Portrait Photography Masterclass: Headshot Photography Class from Udemy

What's inside

Learning objectives

You'll be shooting beautiful portraits and headshots in any location.
You'll know how to shoot photos inside or outside, in sun or in the shade, with or without flash.
You'll know how to shoot studio portraits with a clean background.

You'll be editing your own portraits, and know the process for editing headshots.
You'll feel comfortable and confident taking on portrait and headshot jobs.

You'll be shooting beautiful portraits and headshots in any location.
You'll know how to shoot photos inside or outside, in sun or in the shade, with or without flash.
You'll know how to shoot studio portraits with a clean background.
You'll be editing your own portraits, and know the process for editing headshots.
You'll feel comfortable and confident taking on portrait and headshot jobs.

Syllabus

Let's take a moment to get started and settled into the course

Welcome to the portrait and headshot photography course! This video will breakdown the structure of this course, and give you a little bit more information about the instructors. Enjoy!

You can't stream fast enough? You want to listen on the go? Here's all the audio files so you can enjoy the course however you like wherever you like.

Hold onto your seat... I'll give the executive summary and we'll hit the highlights in a crazy 5 minute journey.

Join the Official Student Photography Group

An illustrated guide with over 100 poses for photographing couples, women, men, children, and groups.

In this lesson, we'll give you 5 tips for improving your portrait compositions. If you're a beginner, these 5 tips will help you get comfortable with taking portrait and headshot photos.

Tips to Improve Your Course Taking Experience

In this lesson, Jon covers his favorite gear for portrait photography.

In this lesson of the portrait photography course, you'll learn how to connect your camera to your computer so that when you are shooting photos, they automatically import to your computer. You can even control your camera's shutter from your computer.

COURSE BREAK: Check Out Our Ultimate Resource for New Photographers

Students will know what gear to buy and how to work in full shade and full sun

A quick intro into why you should know how to shoot outside in natural light. You only need a camera, you have flexibility to go to many different places, you have more creative options when it comes to backgrounds. Find out more.

Shooting a Portrait In Shade | Headshot & Portrait Photography Course

Here I'll show you my time-tested and proven method for shooting in natural light. You'll be able to work outdoors with confidence when you're done.

Shooting in full son is one of the biggest challenges when working outdoors, but it doesn't have to be. In this lesson you'll learn a few tips and tricks that will change your outdoor portraits today.

Dappled light is the worst, don't let it ruin one more of your portraits. Learn how to master dappled light forever.

Edit a Natural Light Portrait | Headshot & Portrait Photography Course

In this lesson, you'll learn how to edit portraits. We'll cover doing basic edits like adjusting exposure, white balance, and cropping. We'll even dive into retouching the portrait to make eyes, teeth, wrinkles, blemishes, and skin look better.

If you're looking to seriously get into portrait photography, you should use a color card. Here's how to use one to make sure your color correction is perfect for all of your photos.

Case Study: Think Creatively to Build Our Your Portfolio

You'll learn how to find the best light possible indoors fast

Natural light shooting is rewarding but challenging indoors. Learn the keys and see how you can get more light and make it softer with a few simple tips. There's a sweet spot you should always find.

Shoot an Indoor Portrait with Natural Light

Watch as we have a short, fun adventure shooting indoor, natural light portraits.

Here's the magic, see the trick that will double your available natural light today.

Edit Inside Portrait with Natural Light | Headshot & Portrait Photography Course

You'll learn how to use your speedlight, studio light, and ring light outdoors

Welcome to this section on shooting portraits outdoors with a flash.

Shoot a Portrait Outside with Flash | Headshot & Portrait Photography Course

On camera flash doesn't have to stink. Learn how to use your on camera flash the right way, so you get a subtle but natural light.

In this lesson, you'll learn how to use beauty dishes to shoot beautiful portraits.

Have you ever used a ring light? Learn the ins and outs of one of the coolest lights around, the ring light.

In this lesson, you'll learn a crucial skill on how to overpower the sun with your flash.

