Children's Portrait Photography Handbook [Paperback]

Bill Hurter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 28, 2007

Packed with practical techniques that both inform and inspire, this professional guidebook to photographing babies, small children, and teenagers presents new strategies to maximize client cooperation and ensure smooth sessions. The entire child-based photographic process is addressed, including proper equipment selection, physical and behavioral controls for young subjects, working with black-and-white exposures, assessing raw versus JPEG modes, and evaluating digital exposures by determining over- and underexposure metering. Chapters devoted to mastering studio lighting—from direct and diffused lighting tactics to employing the use of umbrellas and softboxes—as well as working in sunlight and twilight environments is also featured.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Take better photographs of babies, small children and teenagers with help from this practical guide."  —PCPhoto

About the Author

Bill Hurter is the editor of Rangefinder and the author of 12 photography books, including The Best of Wedding Photojournalism, Group Portrait Photography Handbook, and The Portrait Photographer’s Guide to Posing. He lives in West Covina, California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Amherst Media, Inc. (May 28, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584282037
• ISBN-13: 978-1584282037
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #836,676 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #80 in Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > Children

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

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book on Children's Photography, January 25, 2008

By 

A. Winters (Provo, Utah) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Children's Portrait Photography Handbook (Paperback)

This book has outstanding photos and ideas. It really opens up the horizon on how to photograph children. We took some great shots of our 5 month old son after reading the book. However, the book assumes that you are a serious or professional photographer and neglects to explain some of the technical aspects in easy to understand terms for a novice wanting to merely learn how to take better pictures of children. Overall, though, definitely worth it for the photos and ideas.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect, November 20, 2007

By 

M. Swanton (Quincy, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Children's Portrait Photography Handbook (Paperback)

I am not a professional photographer, just so we get that out of the way. I recently graduated from a point and shoot digital camera that, while better than any camera I had owned previously, was not the nice unit I have now. I also have three little girls who are photogenic. Now, I have a book that has turned me into a better photographer of children. It was so easy to understand, so inspirational and so filled with wonderful examples that it sucked me in and spit me out with the knowledge to photograph my children anywhere, anytime and enjoy beautiful results. The interviews with professionals gave me insights that I never would have obtained elsewhere.
Now I take the pictures for my sister and for a few friends. Amazing book.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Another show off of pictures, September 14, 2009

By 

Tiger - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Children's Portrait Photography Handbook (Paperback)

This is not a good education book for beginners. It does show a lot of nice pictures. But no details of how these pictures taken. It gives many suggestions for better pictures as many other photography books do,but lacks the step-by-step instructions of how to apply those rules for nice pictures. It is more like a collection of the pictures of the author's friends. I found it is like most of other photograph books, no details on lighting (natural or studio) or composition or posing. For the most critical elements like lighting, posing and composition, it, like most other books, gives the principals only.
The book "Professional Secrets of Natural Light Portrait Photography " is much better because it tells you frankly the lighting and composition and posing of every pictures taken by the author.Douglas Allen Box 's book really offers something solid for improving photography.