Knocking Your First Portrait Out of the Park
Get ready to knock your first portrait session out of the park! If you’re the type of photographer who says they’re not any good at photographing people, this class is for you! Join Scott Kelby as he takes you through seven simple steps that you can follow to create absolutely stunning portraits. After walking you through the required steps, Scott heads out on location with a subject to demonstrate how to put all that you’ve learned together and overcome any obstacles along the way. By the end of the class, you’ll be ready to put these steps into practice and be amazed at your results.
Release Date: 2024-03-21
Lessons
What Makes it a Portrait
Scott introduces the class and discusses what will be covered in the lessons that follow, then discusses what makes a portrait a portrait.
Duration: 5 mins 7 seconds
Great Portraits Start with a Photogenic Subject
For your first portrait it will greatly enhance your success if you start with someone who is very photogenic.
Duration: 11 mins 38 seconds
Use a Flattering Lens
Scott shares his favorite go-to lenses for creating portraits.
Duration: 6 mins 5 seconds
Building Connection
Your first model may be a professional, but after that it is up to you to elicit genuine expressions.
Duration: 8 mins 11 seconds
Camera Settings
Dial these camera settings in and just go make some photographs.
Duration: 8 mins 10 seconds
Play Music During Shoot
Find out what their favorite music is and put that on to help them relax.
Duration: 2 mins 31 seconds
What Should They Wear
Ask your subject to wear solid colors so that their clothing does not distract from the portrait.
Duration: 2 mins 5 seconds
Beautiful Light
Beautiful light makes beautiful photographs, so put your subject in beautiful light.
Duration: 13 mins 13 seconds
Going on Location
Join Scott and his subject on location to get introduced to what is coming next.
Duration: 4 mins 49 seconds
Camera Gear and Settings Review
Before the portrait session begins, Scott goes over the gear he’s using along with his settings.
Duration: 2 mins 9 seconds
Get in the Shade
Just because you’ve got the right subject and camera, you may need to do some work to find the best light.
Duration: 2 mins 40 seconds
Using a Diffuser
If you can’t find open shade or if you want more control, consider using a diffuser.
Duration: 3 mins 13 seconds
Adding Depth and Dimension
Here’s an alternative technique to add shadows to your subject and increase dimension.
Duration: 1 mins 56 seconds
Positioning Under a Tree
Using a tree for shade can present challenges to overcome.
Duration: 3 mins 40 seconds
Backlight
Here’s a great technique for making use of an extreme backlit situation.
Duration: 3 mins 16 seconds
Closing Thoughts
Scott wraps up the class with some closing thoughts to help you move forward with the material.
Duration: 4 mins 38 seconds