Portrait Photography
Improve Your Portrait Skills With Expert Guidance And Comprehensive Online Classes
Learn the Fundamentals
Learn form seasoned pros with years of industry experience.
Guidance and Inspiration
Get inspired to try new portraiture techniques and improve your portfolio.
Courses For Any Kit
Whether you're working with a basic camera and natural light or have a full studio setup, we've got courses for you.
Precision Lighting Control
Explore advanced techniques to get more creative portraiture results.
Choose Your Membership Plan
Join Visual Education and embark on your creative journey with flexible membership options tailored to your needs. Whether you want the freedom of a monthly subscription or prefer to dive in for the full year, we have the perfect plan for you.
You'll get access to ALL our portrait tutorials PLUS 900+ other classes covering everything from
Makeup and Filmmaking to Post-Production to CGI.
Monthly Plan
Unlimited Access to 900+ Classes
Learn at Your Own Pace
New Classes Added Every Month
LIVE Workshops Every month
Critiques, Competitions, Community
Get Certified with LEVELS
Multiple Languages
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Expert Support
Discounts on Top Brands
Only $19 per month
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Annual Plan
Unlimited Access to 900+ Classes
Learn at Your Own Pace
New Classes Added Every Month
LIVE Workshops Every month
Critiques, Competitions, Community
Get Certified with LEVELS
Multiple Languages
5.0 Google Reviews Rating
Expert Support
Discounts on Top Brands
Only $14 per month
Trusted by thousands of users and companies worldwide
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Portrait Photography Classes
Natural Light Portrait Photography
Learn how to shoot stunning natural light portraits- 19 Classes
- 4 Hours content
- Level: Basic
From single subjects, couples, families, and children - develop an understanding of all things natural light photography
What you’ll learn:
- Making the most of natural light
- Ideal camera settings and lenses
- Useful equipment and when to use it
- Photographing children indoors and on location
- Posing individuals, families and couples
- How to use reflectors & diffusers to control natural light
Introduction: Keeping the Focus on Your Model
Location Scouting
Balancing the Exposure of the Natural Backlighting and Model
The Train Carriage
Portrait Photography with Natural Light: Autumnal Orchard
Opportunity Photography
Indoor Portrait Photography
The Dark Forest
Photographing Kids Using Natural Light
Identifying and Photographing Indoor Locations for Portraits
Utilising Available Space and Natural Light Indoors for Portraits
Photographing Portraits in the Warm Evening Sun
Emerald Forest
How to Photograph Portraits in the Midday Sun
Family and Group Portraiture
Couples and Engagement Photography
Posing Your Subjects: Single, Couple or Group Shots
Suggested Gear
Image Review and Lightroom Adjustments
One-Light Portrait Lighting Setups
Don’t have a lot of studio lights? No problem…- 10 Classes
- 3 Hours content
- Level: Basic
Don’t have a lot of studio lights? No problem…
This section shows 10 creative examples of how to use just one light and basic modifiers for portrait photography.
What you’ll learn:
- Techniques for controlling light in a small studio
- How to control light and shadow
- Working with and posing your subject
- Creating lighting effects such as rim lighting, soft light and shadows
- Lighting setups for close-up and full-length portraits
Simulating Sunlight With a Studio Light
Simulating Sun and Shadow With a Studio Light
One-Light Surround Lighting for Portraiture
Bold Single Soft Light for a Three Quarter-Length Portrait
Portrait Beauty Lighting With One Light
Soft Single-Light Portrait
Rim Lighting Photography for Stunning Portraits
Dramatic Single-Light Portrait With Harsh Shadows
Very Soft Single-Light Portrait With White Background
Contoured Single Soft-Light Portrait
Two-Light Portrait Lighting Setups
Master creative portrait photography with two studio lights- 10 Classes
- 2 Hours content
- Level: Basic - Intermediate
There’s a lot you can do with just two studio lights. All you need is the right knowledge and little creativity.
What you’ll learn:
- How to make a small studio work for you
- Balancing multiple lights to create different effects
- How to create hard, dramatic lighting for portraiture
- How to create soft, contoured lighting for portraiture
- Shooting creative portrait photography with a moving subject
- Setups for both full length and close up portraits
Male Rim-Lit Portraiture
Two-Light Portraiture
Stunning Two-Light Beauty Set
Dramatic Portraits
‘Deep Umbrella’ Techniques
Two-Light Harsh Fashion Lighting
Stunning Soft and Contoured Lighting
The Rectangular Ring Light
Two-Light Male Portrait
Moody Two-Light Control
Enchanting Two-Light Result
Soft Side-Lighting and Fill
Three-Light Portrait Lighting Setups
Creative portrait photography set-ups with three studio lights- 10 Classes
- 3+ Hours content
- Level: Intermediate
Test your skills and learn how to get creative with these 10 examples of three light setups for portrait photography.
What you’ll learn:
- Techniques for controlling light in a small studio
- Lighting setups for close-up and full-length portraits
- Incorporating flare for creative effect
- Lighting techniques for high-key portraits
- Using v-flats for portrait lighting
- Combining natural light & studio flash (working with mixed lighting)
Four-Light Portrait Lighting Setups
Creative portrait photography set-ups with four studio lights- 12 Classes
- 3+ Hours content
- Level: Intermediate - Advanced
The creative possibilities are endless if you’re using four studio lights, and in this course you’ll see exactly what you can do.
