School of Portraiture - Links to Lessons 1 through 8

[Colin Southern]

Lesson 1 - Backgrounds / Locations

Lesson 2 - Lighting

Lesson 3 - Positioning - Lighting - Taking the Shot

Lesson 4a - Initial post-processing - Part 1

Lesson 4b - Initial post-processing - Part 2

Lesson 5 - Introduction to Flash & Some Inspiration!

Lesson 6 - Introduction to Basic Studio Lighting

Lesson 7 - Introduction to Gels

Lesson 8 - Taking it to the next level

Edit: If you're just joining us, please feel free to either pop your portrait into the Lesson 8 thread, or just create a new thread in the People & pets forum.

[wadedwyane]

My many thanks to everyone for a great Fall school season.

Now that we are through the winter holidays we can breath deeply in knowing that the first half of the school year is through. Before we know it, it will be spring. This means spring portraits, cap and gown, outdoor sessions, the works.

I am busy working on the Spring setting; much like the fall setting, this one will include the backdrop artwork of a California artist and a setting that corresponds with the season. Our artist from last fall, Mary Welch was extremely successful. I had more people complementing me on the setting than perhaps ever before.



As I move through the next few years of school portrait photography you�ll see an increasing devotion to providing portraits that are not being done in schools today. Our sets are improving, our delivery time grows shorter, our online delivery system quick and easy and most importantly, the faces I photograph fresh, innocent and beautiful.



I would also like to welcome this year the Merced County State Preschool program. I had the distinct pleasure of working with their five preschools in the rural areas of Merced county. The children were, as children are, a delight to work with and I look forward to a long relationship with them.



This year also marked a milestone for me and JA Photography. The very first school I ever photographed, The Growing Tree in Stockton and I celebrated the start of 25 years together. They were my very first account and we remain together even still. There is an odd feeling when a young woman or man approaches you, says that not only am I photographing their child but I photographed them when they attended. That�s a lot of water under the bridge.



I�ll keep this blog open and hopefully fresh. Check back and see what�s new.



I am looking forward to seeing you all again soon.

[lyrical5]

Thanks for all the lessons. They were great and helpful to get a better insight of the field.

[alien1981]

Thanks