Edit a Flash Portrait | Headshot & Portrait Photography Course

Know how to master continuous light indoords

Shoot a Portrait with Continuous Light | Headshot & Portrait Photography Course

This lesson will show you how to shoot with a continuous lighting setup.

Learn how to mix continuos and flash light to take amazing portraits.

Edit a Continuous Light Portrait | Headshot & Portrait Photography Course

You'll learn how to use your light outdoors

Welcome to a new section, follow Jon as he shoots a portrait with a white background. You'll learn how to use a flash and bounce card to get a perfectly white background.

In this lesson, Jon covers the settings and techniques used when using a flash beauty disk.

In this lesson, Jon shows you how to use a reflector to add light that fills in any shadows you don't want.

In this lesson, you'll learn how to pose your subject to get the best portraits.

You'll be able to light, pose, edit, and gel your OCF when you're done with this section.

Welcome to a new section where you'll follow Jon as he shoots a male portrait. Learn the settings, lighting techniques, and posing styles for getting the perfect shot.

In this lesson, you'll see the entire process of taking portraits of a male subject including camera settings, lighting setup, and posing.

In this lesson, you'll learn how to fill in any shadows with a reflector.

In this lesson, you'll learn how to create a more dynamic portrait with lighting.

In this lesson, you'll learn about using gels to change up the color of your photos.

Don't guess about resolution and size, learn it all here

In this lesson, we'll learn how to export photos from Lightroom at specific dimensions and quality. This is a great skill to have when uploading photos online, so you can export the exact recommended size and quality.

Here's a quick note on how to crop your photos for most social media profile pictures.

Monthly student feedback

Here is my feedback to you on student assignments. Want my feedback? Post an assignment

How to Start a Portrait Photography Business Categories

2021 a year in review and mobile phone portrait tips (Android photography)

Bringing it all together

Thank you so much for enrolling in this course. Jon and I truly hope you enjoyed it.

Bonus Lecture: Take Your Photography Further with Phil & Video School

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Teaches how to make money shooting headshots for various clients, which is useful for those looking to monetize their photography skills

Provides tips for improving portrait compositions, which helps beginners get comfortable with taking portrait and headshot photos

Covers basic edits like adjusting exposure, white balance, and cropping, which are essential skills for beginner photographers

Includes downloadable photo files to follow along with editing lessons, which allows for hands-on practice and skill development

Explores how to shoot outdoors in natural light, which gives flexibility to go to different places and have more creative options

Demonstrates how to export photos from Lightroom at specific dimensions and quality, which is useful for uploading photos online

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Portrait Photography Masterclass: Headshot Photography Class with these activities:

Review Basic Photography Principles

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Reinforce foundational photography concepts like aperture, shutter speed, and ISO to better understand the course's practical applications.

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Read articles or watch videos explaining the exposure triangle.
Practice adjusting camera settings in manual mode.
Take practice shots in different lighting conditions.

Review Basic Photography Principles

Show steps

Reinforce foundational photography concepts like aperture, shutter speed, and ISO to better understand the course's technical aspects.

Show steps

Read articles or watch videos explaining the exposure triangle.
Practice adjusting camera settings in manual mode.
Take practice shots in different lighting conditions.

Read 'Understanding Exposure' by Bryan Peterson

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Deepen your understanding of exposure and how it affects portrait photography.

View Understanding Street Photography: An... on Amazon

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Read the book cover to cover.
Experiment with the techniques described in the book.
Take notes on key concepts and techniques.

Seven other activities

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Show all ten activities

Read 'Understanding Exposure' by Bryan Peterson

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Solidify understanding of exposure settings and their impact on portrait photography.

View Understanding Street Photography: An... on Amazon

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Read the chapters on aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
Experiment with different exposure settings while taking portraits.
Analyze the impact of each setting on the final image.

Practice Posing Techniques

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Improve your ability to guide subjects into flattering and natural poses for headshots.

