eBook Review: Portrait Tips and Techniques
Portraits… a very broad topic with deep technical and artistic aspects. A portrait photographer must have control and understanding of the subject, surroundings, light, and camera in order to create images with impact. This is generally the case in any type of photography, but portraits demand a higher level of control.
Educating yourself on the subject of portraiture can be difficult because of the inherent technical material. But with the right teacher or author, this material can be absorbed with minimal pain to the brain.
Volume 1 of Wayne Radford’s Portrait Tips and Techniques is a book that covers the many aspects of black & white natural light portraiture (and the material applies to color portraits as well). The lessons and teachings are somewhat technical, but the material is presented in a “down to Earth” fashion that anybody can understand. You can download an 8 page sample of the eBook here [PDF].
Check the end of this review for your chance at a free copy of the full version!
You can purchase Volume 1 of Portrait Tips and Techniques from Wayne Radford’s website. Links in this post are affiliate links to the product.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Portrait Tips and Techniques, Volume 1 is a 126 page downloadable eBook containing 4 main chapters encompassing 10 distinct lessons. The end of the book also contains a selection of sample work from the author and a couple of clean and concise guides to facial analysis and lighting. And the supporting graphics… this book has over 90 great sample shots, diagrams, and charts. Click on the images below for a larger view.
The book starts off with an introduction from the author in addition to some extra background material on his journey as a portrait photographer. Then we jump into “Facial Recognition”, or posing techniques for your subjects. The next main section is “Lighting Techniques”, all of which are in the realm of natural light. The last two chapters cover “Exposure” and “Composition” as they relate specifically to portraits. The book wraps up with a sample gallery of work from Wayne Radford and two single-page charts for lighting and posing (very handy).
Throughout the book, sample images and illustrations are used to convey the lessons found in the text. Wayne also deconstructs his photos to convey a particular technique and show how it was used to create that photo. All in all, this is a very visual guide.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Wayne Radford is an Australian professional portrait photographer specialising in Black & White, and he’s been doing it for over 25 years. While he’s done his fair share of weddings, in 2000 Wayne switched over exclusively to children’s environmental portraiture.
Throughout his career he has received numerous State and National awards for his unique style of photography including the Australian Professional Photography Awards category; “1996 Wedding Photographer of the Year” at both National and State judging. In addition he also received the classification of “Master of Photography”. On two occasions he has won the “Highest Scoring Black & White Print” at these awards.
You can see some of Wayne’s work on his Radford Photography website and on Flickr. For his non-portrait work, also check out his Radford Editions website.
MY FINAL THOUGHTS
This is a wonderful, educational, and inspirational book on the topic of portrait photography. I love the fact that it focuses on natural light techniques and uses black & white images for illustration. It’s direct, focused, and it cuts out the extra fluff and off-topic discussion.
This would be a great book for two types of photographers: those wanting to learn portraits from the ground up, and those wanting to add more to their existing knowledge of portraiture. Either way, this book will certainly step up your game.
You can purchase Volume 1 of Portrait Tips and Techniques for $19.95 until December 20, at which point it will return to the regular price of $24.95. (the image says Dec 12, but the end date is really Dec 20)
WANT A FREE COPY?
[UPDATE 11/22/2010] The winners have been chosen. You can see the results here.
Of course you do! I’ve got 3 copies of the eBook to hand out and we’ll run this as a simple raffle in the comments below. Here are the rules:
- One entry per person.
- Leave a comment with the word “freebook” in there somewhere.
- Do it on or before 11/19/2010.
After the deadline, I’ll pull 3 random numbers and see if the corresponding comments have the word “freebook” in them. If not, I’ll pull additional numbers until 3 winners have been chosen.
Please let me win a freebook.
Thanks
Paul
Hi! I loved the idea of the golden rectangle. Would be nice to get a freebook of course
Let’s see now, what was that word again? Oh yeah – FREEBOOK!
I would definitely enjoy reading this book. I’ve recently started developing my own B&W film and am looking forward to setting up my own darkroom (I’m scanning right now, but it’s not as satisfying as I imagine an actual print will be.). Taking better portraits of my wife, son, friends and family is a goal of mine. Please enter me for the freebook drawing.
I’m just getting into portrait photography and have such a thirst to learn more– would love this freebook!
Oh man this looks great. And yes I would love a free book. Or is the FREEBOOK, “free book”. Is that enough…not OCD or anything just would love to have this and help on portraits.
Thanks,
Marc
Let me say it with one word – freebook !!
A “freebook?” Awesome.
Looking forward to a freebook. OH, it looks like a great book as well.
freebook … just a freebook please!
This looks like a wonderful freebook – or paybook.
Freebook, yey
A freebook would be a nice gift for me this Christmas!
I would love a copy of the Freebook!
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”. The worst of times is this recession, the best of times would be to win this freebook on Portrait Tips. In the past two years since I first picked up a camera my interest seems to be gravitating toward portraits. Please may I have a freebook?
Be nice to win this freebook on portraits. I would really like to know how to work with people and lighting and get into this area of photography. It’s not a simple task to make good looking portraits that show off the person in their ‘best light’ (so to speak…).
Thank you,
James
Oh what a fantastic ebook. A freebook copy would be so sweet! Great Website, BTW ;0)
Fingers crossed this comment is selected for the freebook.
