Light, Pose & Emotion
Overview:
A friendly, hands-on introduction to the fundamentals of portrait photography. Perfect for those just starting out or looking to solidify their basics.
🔍 Learning Objectives:
- Understand what makes a portrait compelling.
- Learn to see and use natural light.
- Discover foundational posing techniques.
- Build confidence when interacting with a subject.
🧠 Discussion Topics:
- What is portrait photography? What makes a portrait strong?
- Light: Types of natural light (diffused, direct, backlight), identifying good light.
- Pose: Guiding natural body positions, angles that flatter, avoiding common mistakes.
- Emotion: Connecting with your subject, helping people relax, making them look their best.
- Equipment basics: Lenses, settings, reflectors.
- Composition: Headroom, eye direction, rule of thirds vs central framing.
🎯 Practical Exercises:
- Natural light portrait shoot outdoors or near a window.
- Pose a partner using 3 different standing poses.
- Try 3 different lighting conditions with one subject.
- Expression game: capture neutral, happy, and thoughtful.
✅ Outcomes:
- 4–6 clean portraits showing understanding of light, simple poses, and emotional connection.
