Top 7 best portrait photography books for 2022

When you looking for portrait photography books, you must consider not only the quality but also price and customer reviews. But among hundreds of product with different price range, choosing suitable portrait photography books is not an easy task. In this post, we show you how to find the right portrait photography books along with our top-rated reviews. Please check out our suggestions to find the best portrait photography books for you.

Product Features Editor's score Go to site
One Face 50 Ways: The Portrait Photography Idea Book One Face 50 Ways: The Portrait Photography Idea Book
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Annie Leibovitz: Portraits 2005-2016 Annie Leibovitz: Portraits 2005-2016
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Portrait Photography: From Snapshots to Great Shots Portrait Photography: From Snapshots to Great Shots
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Gregory Heisler: 50 Portraits: Stories and Techniques from a Photographer's Photographer Gregory Heisler: 50 Portraits: Stories and Techniques from a Photographer's Photographer
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Mastering Portrait Photography Mastering Portrait Photography
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The Dramatic Portrait: The Art of Crafting Light and Shadow The Dramatic Portrait: The Art of Crafting Light and Shadow
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The Complete Portrait Manual (Popular Photography): 200+ Tips and Techniques for Shooting Perfect Photos of People The Complete Portrait Manual (Popular Photography): 200+ Tips and Techniques for Shooting Perfect Photos of People
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Reviews

1. One Face 50 Ways: The Portrait Photography Idea Book

Description


Whichever side of the camera you like to be on, this book will show you how - with some simple camera techniques and inexpensive items of wardrobe - you can revolutionize your portfolio.

That's always been the mission of photographer Mark and presenter/model Imogen in their smash-hit YouTube channel WeeklyImogen, and their expertise has attracted 160,000 subscribers with well over a million views a month (and growing).

In this book they'll turn the practical wisdom so popular with thousands of photographers worldwide into a simple and accessible guide. You won't need to spend a fortune on props, studios or equipment; photographers and models alike will quickly learn how to create an exciting, varied portfolio of fresh portrait photography.

2. Annie Leibovitz: Portraits 2005-2016

Description

In this new collection from Annie Leibovitz, one of the most influential photographers of our time, iconic portraits sit side by side never-before-published photographs. Afterword by Annie Leibovitz.

Annie Leibovitz: Portraits 2005-2016 is the photographer's follow-up to her two landmark books, Annie Leibovitz: Photographs, 1970-1990 and A Photographer's Life, 1990-2005. In this new collection, Leibovitz has captured the most influential and compelling figures of the last decade in the style that has made her one of the most beloved talents of our time. Each of the photographs documents contemporary culture with an artist's eye, wit, and an uncanny ability to personalize even the most recognizable and distinguished figures.

3. Portrait Photography: From Snapshots to Great Shots

Description

In Portrait Photography: From Snapshots to Great Shots, author and photographer Erik Valind shows you how to get the best shots of your subjectswhether youre in a studio or outdoors, at a family get-together, or at a formal event.

Starting with the fundamentals of portrait photography, including how to select the right camera settings and lenses and how to compose your shots, Erik covers building a rapport with your subject, and offers suggestions for poses that flatter your subject to achieve great shots. He then addresses the problems and opportunities of both natural and indoor light, offering ways to resolve lighting challenges of both, showing when and how to use a flash and how to add and modify light to improve the quality of your images. Finally, he walks through several portrait scenarios, including creating single-person shots such as headshots and environmental shots, and group shots such as family and wedding photos.

Follow along with Erik and you will:

  • Learn the basics of capturing great portraits, such as focusing on the eyes, stepping back and zooming in, and turning your subject into the light
  • Evaluate focal length, compression, and working distance to select the best lens for any given shoot
  • Establish trust with your subject and provide helpful direction and feedback so they feel at ease and look their best
  • Address challenges associated with natural light such as shade and direct lightand tame or redirect the light for improved photographs
  • Improve the light with modifiers and other helpful tools such as strobes, umbrellas, and reflectors
  • Go behind the scenes and walk through the process of creating great portraits with two chapters of start-to-finish examples

Beautifully illustrated with large, vibrant photos, this book teaches you how to take control of your photography to get the portraits you want every time you pick up your camera.

4. Gregory Heisler: 50 Portraits: Stories and Techniques from a Photographer's Photographer

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Gregory Heisler

Description

In this first-ever showcase of his work, Gregory Heisler, one of professional photography's most respected practitioners, shares 50 iconic portraits of celebrities, athletes, and world leaders, along with fascinating, thoughtful, often humorous stories about how the images were made. From his famously controversial portrait of President George H.W. Bush (which led to the revocation of Heislers White House clearance) to his evocative post-9/11 Time magazine cover of Rudolph Giuliani, to stunning portraits of Julia Roberts, Denzel Washington, Hillary Clinton, Michael Phelps, Muhammad Ali, and many more, Heisler reveals the creative and technical processes that led to each frame. For Heislers fans and all lovers of photography, Gregory Heisler: 50 Portraits offers not only a gorgeous collection of both black-and-white and color portraits, but an engrossing look at the rarely seen art of a master photographer at work. With a foreword by New York City mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.

