Customer Reviews

50 Portrait Lighting Techniques for Pictures that Sell

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

50 techniques is a stretch. Despite the colorful labels, many lighting set-ups are identical to those shown on other pages. Few, if any, would sell in today's market. Unless you are interested in seeing how a hobbiest in the sixties might have photographed a handful of community actors, you won't find much here. The examples are out-of-date, uninspired, and in some cases poorly focused.

Personally, I found this book very interesting and well worth the money. While the book is a little dated, it deals concisely with how to achieve a wide range of lighting techniques, both indoor and out, old and modern. The book is definitely biased towards commercial headshot photography but many of the techniques and ideas described are applicable to photographers in all fields, whether professional or amateur. Several areas I particularly liked were the hints and tips spread among the pages and the FAQ sections dealing with setting up in business, legal aspects, working with clients, retouching, etc.

This book is terrible, very out of date, old. In my point of view, to remember the past of portrait light, is ok, to 60's. Today, is out of date.

If you're looking for fine art techniques, this may not be exactly for you, but if you know the difference between a Key and a Kick light, if you know what a 1:3 lighting ratio is, and if you're looking for a cookbook to teach you the basics and fundamentals of portrait lighting that are second nature to the working professional, then this is the book to do it. No nonsense and no fluff, concise and to the point, this book covers a wide range of lighting and posing scenarios that will stand you in good stead throughout your career. Having purchased close to a dozen books on portraiture, this one is one of the best. If you're a budding pro, a student, an advanced amatuer, or just someone who wonders how they light the types of professional photos you see in magazines and in the windows of portrait studios everywhere, this book will provide you with a veritable wealth of information.

I found the book to be very disapointing because of the use of hotlights instead of flash. There also was no mention of settings, I think these days very few photographers rely on hotlights. The book was not relavant to todays portrait styles, I would have given this book a high rating if it would have been published 25 years ago, but today I would give it only a single star, I also was surprised at the authors lack of skill in the 3 or 4 photos that he tried to unsuccessfuly use flash, the photographs were overexposed, also there were shadows directly behind the subjects heads that no customer of mine would except. nor would I even show my customers such photos. shame on you John Hart!

Okay, this guy makes his living, according to the book, from doing head shots and studio portraits for actors and models who need samples for their portfolios.

I won't say there's nothing to be learned from this book, as he does show, and carefully explain the techniques he is using, and shows examples of the pictures he wouldn't use and explains why, as well as the ones he would.

However, the portraits are, for the most part, brightly lit, flat, hard edged and soulless. They look to me exactly like the kind of pictures I **don't** want to take of people in front of my camera. Sort of a primer for the Sears Studio Photography technique of portraiture. Yuck.

I liked this book. It has some out dated looking pictures but i felt it helped a lot to get started. They have a lot of easy lighting set ups explained. Like "glamour" lighting and exactly where to place the lights. The other drawback though was it's definately before the digital age of cameras and I think he used hot light(lights that don't flash). But still good if you are a beginner and just need some set up to try and get a feel for everything.

John Hart began as a painter, and goes about his photography slowly and thoughtfully. He prefers continuous light because it facilitates that pace. You get a good grasp of his careful approach in this book.

The book can be a gold mine for someone just starting out in portrait photography. Hart gives you the setups that will allow you to deliver solidly professional results.

The section on outdoor shooting doesn't add to what most beginning photographers already know, but the section on studio work is invaluable. Hart doesn't hold back any "secrets"; he generously explains what he has learned over many years. He has always been one of the most popular photographers for actors in New York, and this book can start you toward that kind of career.

I strongly recommend it, and I can't imagine how someone could find it dated.

This book is the bible for the industry.
As a professional photographer I have used the original version of this book extensively and I now use this newer edition even more. There is something for everyone in this book no matter your level of expertise in photography. You need this volume in your library!
Buy 2 because you will wear out the pages from overuse.
It answers your daily shooting problems professionaly and completely.
I hope he writes more books!!

I found the book to be a wealth of information. Concise and easy to read with good illustrations. Although I never intended to sell pictures, I'm always taking pictures of family and friends and found enough useful tips to really improve my technique.