Before we dive into exercises and analysis, I want to share five portrait styles that have shaped how I think about photography. Over the years, I’ve experimented with many approaches—some stuck, others faded—but each one helped me understand a different part of what portraiture can be. These styles are not strict categories or rules. Instead, […]
View LessonDaylight is unpredictable—but that’s part of its beauty. I love working with natural light because it feels real. It changes by the hour, sometimes by the minute. A ray of sunlight falling through a window can create magic you can’t plan. But you have to stay alert. You have to feel it. Studio light, in […]
View LessonPlan a shoot that is entirely built around tonal values. Before you even pick up the camera, forget about color. Think in light, midtones, contrast, and structure. Choose a model, location, or styling that helps you focus on shapes and mood, not hues. 📌 Here are three tips from my own experience: This isn’t about creating dramatic contrast […]
View LessonFor this chapter’s task, I invite you to create two portraits using the same set or background, but with completely different lighting atmospheres. In my own work, I’ve done this many times. I’ll show you two examples: Your Task: Use what you’ve learned about light. Create two images: Keep everything else the same—your subject, the pose, the backdrop. Just […]
View LessonThis exercise is all about embracing the beauty of everyday locations and seeing the potential they offer for creative portrait photography. I want you to step outside of the studio, let go of the pressure to find the “perfect” location, and find inspiration in the spaces around you. Instructions: Reflection: After completing the shoot, reflect […]
View LessonThis exercise is all about stripping things down to the essentials — no styling, no props, no distractions. Just a person in front of your lens. What remains when everything else is taken away? Expression, posture, and presence. I’ve always found that the most compelling portraits are often the simplest ones. When there’s nothing to […]
View LessonShoot a portrait where light is the true subject. The goal here is not to capture a face, but to capture how light shapes the face. Use shadow, reflection, diffusion – let the light do the talking. 📌 Focus points to guide you: Example from my work:Two portraits of the same model.In the first image, I used hard, direct […]
View LessonBy completing this exercise, you’ll refine your skills in minimalist black-and-white portrait editing and learn how to make subtle adjustments that truly enhance the portrait. Select an Image to Edit: Choose one of your black-and-white portrait photographs to edit. Focus on making subtle adjustments that enhance the natural beauty of the subject, rather than making […]
View LessonIn this exercise, you’ll create a moodboard for a future portrait shoot. It doesn’t have to be perfect or even final. Think of it as a playground for your ideas—a place where you gather visual inspiration and explore what speaks to you. Here are a few things I focus on when building a moodboard: 🧭 Theme […]
View LessonWhen I look back at my early portraits, I can see a mix of curiosity, hesitation, and the desire to get things “right.” I experimented with different styles, borrowed visual ideas, played with light in ways I thought I was supposed to. Some of those images still hold something special – others feel like I […]
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