OOOOOOOOhhhh what a nice freebook that is – i think it would really step up your skills – so wheather you get it for free or not – GET IT =)
If given the chance with a freebook, I’d definitely put these techniques to good use!
WoW i’m very interesting – FREEBOOK !
I am sure this is a very useful reading.
Always wanted to improve my portrait photography skills.
Would love to get freebook.
freebook.
I would love to have this freebook
I would love a freebook!! Thanks for the opportunity!
Freebook please:D
Nice freebook on portrait tips. educating for a lifetime
I so hope I’m picked to win the freebook!
Would love to learn more about the golden rectangle and spiral concept via a freebook! !
Portrait Tips and Techniques — the perfect freebook!
I had a look at the preview and it looks indeed very interesting.
I’d be happy to get a freebook
Realmente me gustaría tener el libro pero no está a mi alcance.
Eso si estoy presto para un “freebook”
La portada me gustó realmente.
Please FREEBOOK.
Un abrazo.
A freebook? That would be a great little Christmas gift!
Free book, free book, free book. (three copies, right?). Looks great. Read the PDF this morning….
The illustrating photographs are beautiful – I would love a copy of this freebook!
This book is great. I would love to have the freebook please!
Portraits are my favorite type of photography so of course I would love a copy of the freebook.
I love reading the epic edits emails especially when they offer a freebook.
I would love a freebook myself.
Hey! Here in Brasil this freebook will be amazing! Let me in!!
saw the pdf provided – i’d like to see the rest of the book
and if it was a freebook, that would be even better.
I was just looking through some older photography books and was super disappointed. This new book totally blows them away.
)
Freebook
~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~
Radford wrote a stunning ebook,
no deny he’s a good writer !
Push your luck to win the freebook,
read it and you will be brighter !!!!
~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~
Yannis
freebook !
Freebook! Freebook! Freebook! Freebook! Freebook! Freebook! Freebook! Freebook! Freebook! Freebook! Freebook! Freebook! Freebook! Freebook! Freebook! Freebook! Freebook! Freebook!
That should do it!
Great blog, and interesting looking book!
Dear Brain,
Because of your blog I came to know the work by this Master Photographer Wayne Radford.
It was really a stunning moment when I visited his Portrait gallery. Each and every work is by itself, a Photographic Tutorial, thank you for this article. l.
Getting a Freebook from epicedits.com, of course will be a great honor to receive.
–Parthiban@PSM
In this season of Thanksgiving, I would be so grateful to win a Freebook.
I am also grateful for Epic Edits – I have learned so much and have had the priviledge through your site and link round ups to visit so many wonderful photographers doing amazing stuff!!!
Would love the opportunity to win the freebook from epicedits.com!!!
Hey, I would simply LOVE a copy of the freebook! So please somehow randomly draw my comment from the stack!
I love freebook offers.
It will be amazing when the Freebook comes my way!!! Looking forward to it! ;D
Looks a great E-Book – even learnt a lot from the sample pages. Would indeed be over the moon to win it as a Freebook.
ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh…Freebook!
please give me the ” freebook ” …
Looks like lots of great tips to be discovered in this wonderful freebook.
thanks
Sue : )
I think this FREEBOOK would be very helpful. I would love to have a copy. Thamks!
I would love to have a copy of the FREEBOOK you are offering. Thanks for furthering knowledge on portraiture, especially for newbies as me. All the best.
I would really like to have this freebook e-book – it seems to be a really interesting thing to read.
that book looks awesome. and if I would win a free copy of it, that would be even better! thanks for having this freebook drawing!
Just here for the freebook. I would find this really useful
I could use a copy of your freebook Portrait Tips and Techniques!
I am just getting into Photography and portraits I still have a lot to learn about lighting and poses. I would love the freebook
Freebook? Works for me.
Guess I’m 45 min. to late to win the “FREE BOOK”!! lol
I’m always interested in improving my portrait work, so… FREEBOOK!
Wow this book looks amazing! I would love it to be a freebook as well!
We are always growing as photographers and this book looks great – would love to win a freebook from this site!
Portraits are my favorite type of photography. I would love a copy of the freebook as it seems sooooo nice.
Thanks
G.
wow if I can get a freebook all the way to Malaysia would be awesome…….
Hey, this isn’t freebook , where are all my friends and the ‘Like’ buttons?
(don’t you just love memes)
Yes, I would like to get into portrature work, and would really like a freebook. The images are all in black and white, does that mean I will have to convert all the images I take into black and white in order to do the lessons?
Umm….do I want a FREEBOOK??? C’mon…of course I do
Just let me know how where to download this great freebok 
Seems to be a really nice book. Congrats!
freebook ebook, seebook readbook, needbook to readbook and freebook is an easy to read book.
Looks like a great book for my reference library!
And I love to have it as the freebook giveaway.
I would love to win the freebook! I believe this book would help me immensely because I love natural light portraiture.
I want a freebook. Or, I want the book for free. Either way, nice blog.
Cheers!
OK, I’m cutting off the entries right here. I’ll announce the winners soon.
Can’t wait to read this book!
Would LOVE to have one free…but will buy if need be….
I would love to win the freebook! I believe this book would help me immensely because I love natural light portraiture.
Looks and interesting book and good as a standing reminder for composing and observing the scene and lighting when shooting portraits.
Sounds fascinating! I’ll have to check it out!
Portraits are my favorite type of photography so of course I would love a copy of the freebook, please!