Customer Reviews

The Art of Children's Portrait Photography

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Talks about the business of children's photography not the art. 2 maybe 3 diagrams of how the picture was taken. No technical info about the photos. Many of the other reviews are more than likey written by friends of the author or folks interested in selling the book. Great pictures in the book and you can get some good ideas on what to look for. Would purchase other books if you are looking for lighting setups and what the picture looks like. Very disappointing overall.

The author did a very nice job in providing information and sharing her experience in the business. If you are looking for technical tips, or how to start on photography, this is NOT the book for you. If you are looking for tips about what is the best way to approach and handle your little clients -from a personality point of view- or add to your own knowledge, this is definitely a valid source of information. I was very pleased with the book and learned lots of aspects I ignored at the time. By the way: If you are in the STUDIO portrait business or thinking of it, this is NOT a book for you either. Content is mostly related to outdoor photography.

I normally don't write reviews but I was interested to see how many other people had been inspired as much as I! So I was a little surprised by the last review. I live in remote Western Australia and was given this book by my sister in-law when I launched into creating a career from child photography. She couldn't have given me a better gift if she had tried - it was impossible to sleep .. couldn't put it down as I was sure the author had written the book just for me! I loved the breezy, non-text-like style and the pratical approach ... it has given me a great kick start! Thank you so much Tamara Lackey!

Nice conversational overview of the portrait photography profession. But disappointing if you were looking for a book about HOW to take children's portrait photography (like I was).

I purchased this book with the goal of being able to deal with my little clients better-- to understand them on a deeper level in a shorter amount of time, be able to respond appropriately to the myriad of personalities that I'm presented with (there's nothing like coming on too strongly / happily and making the sensitive kid cry at the beginning of a 20-minute mini-session), and acurately portray their personalities in a photograph. This book delivered on all points, and then some. It is beautifully written and speaks not only of the methods of connecting with the little ones and their various personality types, but also of the deeper meaning of what we, as photographers, are doing when we photograph them. A MUST-READ for any children's photographer.

I loved this book! Not only is it filled with the most gorgeous photographs to inspire you; the tips and tricks of the trade that Tamara Lackey freely discloses are an invaluable tool for any photographer who is starting out in business, or like myself, a more seasoned wedding photographer wanting to now focus more on the art of children's photography. I have learnt that the best way to fast track your knowledge and skill level, is to go directly to the masters in their field. By doing this, you can avoid making the mistakes that so often go with starting out in this profession. Tamara is definately one of the world's best. Even though I am a photographer and a mum myself, getting the best out of children of all different personalities at a shoot, is something that I didn't feel very confident about. I was helped so much by this book; it really spells out ways to draw children out and have a truely enjoyable shoot and produce breathtaking images that reflect the personality of the child and family. It was exactly what I was looking for. I highly recommend it.

Many of the reviews for this book seem to be written by the same person. Not much substance to the book. Book has some illustrations along with descriptions, but its missing the meat and potatos that would explain what was done, and how it was done.

Okay, so the pictures in this book are amazing, and the quality is great. I was however wishing it gave a little more direction on getting these types of photos from a technical standpoint. There is some info there, just not enough...the book seems to me to be VERY basic.

I don't like to read text books and when I saw that this was magazine like I was very excited. I got it and read it from cover to cover the first day. I have gone back and re-read parts of it from time to time. Overall, I am glad that I purchased it!

The reason I gave it four stars is I felt like the first half was a little bit of a teaser. It could have been it's own book if there were more detail. Several times I kept thinking, "okay, then what?" Specifically I would have liked more depth with the lighting, although it does set you up for going out an getting more info. Her writing is very personable and flows well making is very easy to read. I read it in only a couple of sittings. I didn't enjoy seeing the same child multiple times for examples - I was a little disappointed in this b/c I know her work is stunning and she has an amazing portfolio to pull from. I am assuming the little blond is her daughter.

The absolutely best part of the book for me (already shooting professionally) was the back-end client relations detail. Here I felt like she went in depth. Step by step. It was very helpful that she listed out her own personal experiences and didn't just leave you with 'ideals.'

Very much worth the money. I will keep this one and re-read it in a few months for a refresher and a little kick in the pants.