Browse courses on Posing

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Research common portrait poses online.
Practice posing in front of a mirror.
Photograph friends or family members using different poses.

Practice Posing Techniques

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Improve posing skills by practicing different techniques to enhance the subject's appearance and convey the desired message.

Browse courses on Posing

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Study different posing guides and tutorials.
Practice posing in front of a mirror.
Photograph friends or family members using various poses.

Create a Mood Board for Portrait Styles

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Develop a visual reference for different portrait styles to inspire creativity and refine personal preferences.

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Collect images of portraits that appeal to you.
Organize the images into categories based on style, lighting, and posing.
Analyze the common elements in each category.

Headshot Portfolio Project

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Apply learned techniques by creating a portfolio of headshots showcasing different lighting and posing scenarios.

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Plan a series of headshot sessions with different subjects.
Experiment with various lighting setups and posing techniques.
Edit and retouch the photos to create a professional-looking portfolio.
Gather feedback on your portfolio from peers or mentors.

Write a Blog Post on Portrait Photography Tips

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Reinforce knowledge and share insights by writing a blog post summarizing key tips and techniques learned in the course.

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Choose a specific topic related to portrait photography.
Outline the main points you want to cover.
Write a clear and concise blog post with relevant examples.
Proofread and edit the post before publishing.

Read 'The Portraitist's Guide' by Joe McNally

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Expand knowledge of advanced portrait techniques and creative approaches.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

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Read the chapters on lighting, posing, and composition.
Analyze the portraits featured in the book.
Experiment with the techniques described in the book.

Career center

Learners who complete Portrait Photography Masterclass: Headshot Photography Class will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Portrait Photographer

A portrait photographer specializes in capturing images of individuals or groups, often for personal or professional purposes. This course helps build a strong foundation in portrait photography, offering instruction on diverse lighting conditions—natural, direct sunlight, flash, and continuous light. It also teaches how to compose a great shot in any environment. This course is a great fit for aspiring portrait photographers, covering gear, shooting techniques, and editing skills. Aspiring portrait photographers will find the real-world demonstrations, the advice on choosing a background, and the lessons on interacting with subjects to be particularly useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Portrait Photographer

Headshot Photographer

A headshot photographer focuses on creating professional images of people, often used for business profiles, acting portfolios, and social media. This course is specifically designed to help you take good headshots, teaching how to set up your subject in indoor and outdoor settings. The course offers practical instruction on using various lighting techniques, including flash and continuous lighting, and how to edit portraits. Those wanting a career as a headshot photographer should take this course because it teaches how to handle a variety of environments, how to interact with subjects, and how to choose great backgrounds.

See salaries and explore the career path for Headshot Photographer

Freelance Photographer

A freelance photographer works on a project basis, often providing photographic services for a variety of clients. This course is perfect for those who want to offer portrait and headshot services. It provides instruction on shooting in different lighting scenarios, including natural light, direct sunlight, with a flash, or with continuous lighting. The course also offers guidance on editing photos, which is a key skill for any freelance photographer. This course is an excellent choice for freelance photographers because the lessons address many real-world situations and provide strategies from experienced photographers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Freelance Photographer

Commercial Photographer

Commercial photographers create images for businesses and brands to use in advertising and marketing. While commercial work can include other subject manner, a commercial photographer with headshot experience has a valuable skillset. The course can help you learn how to take high quality photos for a client, both in diverse environments and with a variety of lighting techniques. The lessons on interacting with subjects and choosing backgrounds will make one a better commercial photographer, particularly as those skills apply to portraits.

