Portrait Photography How To

The following is something people tell me when I suggest using a plug-in or specialized software for enhancing or retouching portraits: “But you can do that in Photoshop!” That’s because when it comes to software for wedding, portrait, and boudoir photographs, everyone has an opinion—sometimes a strong one—even if they’re wrong.

(Editor’s Note: Exploring Light is a monthly Shutterbug column featuring tips, tricks, and photo advice from professional photographers in Canon’s Explorer’s of Light education program. This month's column is by Gregory Heisler on his approach to creating an environmental portrait. 

What makes a great portrait versus a boring snapshot? Sometimes you need to have the eye of a pro to take your portraits to the next level.

Have your model strike the right pose, and your photo shoot could be a success. Have them strike the wrong one and it could end up a disaster. Nowhere is this more important thaen in boudoir and swimwear photography where appealing posing is critical.

Motion blur is a very popular technique in which slow shutter speeds are used to give photos a sense of movement, and appropriate subjects span the gamut from flowing water, clouds blowing across the sky, and even action shots of athletes. This effect can be achieved in the camera or during post processing.

This may be the first time we’ve invoked the laws of physics in a phography tutorial. But fear not, because the "Inverse Square Law" is a simple concept, at least as it pertains to photography, and it can have a big impact on your images.

Photographer Manny Ortiz is back with another portrait photography how-to video and this time he shows you three classic tips that will improve your photos. In the below tutorial, Ortiz once again calls on his lovely model wife Diana to pose so he can demonstrate how to use the following composition techniques to up your portrait game.