The Best of Family Portrait Photography: Professional Techniques and Images [Paperback]

Bill Hurter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2005

Artwork from 30 of the industry's top photographers is used to highlight both clear-cut shooting strategies and colorful, cutting-edge approaches to family portraiture in this handbook intended for idea gathering and inspiration. Advice on focal length, perspective, and maximizing the potential of digital equipment highlights the technical aspects of family portraiture while group posing strategies demonstrate how best to flatter each subject and convey a sense of family unity. A lengthy discussion of lighting—the backbone of portraiture—and the manipulation of shadows and highlights instructs photographers on how to create mood and interest in a variety of lighting scenarios, both indoors and out. Specifics on adjusting body lines, colors, and shapes, working with young children, and creating a comfortable atmosphere ensure that the photographer captures the unique personality of each family with dynamic and attractive images.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Bill Hurter is the editor of Rangefinder magazine, the former editor of Petersen's PhotoGraphic, and the author of The Best of Wedding Photography, Group Portrait Photography Handbook, The Portrait Photographer's Guide to Posing, and Portrait Photographer's Handbook. He lives in Santa Monica, California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Amherst Media, Inc. (November 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584281723
• ISBN-13: 978-1584281726
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #53,662 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #74 in Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > Portraits

More About the Author

Bill Hurter has been involved in the photographic industry for the past 30 years. He is the former editor of Petersen's PhotoGraphic magazine and currently the editor of both AfterCapture and Rangefinder magazines. He has authored over 30 books on photography and hundreds of articles on photography and photographic technique. He is a graduate of American University and Brooks Institute of Photography, from which he holds a BFA and Honorary Masters of Science and Masters of Fine Art degrees. He is currently a member of the Brooks Board of Governors. Early in his career he covered Capital Hill during the Watergate Hearings and worked for three seasons as a stringer for the L.A. Dodgers. He is married and lives in West Covina, CA.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth the $$$, February 17, 2007

By 

G. Musser (New Jersey) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Best of Family Portrait Photography: Professional Techniques and Images (Paperback)

I'm new to portriat photography and bought this book to get me started. I was not disappointed. This book was easy to read, had lots of pictures, and covered a lot of different topics that I found very useful. The book covers everything from which lenses to use, to indoor/outdoor lighting, posing, color schemes, composition, and guidelines to follow for taking pictures of small groups...all the way up to very large groups. Highly recommended...I highlighted and underlined many points and sections in this book.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars 3.5 stars: great examples, so-so othrewise, January 9, 2007

By 

kdiverdown (Arizona) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Best of Family Portrait Photography: Professional Techniques and Images (Paperback)

i did learn some very valuable tricks, and many of the examples are great, some, not so much. Not really set up as a practical guide. There is an abundance of information and it was interesting and informative...but I would have prefered more diagrams for posing composition and maybe a priority list to develope a routine for great results beginning to end.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Our official family photographer says it's great, January 9, 2007

By 

K. Carter (Utah, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Best of Family Portrait Photography: Professional Techniques and Images (Paperback)

Our daughter-in-law, a talented family photographer, says this book has everything she had hoped to learn in a recent class (but didn't) plus more. She says it's great!