See salaries and explore the career path for Commercial Photographer

Social Media Content Creator

A social media content creator produces content for social media platforms, and often includes high quality headshots and portraits to showcase themselves or others. This course can be useful for learning how to produce high quality headshots and portraits in a variety of lighting conditions. Those aspiring to be a content creator may find the editing lessons and the tips on composition particularly useful. With the skills learned from the course, a content creator can produce their own high quality headshots and portraits.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Media Content Creator

Event Photographer

An event photographer documents events such as conferences, parties, and corporate gatherings. While event photography differs from headshots, it does include candid portraits and event attendees in groups. This course may be useful for learning how to take portraits in a variety of settings as it covers both indoor and outdoor environments and diverse lighting situations: natural light, direct sunlight, flash, and continuous light. The course can also help with learning how to edit portraits. An event photographer may find the real world demonstrations and tips on working with people particularly useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Event Photographer

Wedding Photographer

A wedding photographer captures images of a wedding celebration, including posed portraits of the couple and guests. This course may be useful to those going into wedding photography because, while it doesn't focus on wedding photography, it teaches the basics of taking portraits in various lighting conditions, both indoors and out. The course offers a foundation in how to compose a great shot, and how to interact with subjects. A wedding photographer may find the course a useful way to practice working with people and different environments.

See salaries and explore the career path for Wedding Photographer

Fashion Photographer

Fashion photographers specialize in taking photos of clothing and models for magazines, catalogs, and advertising campaigns. While this course is not specific to fashion photography, it may be useful for learning about working with models and posing. It provides an introduction to lighting techniques that would be helpful in fashion photography. A fashion photographer may benefit from the course's instruction on working in different conditions, such as natural light, direct sunlight, flash, and continuous light.

See salaries and explore the career path for Fashion Photographer

Photo Editor

A photo editor enhances and retouches images for use in various media, from magazines to online posts. This course is useful because it includes lessons on how to edit portraits, covering basic adjustments like exposure, white balance, and cropping, as well as more advanced retouching techniques. The course’s lessons on editing portraits teaches students how to make eyes, teeth, wrinkles, blemishes, and skin look better. It also introduces color correction techniques. A photo editor would find these skills to be invaluable.

See salaries and explore the career path for Photo Editor

Real Estate Photographer

A real estate photographer captures images of properties for sale or rent, often including portraits of realtors. This course may be useful because it provides an introduction to various lighting techniques and how they work, and it teaches how to use a camera in both indoor and outdoor environments. Real estate photographers may find the basic techniques and real world demonstrations helpful to their own work.

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Photography Instructor

A photography instructor teaches the art and technique of photography to students of all levels. This course, with its clear structure and practical approach, would be very useful for someone who wishes to instruct others on portrait and headshot photography. The course provides instruction in diverse lighting situations, and addresses how to shoot in various environments, indoors and outdoors. The real world demonstrations in the course, along with the lessons on editing, provide a range of skills that the instructor can then pass on to others.

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Photojournalist

A photojournalist captures images that tell a story, often for newspapers, magazines, or online publications. Though this course focuses on portrait photography, it may be helpful to a photojournalist who might, on occasion, take a portrait of their subject, as it teaches working in diverse lighting conditions and settings. The skills taught in this course may be useful for taking photos of a subject in a variety of environments. A photojournalist may find the lessons on choosing a background particularly helpful.

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Studio Manager

A studio manager oversees the operations of a photography studio, and may need to take photos from time to time, such as headshots for studio staff. This course provides practical instruction on shooting portraits in different lighting conditions in both indoor and outdoor environments. This course may give a studio manager the technical knowledge they need to help oversee the day to day functions of the studio. The lessons on editing may help the studio manager in their work as well.

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Art Director

An art director is responsible for the visual style and images used in various projects, such as advertising campaigns. This course may be helpful for art directors who need to work with photographers and understand the technical aspects of portrait and headshot photography. This course teaches shooting in different lighting conditions, and it teaches how to edit and compose images to produce high quality photos. An art director may find this course useful in enhancing their understanding of the medium.

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Marketing Associate

A marketing associate helps develop and implement marketing strategies, sometimes using photography to create marketing materials and social media campaigns. This course may be useful because it teaches the basics of taking portrait and headshot photos. It also provides a better understanding of lighting techniques. The course can help those working in marketing to take their own photos, or better collaborate with photographers.

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Portrait Photography Masterclass

Headshot Photography Class

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Activities

Career center

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