in New York City for PhotoPlus Expo and Photofocus hosted its annual photowalk. It's a highlight of my photography year and I hope you can join me next time, or at the next conference (like WPPI). I had the pleasure of making several portraits during our walk, and you might benefit from simple principles for making street portraits while photowalking. 1. It's just a portrait First of all, there's nothing different about street portraits. It's still a picture of a person, and you should do your best to make it a good … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: Street Portraits
Portrait Tips: Have fun with Halloween
Happy Halloween! In the U.S., Halloween is one of the most fun holidays. Kids dress up in crazy costumes and consume more sugar than is good for them, and people all over decorate their houses to welcome the madness of trick-or-treating. And you should be ready to make portraits. Bring the good camera When you look back at pictures of Halloween, you're in for a treat — unless you got tricked in bringing only your smartphone along to make pictures. I know your camera is much bigger and heavier than your phone, but it can really perform much … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: Have fun with Halloween
Webinar Replay: Perfecting Portrait Retouching with Kristina Sherk
Editor's Note: Perfectly Clear is offering Photofocus readers a special $99 bundle, including Perfectly Clear Complete and SharkPixel presets. A $163 value! In this episode, Kristina Sherk teaches some of the principles of retouching and how to use Lightroom and Perfectly Clear Complete to make your photos look their best. Not only do her techniques make individual photos look great, but she shows how to automate your retouching to save you hours on every shoot. https://youtu.be/NEK3tXs2btw?rel=0 For a limited time, there's a special … [Read more...] about Webinar Replay: Perfecting Portrait Retouching with Kristina Sherk
Portrait Tips: Retouching must be invisible
Retouching portraits. This is an important subject and I'll tackle it with you in pieces. You've had a good session with your subject and now you can utilize your computer to finish off their pictures so they can present them to the world. When you show them their pictures, they should feel great about the way it looks. Their best friend should say, "Wow! That's a great shot of you." Their best friend should not say, "Wow! They did a great job retouching." As retoucher and photographer Kristina Sherk says, "The sign of a good retoucher is … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: Retouching must be invisible
Live Webinar: Perfecting Portrait Retouching with Kristina Sherk, Friday, October 19, 2018
We're excited to have world-class photographer and retoucher Kristina Sherk in this webinar to help you step up your retouching. She'll help us understand the principles behind great retouching, tips for shooting to make retouching easier, and how she retouches using Perfectly Clear Complete. Check out Kristina's photography and her retouching portfolio. This webinar is free, so register now and invite your friends. Editor's Note: Perfectly Clear is offering Photofocus readers a special $99 bundle, including Perfectly Clear Complete … [Read more...] about Live Webinar: Perfecting Portrait Retouching with Kristina Sherk, Friday, October 19, 2018
Portrait Tips: Avoid creepy eyes
Anytime your subject is not facing directly into the camera you need to pay attention to where their eyes are looking and how they are framed in the eye sockets. Face over there, eyes over here Photographing a person's profile or making a no-look portrait adds variety to your shoot and can help your subject feel more comfortable in front of the camera. But, when you direct their face away, they usually turn their eyes more than their head. When the eyes are cranked way over to one side and you can mostly see only whites in the eyes, it … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: Avoid creepy eyes
How to get perfect detail and tones in environmental portraits
Making pictures of people who are good at their craft while they are doing their craft is one of the best subjects you can ever find. They are passionate, you are passionate, and the pictures always turn out well. When I make environmental portraits, I do my best to control the light. However, since I'm invading someone's space and interrupting their day, it's best to be as quick as possible. That means that I never get to set up four lights with gels and grids to highlight and isolate the interesting stuff. Fortunately, you can use tone … [Read more...] about How to get perfect detail and tones in environmental portraits
Quick Tip: Download and install eyelash brushes for realistic eyelashes in Photoshop
There are many online resources that offer eyelash brushes. A simple Google search for "Eyelash Brush Photoshop" will return several great sites. I downloaded the brushes from Obsidian Dawn’s website and paid a small $3 fee for commercial use. Want to learn more? Check out this article, "Adding Realistic Eyelashes in Photoshop" … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: Download and install eyelash brushes for realistic eyelashes in Photoshop
Get the most from your photo; use a single frame in Aurora HDR 2019
Create amazing HDR photographs with Skylum’s Aurora HDR 2019. Purchase today and save plus get a free bundle of training, LUTs and Looks too! Aurora HDR 2019 has a significant update: It's got artificial intelligence. Using the new Quantum HDR engine, it actually analyzes your photo to see what kind of picture it is and what sorts of adjustments it will need. It's amazing. Normally, we think of using HDR software on a bracket of images all made at different exposures. But Aurora HDR 2019 is able to make even your single photo look … [Read more...] about Get the most from your photo; use a single frame in Aurora HDR 2019
Portrait Tips: Try color to liven up a shoot
I know, I know, I'm always saying that the background is just in the back and the important thing is your subject. It kinda drives me crazy when photographers pull their hair trying to find backgrounds for their shoots. The most important thing in a picture is the person and their expression, the second is the light, and the background is way down the list. Nonetheless, the background needs to be there, and using a paper background gives you many options and can even add some energy to your shoot. Unlimited colors, unlimited fun Paper … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: Try color to liven up a shoot
Quick Tip: Use the furniture and decor in a hotel for your next model or client shoot (NSFW)
