The Best of Family Portrait Photography: Professional Techniques and Images (Paperback)

by Bill Hurter (Author) "A portrait is not a snapshot..." (more)
Key Phrases: Frank Frost, Stacy Bratton, Tibor Imely (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

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.

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.; illustrated edition edition (November 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584281723
• ISBN-13: 978-1584281726
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #17,031 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

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

By	G. Musser (Rockaway, NJ) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

10 of 10 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

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.

8 of 8 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

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!