Outdoor & Location Portrait Photography

The book is thin on technical details (there are plenty of books on the market which cover this aspect)however instead the author gives useful rules of thumb "pro" advice not usually given in other photography books. The book also does NOT retread in the usual areas of basic photographic techniques.

There are plenty of good illustrative portraits by the photographer which, step by step shows the aspiring portrait photographer to producing attractive and fresh outdoor portraits. Be advised that 90 percent of the examples are geared toward female portraiture -- nonetheless it will give anyone the basis to produce decent portraits of any subject.

A no-nonsense, fresh alternative to the usual how to photography books which is also quite entertaining to read.


Outdoor and Location Portrait Photography   December 11, 1999
 44 out of 45 found this review helpful

Outdoor and Location Portrait Photography

"In this book, we will discuss everything you need to know to create beautiful portraits with natural light, from the best equipment to use, identifying the perfect light, to posing the subject and defining your photographic style." This is what author and professional photographer Jeff Smith promises in the introduction to his book. He keeps his promise and then some. Chapter one discusses, "The Right Equipment." Camera format, films, lenses, vignettes and labs are but a few of the subjects covered. In chapters two and three Smith covers the subjects of understanding and controlling natural light. Smith takes the photographer to the scenes where they will most likely be taking outdoor portraits and shows how the elements within those scenes can work toward making beautiful portraits in chapters four and five. Other chapters cover clothing choices, make-up and hair, and posing. Clear and helpful illustrations are offered with the book's text. The art side of photography is why most photographers enter the challenging field of professional photography, but it is the business side of photography that can make or break a career. Smith devotes two chapters plus, to profits, advertising, working with clients and studio image.


Good basic information and advice on outdoor portraits.   November 10, 1999
 40 out of 40 found this review helpful

This book is a good starting point for advanced amateurs or beginning professionals who want some basic pointers on outdoor location photography. It contains useful basic technical information on choosing settings and manipulating lighting, positioning of subjects, clothing, etc. The book is written in an easy-to-read and well-organized manner. Mr. Smith has used his experiences as a high school senior portrait photographer as his primary examples throughout the book. Of the over 100 images contained in the book, 17 depict equipment and/or setup, 3 are young male subjects, and about 83 are young female subjects. There are no examples of groups, families, older people, pets, etc., but most of the techniques described should be adaptable to most types of clients. Mr. Smith's advice on the business aspects of portrait photography is something this book offers that is usually omitted from more technically oriented photography books.