Become a Portrait Photographer

Learn the essential lighting and posing techniques for portrait photographers. Whether you are shooting business portraits, sport stars, or family photographs, this path will provide you with expert insight into best practices for posing and lighting your subjects.

• Master the essentials of portrait photography.
• Practice posing portrait subjects for flattering results.
• Explore lighting techniques to capture the perfect frame.

• Course 1: Narrative Portraiture: Foundations of Portraiture
• Photographer and teacher Chris Orwig explores how to create images that tell stories about their subjects and produce a strong emotional connection.
• Course 2: Exploring Photography: Finding the Perfect Portrait Lens
• Learn how your lens choice and different shooting techniques can improve the quality of your portraits. Plus, get a review of popular prime and zoom lenses.
• Course 3: Learning Natural Light Portrait Photography
• Learn how to take effective portraits using natural light—even when the light isn't great.
• Course 4: Lighting for Photographers: Portraiture
• Explore the techniques behind lighting for portraiture.
• Course 5: Lighting with Flash: On Location from Close Up to Portrait
• Photographer David Hobby visits a conservation center and lights close-ups and portraits using a variety of strobes and light modifiers.
• Course 6: 5-Day Photo Challenge: Portraiture
• This 5-day photo challenge focuses on portraiture, or "people photography." Learn how to use composition, texture, light, and even your lenses to craft better portraits.
• Course 7: Kids Photography: Posed Outdoor Portraits
• Look at the techniques behind creating great natural-light portraits of kids in the environment that's most comfortable for them: the outdoors.
• Course 8: Kids Photography: In Parks at Play
• Find out how to photograph kids and put them at ease in front of the camera. Erika Thornes shares techniques for shooting beautiful, natural-light portraits of children at play.
• Course 9: Douglas Kirkland on Photography: Natural Light Portraiture
• Well-known photographer Douglas Kirkland explains how he works with natural lighting and how to best take advantage of it for portraiture.
• Course 10: Douglas Kirkland on Photography: Studio Portraiture
• Well-known photographer Douglas Kirkland demonstrates studio portraiture techniques, from lighting to working with a model.