5. Mastering Portrait Photography

Feature

Mastering Portrait Photography

Description

No more formal, corporate-style posesthis book offers a modern, vibrant approach, capturing a moment in the subject's lifestyle. It discusses technical aspects from equipment to exposure, aperture, metering, shutter speed, depth of field and white balance settings, in addition to how natural light, color and movement affect an image. The book also covers posing, home studios, backgrounds, artificial light, and pre-shoot prep such as make-up, hair styling and clothing. Post-production topics include skin retouching, color correction, printing options and presentation.

6. The Dramatic Portrait: The Art of Crafting Light and Shadow

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The Dramatic Portrait The Art of Crafting Light and Shadow

Description

Without light, there is no photograph. As almost every photographer knows, the word photograph has its roots in two Greek words that, together, mean drawing with light. But what is less commonly acknowledged and understood is the role that shadow plays in creating striking, expressive imagery, especially in portraiture. It is through deft, nuanced use of both light and shadow that you can move beyond shooting simply ordinary, competent headshots into the realm of creating dramatic portraiture that can so powerfully convey a subjects inner essence, communicate a personal narrative, and express your photographic vision.

In The Dramatic Portrait: The Art of Crafting Light and Shadow, Chris Knight addresses portraiture with a unique approach to both light and shadow that allows you to improve and elevate your own portraiture. He begins with the history of portraiture, from the early work of Egyptians and Greeks to the sublime treatment of light and subject by artists such as Caravaggio, Rembrandt, and Vermeer. Chris then dives into a deep, hands-on exploration of light, shadow, and portraiture, offering numerous lessons and takeaways. He covers:

    The qualities of light: hard, soft, and the spectrum in between
    The relationships between light, subject, and background, and how to control them
    Lighting patterns such as Paramount, Rembrandt, loop, and split
    Lighting ratios and how they affect contrast in your image
    Equipment: from big and small modifiers to grids, snoots, barn doors, flags, and gels
    Multiple setups for portrait shoots, including those that utilize one, two, and three lights
    How color contributes to drama and mood, eliciting an emotional response from the viewer
    How to approach styling your portrait, from wardrobe to background
    The post-processing workflow, including developing the RAW file, maximizing contrast, color grading, retouching, and dodging and burning for heightened drama and effect
    How all of these elements culminate to help you define your personal style and create your own narrative

7. The Complete Portrait Manual (Popular Photography): 200+ Tips and Techniques for Shooting Perfect Photos of People

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The Complete Portrait Manual Popular Photography 200 Tips and Techniques for Shooting Perfect Photos of People

Description

For beginners looking to master the portrait or lifelong photographers looking to try a new twist on the classic genre, this is your photo book. The Complete Portrait Manual provides over 200 tips techniques to help you successfully capture the portrait you want.

The editors of Popular Photography pooled all their knowledge from their 70+ years of experience to bring you the most comprehensive guide to portraits on the market: The Complete Portrait Manual. Whether youre after snapshots of loved ones laughing, impressive studio headshots, fun yet tasteful selfies on your smartphone, or lightning-fast captures of athletes doing the thing they love, this guide will help you produce the perfect portrait.

In chapters on how to flatter your subjects with poses and angles, light them just right, and retouch your photos in post-production, youll learn how to:

Get to Know Your Subjects Pick Props that Show Personality
Snap a Nice Seflie Craft Environmental Portraits
Hide Flaws with Clever Angles Take Candid Street Shots
Pick Poses that Flatter Zoom In on Telling Details
Shoot Truly Joyful Holiday Portraits Freeze a Subjects Fleeting Reflection
Set Up Avedon Lighting Know Your Light Sources
Flatter with a Ring Light Mimic Film Noir Shadows
Slow a Spinning Ballerina with Long Exposure Combine Natural and Studio Light
Select Light Modifiers Capture Musicians with Limited Lighting
Make Nostalgic Portraits with Film Understand Retouching Tools
Go Classic with Black and White Conversion Craft Whimsical Composites
Repair Old Photos of Loved Ones Minimize Lines and Skin Flaws
Whiten Teeth and Eyes Make Cautious Use of the Liquify Tool
Brighten Exposure for Breezier Snapshots

For amateur photographers, there is no better resource.With high-quality design, intricate detail, and a durable flexicoverthis manual is the perfect gift!

Conclusion

All above are our suggestions for portrait photography books. This might not suit you, so we prefer that you read all detail information also customer reviews to choose yours. Please also help to share your experience when using portrait photography books with us by comment in this post. Thank you!