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Course Outline & Syllabus
Portrait Photography
by
Brian Ratty

The Portrait Photography course is designed for any photographer that wants to better understand portrait lighting patterns and posing tips. The course contains 7 lessons with over 40 tips and instructional points. Additionally there are well over 30 pictures and graphics used as examples of both good and bad portrait applications. At the end of the workshop you can complete an optional exam that will track your understanding of the techniques used with Portrait Photography.  

There is one free sample lesson for this workshop. To access the remaining lessons you may obtain a user id and password by registering at Admissions.

This workshop was designed for the
beginner, amateur and semi-professional photographers.

Warning: This seminar is copyrighted and intended for the personal use of the user. This workshop and/or it's information may not be used in any other public forum.

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Introduction To Portrait Lighting (Lesson 1)

Techniques Of Portrait Lighting
The 'Key' Light
The 'Fill' Light 
Three Basic Lighting Patterns 

Basic Principles Of Lighting (Lesson 2)

Light Source
Types Of Light
Types Of Light Sources
Contrast & Light Ratios

Lighting Equipment (Lesson 3)

Photofloods
Quartz Lights
Strobes
Fittings 

Glamour Lighting  (Lesson 4)

"Butterfly" or "Hollywood" lighting
Unglamorous Portrait
Step by step for “Butterfly” lighting
Hair Light  
Backgrounds  

45-degree / Rembrandt Lighting (Lesson 5) 

The Basic Lighting Pattern 
Three Quarter View
Rembrandt Lighting 
Split (Side) Lighting  

Lighting Variations (Lesson 6)

Backlighting
High Key
Low Key

Posing Tips (Lesson 7)

Posing Babies
Posing Children
Posing Adults
10 Quick Posing Tips

Other Resources

Books
Videos

Final Exam

20 Multiple Choice Questions