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Portrait Photography
Learn portrait photography from the pros.
From natural light to studio flash, there’s no better skill to master than portrait photography. Whether you’re capturing those special family moments or crafting high-quality business portraits for a client, these step-by-step classes will equip you with the skills and techniques you need.
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Discover the Art of Portraiture
In the studio or out on location, learn how to create stunning portraits every time as Karl shows you the techniques he uses to get incredible results in-camera.
With more than 80 classes to choose from, you’ll learn everything from how to make your subject feel comfortable to how to craft the perfect creative lighting setup for every shoot.
- 118 Classes
- 40+ Hours content
- Level: All Levels
Where Passion Meets Profitability
Are you ready to capture people's true characters through a lens and make a career out of portraiture?
From harnessing natural light to mastering studio lighting, from crafting striking studio shots to achieving stunning environmental portraits, from unleashing your creativity to delivering impactful formal business portraits – we've got you covered.
Craft Irresistible Visuals
Discover the magic of capturing portraits in their most authentic form. Harness the power of natural light to create soft, flattering, and captivating portraits that resonate with emotions.
Or step into the controlled environment of the studio. Learn how to manipulate light, experiment with shadows, and guide your subjects to produce portraits that are both sophisticated and timeless.
Journey into the world of visual storytelling with your portraiture.
Tell Stories with Portraits
Capture attention, desire, and emotion through the art of visual storytelling.
Monetize Your Work
Gain confidence in producing portfolio-worthy images that impress your clients and keep them coming back for more.
Business Tips
Learn how to market your business and win clients from some of the best in the industry.
DIY Backdrops
Learn to craft your own painted photography backdrops, adding depth and character to your shots.
Expert Guidance
Learn form seasoned pros with years of industry experience.
Build Your Portfolio
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.
Portrait Photography Classes
Natural Light Portrait Photography
Learn how to shoot stunning natural light portraits- 19 Classes
- 4 Hours content
- Level: Basic
Learn how to shoot stunning natural light portraits in this series of classes.
You’ll see numerous natural light photography examples for shooting single subjects, couples, families, and children and develop an understanding of how to identify the best light for portrait shoots (both indoors and on location), what equipment to use, and how to pose your subject.
What you’ll learn:
- How to photograph portraits with natural light
- Camera settings for natural light photography
- Useful equipment to have for shooting with natural light
- Photographing children indoors and on location
- Posing and photograph family groups
- Creative ideas & posing for photographing 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. Starting with the simplest of setups, Karl demonstrates how to apply the knowledge taught in our ‘Lighting Theory’ course to achieve creative lighting techniques and get stunning results with minimal equipment.
What you’ll learn:
- 10 Easy studio setups with one light
- Techniques for controlling light in a small studio
- How to control light and shadow
- Working with and posing your subject
- Beautiful rim lighting with one light
- How to create soft lighting
- Techniques for simulate sunlight with studio flash
- 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.
Building on the examples shown in our one light setups course, Karl demonstrates how to use just two lights for creative portrait photography.
Throughout this course, you’ll see 10 creative portrait photography lighting setups and learn how to balance multiple studio lights to achieve the result you want, including dramatic portrait lighting, soft side lighting, beautiful contoured lighting and much, much more.
What you’ll learn:
- 10 Easy studio setups with two lights
- Techniques for controlling light in a small studio
- 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
- Lighting setups for close-up and full-length portraits
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.
Now that you understand how to use just one studio light or two studio lights, these classes cover exciting new techniques such as high-key lighting, rim lighting, and beauty-style lighting for creative portraiture.
You’ll also learn how to combine natural light with studio flash - a powerful technique that’s often used for shooting on location, business portraits, or environmental portraits.
What you’ll learn:
- 10 Easy studio setups with three lights
- 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’s possible with 10 more portrait lighting demonstrations.
Learn how to apply lighting theory to add that extra level of creativity by using techniques such as gels, hair lights, and precision lighting to create multiple different looks and styles.
This course also takes things one step further with examples of how to photograph moving subjects, detailing the equipment and techniques used to capture perfectly frozen motion.
What you’ll learn:
- Easy studio setups with four lights
- 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 and studio flash (working with mixed 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.
These stand-alone classes provide inspiration for all levels as they cover fundamentals such as what backgrounds to use, how to build a set using basic props, and make simple DIY lighting modifiers. You’ll also learn about important lighting concepts and how to use creative techniques like long exposures.
What you’ll learn:
- Creative portrait lighting ideas
- 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 exposure 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 Beauty 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.
This course includes a dedicated class that focuses on the theoretical aspects of business portraiture, including important pre-shoot considerations, as well as seven lighting setup examples you can add to your arsenal.
With setups ranging from one light to four, you’ll learn how to create a multitude of lighting effects, including soft, flattering light for older subjects.
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. Filmed in a variety of locations, this course introduces the concept of environmental portraiture, exploring some of the common challenges and how to overcome them.
Through five detailed shoots, you’ll see how to put these solutions into practice as you learn about the planning, lighting, and styling required to guarantee a successful shoot.
What you’ll learn:
- Learn how to photograph environmental portraits
- Effective planning for photographing people at work
- Equipment & lighting modifiers for shooting on location
- Balancing natural light & studio flash
- 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 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.