Recommendations for references on portraiture

[John H. Henderson]

People are asking me more and more often to take photos of them - bride portrait s, Christmas card photos, wedding announcement photos, etc. I'm kind of winging it now - using my Metz 45 with an umbrella for a main light and a Vivitar 285 o n-camera for fill indoors - but would like to learn more.

Can anybody recommend a good book on portraiture - lighting techniques as well a s posing? Ideally, it would make a thorough reference for the future, but also starts assuming that the user doesn't have - or can't carry - a lot of equipment .

[Frederick Leif]

John,

Kodak has (had?) a good publication "Professional Portrait Techniques" pub # O-4. I find it to be pretty useful reference and covers the situations you describe.

Good Luck Fred

[Bill Brady]

Ditto on the Kodak book. I found it to be a great source of tips and techniques.

[John H. Henderson]

I've found a Kodak publication O-24, "The Portrait: Professional Techniques and Practices in Portrait Photography." Currently published by Silver Pixel Press. Is this the book?

Thanks for the suggestions.

[mike rosenlof]

The Kodak book is a fine place to start, it's only _occasionally_ an advertisement for Kodak products. There's a book called "The Potographer's Guide to Using Light" or something like that. A photo of an exploding light bulb on the cover. It's not only portraiture, but does give some good info.

There are many works available from well known photographers who have done portrait work in large format. Edward Weston, Imogene Cunningham, Sally Mann, Richard Avedon. You can study their work and look carefully at the effect of their lighting. You'll have to guess at the exact sources, but in many cases it's all available light.