What you’ll learn:
- Learn how to apply lighting theory to add that extra level of creativity
- Photographing moving models
- Lighting techniques for high-key portraits
- Using v-flats for portrait lighting
- Creating mood with lighting
Creative Portrait Photography
Learn how to shoot more creative portraits
- 9 Classes
- 10+ Hours content
- Level: All Levels
Learn how to shoot more creative portraits with this series of classes, covering everything from Hollywood-style lighting to gelled lighting with bold, eye-catching colours or black and white portraiture.
What you’ll learn:
- Creating mood and emotion in a photo
- How to shoot black and white portraits
- Using specialist lighting modifiers for portrait photography
- Gelled lighting for creative portrait photography
- How to create a simple set for portrait shoots
- Long exposures and multiple exposures for portraiture
The Power of the Matt-Black Studio Box
Splash Portrait Photography for 3D Animation
Creative Portrait Lighting 2.0
Creative Portrait Lighting 3.0
Creative Portrait Lighting 1.0
Creative Moving Bodies Photoshoot
Creative Portrait Lighting Techniques (Part 2)
Creative Portrait Lighting Techniques
Painterly Portraits and Lighting Lessons with Urs Recher
Shooting Black and White Portraits
Business Portrait Lighting Setups
Learn how to photograph business portraits & corporate headshots
- 10 Classes
- 5+ Hours content
- Level: All Levels
Whether you’re working in the studio or on location, learn effective lighting setups and techniques to help you create business portrait photos and headshots your clients will love.
What you’ll learn:
- How to photograph business portraits & corporate headshots
- Business portrait lighting setups for studio & location shoots
- How to photograph subjects with glasses
- Pre-shoot considerations for business portraiture
- How to balance mixed lighting (natural light & studio flash)
- Flattering lighting for older subjects
Portraits of People Wearing Glasses
Studio Business Portrait
Small Office Space Portrait
Instant Business Portrait
Business Portraiture and Headshots
Business Portrait Theory
Soft Lighting for Older Male Portraits
How to Clean Paper Backgrounds in Photoshop
Clamshell Lighting for White Background Business Portraits
Broad Lighting Setup for Older Male Business Portrait
Umbrella Lighting for Mature Business Portraits
Environmental Portraits
Learn how to create high-quality images of people at work
- 6 Classes
- 2+ Hours content
- Level: Basic - Intermediate
Environmental portraiture is a genre of photography that’s often in high demand, used for anything from annual reports to websites.
Learn how to create high-quality images of people at work with this series of classes.
What you’ll learn:
- Effective planning for photographing people at work
- Equipment & lighting modifiers for shooting on location
- Balancing natural light & studio flash in tricky situations
- Techniques for communicating with your subject
- Setting the scene & composition techniques for location shoots
Portrait Extras
Lighting walkthroughs to help you understand light and guest interviews
- 10 Classes
- 4+ Hours content
- Level: All Levels
For portrait photographers looking for a little extra, we’ve collected a series of additional classes to help you further develop your skills.
These include a selection of lighting walkthroughs to help you understand light as well as informative guest interviews with professional photographers, including top wedding photographers and celebrity portrait photographers.
What you’ll learn:
- Portrait photography tips
- Understanding light
- How to identify light in a photo
- Guest interviews with pro portrait photographers
Photo Critique: Corporate and Business Headshots
Conversations With David Stanbury: Creating an Experience (Wedding Photography)
Photo Critique: Portraits 2 (Part 2)
Photo Critique: Portraits 2 (Part 1)
Photo Critique: Portraits 1
Interview With Portrait Photographer Tom Oldham
Interview With Wedding Photographer David Stanbury
Hair Sweep Lighting Walk-Through
Angry Man Lighting Walk-Through
The Emotion of Light
Unleash Your Creative Potential
Power up your skills in the visual arts- 900+ online classes
- LIVE workshops to learn and interact in real time
- Boost your creativity with projects designed to help you improve – fast
- Get certified with LEVELS
- Not sure where to start? Check out our Learning Paths or get in touch!
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"The lessons are just pure gold. The thoroughness is just unmatched. Every situation explained in great detail.”
Lance Nguyen
"Great to have all this valuable information in a single place. Well organised and easy to access. I’ve been looking for something like this for centuries.”
Nicolae Marian
"You can’t imagine how the last 365 days has changed my photography in a positive way! I tried several other online programmes but yours is the best in explanation and techniques!"
Oliver Ayerle
Meet your tutor
Karl Taylor
Karl Taylor has been a professional photographer for more than 25 years. Commissioned by leading global brands for his precise attention to detail and exquisite control of light, Karl is also known as an instructor who explains complex subjects clearly and effectively. Karl’s unique expertise and commitment to education has led him to work for Hasselblad Camera Company, Broncolor Lighting and Adobe, as well as to appearances on the BBC and elsewhere.