 Practical |
| Review Date: February 2, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Conrad J. Obregon, New York, NY USA |
If you want to catch the soul of a subject, this may not be the book for you. But if you want to take a portrait that will show the subject to his or her best advantage, this is a great place to start. (By the way, only a few really great photographers have come close to catching the soul of a subject, and I'm willing to bet that when they started out, they were happy just to produce images that showed a subject to the best advantage.)
This book discusses the fundamentals of formal portrait photography, and not photojournalistic portraiture. Sint starts his book emphasizing the importance of dealing with the subject in a manner that will allow photographer and subject to cooperate in producing a great picture. He next talks about framing the subject, lighting and posing. Unlike other portrait books I've read, the author then touches on makeup. Only after going through these subjects does he discuss equipment, and then he finishes up by examining the business side of portraiture.
Through all of this, one gets the feeling of a practical book. For example, in Sint's discussion of framing, he notes that vertical framing usually works best for groups up to four, and horizontal framing works best for groups of six or more. For groups of five, the format depends on how wide the subjects are! When he discusses cameras, he is quick to say he doesn't favor the top of the line cameras because they are too heavy and too expensive. When he talks about makeup, he tells the reader how to fold a powder puff. The discussion of posing tells you how to deal with the double chin, the big nose and different size eyes. The business discussion shows how to calculate expenses and income if one want to make a living from photography, and, if they take it seriously, may discourage a lot of daydreamers thinking about turning pro. The business discussion isn't the only information one would need, but it aims the reader in the right direction.
The book isn't perfect. I would have liked to have seen a little more discussion of lighting equipment, like flash units and booms, but there was certainly enough information that only a little more research would be required by the aspiring portrait photographer.
The book concentrates on taking portraits rather than post processing. For that aspect of portrait photography I would recommend adding "Skin: The Complete Guide to Digitally Lighting, Photographing, and Retouching Faces and Bodies" by Lee Varis to your list. But for everything up until you take the card out of the camera, this book will provide you with the practical information you need for portraits with which your subjects will be happy (and that might even make you a few bucks!)
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A Complete Portrait Photography Course In One Amazing Book
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| Review Date: December 10, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Russell R. Caron, Portland, Maine |
| I met the author, Steve Sint, a few years ago while attending a photography course he teaches at Maine Media Workshops in Rockport, Maine. There, I found Steve to be jammed-packed with top-notch experience from years in the field, and these are experiences he was more than willing to share. A real-life walking photography "encyclopdeia", if you will. The kind of person that walks in a room and instantly seems the light, the color temperature, and the exposure needed for perfect images. Steve's new book, Digital Portrait Photography, is amazing in that it continues in the same vein as the way Steve teaches in person; Steve's love to teach what could be very technical matters in a step-by-step, easy-to-digest manner. This book is incredibly packed with infinite detail and tips, and will become my 'bible' at my portrait studio. I especially like how the book does not just 'show' results, it explains HOW they were achieved, and gives newcomers and even advanced photographers a really good start toward become a professional some day like Steve Sint is for us now. When read with care and interest from cover to cover this text will potentially yield the reader the equivalent of an in-depth college course on the subject. The only thing better, I imagine, would be to have Steve teach you personally. The book is highly recommended. |
The only book you need to shoot people
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| Review Date: January 11, 2009 |
| Reviewer: D. Maximus, New York City |
Steve Sint is a a well known master photographer here in New York. His articles for Popular Photography among other publications have taught countless aspiring photographers and sharpened the skills of many Pros. Steve Sint has shot more than 60 magazine covers, including Life magazine. In addition to teaching he is still a working photographer.
This Digital Portrait Photography book will surely become a classic; just as his book on Wedding Photography is considered a bible for its myriad of tips and tricks. What sets Sints' books apart from others is that he presents his knowledge in a very logical and accessible style. Unlike many other books on photography he does not withhold information or try to win you over to his style of shooting. He presents what he has learned from shooting a couple million pictures in his lifetime and tells you what works and why it works.
The book itself is broken down into chapters:
Portrait Psychology
-- How to get your subjects comfortable and control the set. Probably the single most amazing this ever written on the subject. This chapter alone is reason enough for getting this book.
Framing
-- How to frame faces, bodies, multiple people
Lighting Basics
-- Types of light, temperature, etc.
Advanced Lighting
-- Everything from exposure to filters
Using Lights
-- How to light, ratios, lighting techniques, etc.
Posing the Face
-- How to hide blemishes, double chins, shrink noses and even straighten crooked noses. This chapter is full of really useful information that is not available anywhere else.
Posing the Body
-- bust, full length, groups, etc
Minimalist Makeup
-- How to save hours in Photoshop with a minimal makeup kit.
Equipment
-- Cameras, lenses, tripods, etc
The Business Side
-- How to run a small business, paperwork, portfolio, presentation
There is a lot information in this book to digest. It's much better written that many others I have read on the subject, but I think what makes this a must have is the practical tips Sint drops in every paragraph. This is a very through college level course on People Photography. I also like how Sint throws in some anecdotal situations from his professional life into the mix. It makes the book very readable and fun. I also like that the book is full of illustrations of light setups and the final shots from these types of setups. As you might have surmised by now this book is highly recommended for anyone interested in photographing people, from the amateur to the know it all master. Everyone will come away with some great information. I personally can't wait to apply the knowledge here is my repertoire.
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A wealth of guidance
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| Review Date: December 9, 2008 |
| Reviewer: M. D. Brook, Boston, MA USA |
I'm amazed how helpful this book is. As a photographer embarking on starting my own event and portrait business, there are endless tools in here that make me a better photographer. Steve Sint he describes in clear narrative the technical practices that can/should become good habits; using the guidance in this book, I have already gained confidence when shooting people and am better at producing consistent work. Among it's many strengths, I love that the book begins with a prominent section on the psychology of shooting people - above all else, it's at the heart of shooting people well.
After plodding through throngs of photography books, it's thrilling to find one that ranks among the best. |
If You Get A Book on Portraits, GET THIS ONE!
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| Review Date: December 14, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Thomas A. Mcelvy, Virginia Beach VA USA |
Of late, I have been skeptical of new books, because many of them are rehashes of prior books. Not so for this one!
In the Intro, the author points out that many of the books out there are VERY specialized. This book is just the opposite; in fact, it could be used as the textbook for one or two semesters in college work.
The opening chapter, PORTRAIT PSYCHOLOGY, is simply incredible. Then the meat comes along, chapter by chapter, including framing, lighting (basic & advanced), using lights, posing the face and body, makeup (!), equipment and the business side of portraiture. This literally is a course in portraiture...and an incredible one.
The book, while it does mention specific brands, is quick to point out that there are many manufacturers, and to check out everything. He also provides very clear diagrams for lighting, esquisite example of posing, and some incredible portrait photography to boot. There are also lots of cool tips that everyone should read!
As the title says, if you get a book on portraits... GET THIS ONE! You will NOT regret it! I may get a second copy to keep in my roll-around case...it is that good! Kudos to the author for a job well done!
©2008 Tom McElvy |
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