Some hotels have upscale looks, others can have the look of a trashy roadside motel; it all works when you bring in the right element to complement the wardrobe and model. Whether you are shooting fashion, lingerie, or nude-art photography, it is still up to you to bring the viewer into the image and make it graphic and Interesting. Use chairs, tables, a headboard, curtains, and the carpet. They all can have a look to make your image more interesting. Don’t forget the bathroom tiles and mirrors. Want to learn more? Five Tips on Photographing … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: Use the furniture and decor in a hotel for your next model or client shoot (NSFW)
Quick Tip: Center the subject’s pupil with the whites of their eyes
A simple tip to ensure a better portrait is to center the subject's pupil with the whites of their eyes. Have the subject turn their head and shoulders to balance their eyes. Want to learn more? Check out this article, "How to Balance the Whites of the Eye." … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: Center the subject’s pupil with the whites of their eyes
When in doubt, shoot wide and crop later
As a photographer, our goal is to capture an image right in camera so you don’t have to spend time "fixing" it in post. This includes framing the shot. Normally, this is great advice when you know the final output size. But if you don’t have a clear direction or you are unsure of the final output size, consider shooting wide and cropping later. Here are a few examples of when shooting wide and cropping later saved the shot. Filling the frame was a bad choice When digital cameras first appeared, the resolution was poor and expensive. A 6.1 … [Read more...] about When in doubt, shoot wide and crop later
Portrait Tips: How to use a wide angle lens in portraits
Using a wide angle lens in portraiture is dangerous. Here's why and one way to use a wide lens safely. What is foreshortening? Foreshortening is the effect that happens when something near to a viewer appears larger than things that are far away from the viewer, even though they are not actually larger. For instance, if your subject extends her foot toward the camera, that foot looks larger than in relation to the rest of the body than it really is. In this photo, the foot closer to the camera looks four times larger than the other … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: How to use a wide angle lens in portraits
Quick Tip: Cycle through a layer’s blend mode to seamlessly blend two images together
Replacing a background of an image can be a challenge. The trick is to find the right background that has similar colors, tones, lighting and looks like it belongs to the main image. Once you find the right image, cycle through the layer’s blend mode selector to see which mode blends best. This applies to any image editing software that uses layers, including Photoshop and Luminar. Want to learn more? Check out this article, "Changing a Background with an Image Overlay in Luminar 2018" … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: Cycle through a layer’s blend mode to seamlessly blend two images together
Portrait Tips: How do you develop a style? Play more
I'll keep this one quick. Each time you make pictures you are developing your own style. At first, this may be mimicking the look of other photographs you've seen — in fact, it should be mimicking because that's the best way to ensure you make some good pictures. That means that the photos you look at are a huge influence on your personal style. The only way to create your own style is to make more pictures. And I don't think you should be intentional about making your own style. As you shoot you'll find ways to make pictures that get you … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: How do you develop a style? Play more
Portrait Tips: Five keys for candids
Candid portraits are often the first type of portraits photographers learn to make, and they are probably the most often requested by clients. When you view a candid photograph, it feels like you truly see the subject being themselves. Here are five keys to help you consistently make great candid photographs. 1. Acclimatization You need to be known to always have your camera and always be making pictures. At first, it's obvious to anyone that sees you that you have a camera and they notice it everytime you lift it up. But after a short while, … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: Five keys for candids
Portrait Tips: Four tips for photographing teenage boys
It's time for senior pictures and school portraits and that means facing one of the hardest subjects on the planet: Teenage boys. Now, brides are under stress, two-year-olds can't sit still and executives are in a hurry. Those all pose trouble for you when you're trying to make a portrait and elicit genuine expressions. But unless you do things right, your teenage boys are just going to look bored. I've photographed a ton of teenage boys, and these tips will help you have an easier time getting it done with genuine and engaged … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: Four tips for photographing teenage boys
The InFocus Interview Show with Sue Bryce | Photofocus Podcast August 31, 2018
https://soundcloud.com/photofocus/infocus-interview-show-with-sue-bryce-photofocus-podcast-august-31-2018/s-h48qP In this episode: Photographer and Educator Sue Bryce shares her insight on The Portrait Masters Conference coming up in September. Topics: Why we need a portrait specific conference How to maximize your experience at any conference Why you should build relationships with vendors Why you should network with other photographers Why portraits are the best business in the world and the best subject Why … [Read more...] about The InFocus Interview Show with Sue Bryce | Photofocus Podcast August 31, 2018
Portrait Tips: How to combine photos for the best expressions using layers in Luminar
Photographing large groups of people is the most challenging assignment you'll get as a portrait photographer. Each person expects you to make them look great in the final portrait, but there's always at least one person with a half blink or a nose tickle and there's definitely one person who is just looking off into space while everyone else has a winning smile. Sigh. The easiest thing way to manage this is to make many pictures and then combine them together into one with everyone's face look great. It's simple to use Luminar to make this … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: How to combine photos for the best expressions using layers in Luminar
How to balance flash with natural light to make pleasing portraits
If you're like most photographers, using a flash to make portraits is intimidating. Using available light is so simple that most photographers never dive into the world of using flash to light their portraits. Unfortunately, that severely limits the hours of the day when you can make pictures and leads to worrying too much about how well your camera performs at high ISO's. Making great balanced light pictures doesn't require the fanciest tools or a full-frame camera. I shot all the pictures here with a cropped micro four-thirds camera. You can … [Read more...] about How to balance flash with natural light to make pleasing portraits
