The Secrets of Portrait Photography

If life is the art of union, then the portraits of Bob Wolfenson bow to this nature in a living and breathing process of exchange, trust, and even transcendence. This is how he himself defines his art after almost 50 years as a portrait artist as well as nude and fashion photographer. Both his artistic and advertising pieces have appeared in books, exhibitions, and publications such as Vogue, Elle, Playboy, Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, and more.

In this course, learn to photograph portraits and create two photo series, one using natural light and the other artificial. Bob Wolfenson shares his methodology and guides you through each stage, from choosing a theme, ambiance, backdrop, and props, to finding a shoot location and designing lighting. He also gives you some tips on editing and presenting your work to achieve the biggest impact.

Start by hearing a little about Bob Wolfenson’s personal and professional background including his most defining photography projects. He also talks about the artists that have most influenced him throughout his career and gives an overview of the course.

Then get straight to work on your portrait! Gather some useful information on your subject and your personal objective. From here, define the aesthetic and use this to create a mood board. Bob explains which equipment to use, how to put together your set, and teaches you lighting tricks for working with both natural and artificial light.

Now it’s time to get shooting! Learn how to direct your models as well as a range of techniques for working in a studio using a neutral background and controllable artificial lighting. Next, discover photography with natural light, whether outside or also in a studio, using incident or reflected sunlight.

After the shoot, select your best images and move on to the editing phase, retouching imperfections and balancing light and color. Lastly, see how to present your final piece by choosing the appropriate formats and concepts for releasing your art into the world.