Jeff Smith S Senior Portrait Photography Handbook

With detailed, informative instructions for capturing personable and memorable yearbook photos, this reference presents step-by-step demonstrations on advertising, talking to clients, producing outstanding images, and finalizing a sale. Noting the delicate balance of pleasing parents and teens alike, this resource illustrates how to marry the latest fashion-oriented photography trends with the needs of the family member who is paying for the session. A wealth of lighting and posing techniques combine with tips for analyzing the subject, choosing which features to accent and which to downplay, and creating alluring, fashionable looks that the whole family can appreciate. Emphasizing the value in allowing seniors to personalize their photos by bringing the shoot to their home or a more meaningful location, the guide also includes suggestions for incorporating additional visual elements such as pets, musical instruments, team uniforms, best friends, or significant others.

With 60 targeted lessons for both fledgling photographers and profitable pros, this book shows how to incorporate a sound shooting, lighting, postproduction, and marketing strategy in order to catapult to the top of the list of preferred senior shooters in a geographic region. It starts with an inside look at the demographic--the student and the student's parents--that will set the stage for a smooth session and a profitable sale. Next, skill-building lessons, including setup shots and diagrams as well as posing tips, are presented. The final sections of the book have lessons designed to help rein in postproduction methods to ensure no time is wasted. Protecting against image theft getting the word out about a photography business is also covered. This helpful handbook can be read start to finish or used tangentially to help readers build skills and profits.

With detailed, informative instructions for capturing personable and memorable yearbook photos, actor and model portfolios, and business, bridal, and children’s portraits, this exhaustive reference covers what photographers need to know to be successful. Emphasizing that the client is always the center of the photograph, this resource illustrates how to evaluate the customer to determine which features to downplay and which to accent. Tips for creating the perfect image through posing and lighting, handling the post-shot conference, and previewing and retouching the images are supplied, as well as guidance for the technical and emotional challenges of shooting a portrait. Packed with step-by-step images, no-nonsense techniques, and practical advice, this is a must-have book for professional and advanced amateur photographers.

This comprehensive guide to location portraits teaches the basics of good head-to-toe posing, indoors and out, and shows the classical approaches used throughout photographic history to create a pleasing rendition of the human form. Additional introductory chapters detail the four main posing styles and reveal how to determine which will work best with a subject, their clothing, the location, and the purpose of the portrait. Chapters for advanced photographers highlight the creation of a wide variety of individual and group posesÑincluding ground, seated, head-and-shoulders, and standingÑto be utilized in tandem with stairs, rocks, and other architectural and natural elements. A chapter devoted to the essential business skills needed to professionally schedule appointments, work through consultations, manage sessions, and present and deliver final prints is also included.

With techniques for achieving a flawless portrait, this manual shows how to create stunning, professional images in any setting. Tips on how to delicately discuss and evaluate a subject’s appearance and his or her specific concerns combine with examples on how subtle changes in lighting and posing can flatter subjects—by slimming the waist and hips, enhancing the bust, narrowing the nose, reducing a double chin, and concealing baldness—helping portrait photographers sensitively downplay perceived flaws. Also illustrating how the latest in digital imaging technology can fix problems, this up-to-date resource shows how to digitally eliminate acne, whiten teeth, remove braces, and fix unnoticed clothing problems. Techniques for processing RAW files and for optimizing JPEG files for quick, but consistent, shooting are also included. With hundreds of new images, before-and-after sequences, and informative text, this is the ultimate reference for creating beautiful, 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.

Droves of hobbyist photographers make a move to professional photography every year. They read a few books, watch rock star photographers shoot online, make business cards, and forge their path to a new career. When they book clients, work through the session, proof their images, and conduct a sales session, though, they encounter artistic, organizational, and financial problems they had not anticipated, and many stall out. In this book, Jeff Smith focuses on finding an audience and a target demographic, honing your posing and lighting skills, working with clients, and managing business and personnel concerns. Smith begins by taking a close look at the mind-set required for forging ahead as a professional photographer. He shows you how to define and target the clientele you want to work with and teaches you skillful approaches for creating and maintaining a strong photographer–client relationship. He notes that many photographers enter the business to create images that please them and explains that to be successful, photographers must instead learn to gain insight into just what the client wants to see in the final photos in order to maximize profits and keep clients coming back for more. With a clearly defined objective and approach outlines, Smith moves on to tackle common technical issues that new pros find daunting. He provides tips for creating perfect lighting in the studio and outdoors. He also discusses positioning for every part of the body, to create an ideal presentation to the camera. Next, he provides compositional tips—from where to position the subject in the frame, to selecting the best camera angle, to cropping for impact—in order to maximize image impact and present the best-possible image to your client. Finally, with the technical and artistic fields addressed, Smith turns to a discussion on the business side of the profession. He offers advice on acquiring equipment, understanding costs and pricing, creating new business opportunities, identifying an ideal studio location, and even managing your time.

From yearbook advertisements, postcard mailings, and promotions to web site development and digital graduation announcements, every corner of the teen and senior portrait market is covered in this book of advice from the experts. The artistry of top senior portrait experts, including Fuzzy Duenkel, Jeff Smith, Ellie Vayo, Richard Pahl, Ralph Romaguera, and Deborah Lynn Ferro, reveals the artistic, photographic, and marketing techniques that have propelled them to the top of their field. Advice on posing, communication and expression during sessions, studio lighting, outdoor lighting, working with different client personalities, pricing, and proofing is provided.