The Complete Portrait Manual

A trusted reference for beginners looking to master the portrait or lifelong photographers looking to try a new twist on the classic genre.

The editors of Popular Photography pooled all their knowledge from their 70+ years of experience to bring you the most comprehensive guide to portraits on the market: The Complete Portrait Manual. Whether you're after snapshots of loved ones laughing, impressive studio headshots, fun yet tasteful selfies, or lightning-fast captures of athletes doing the thing they love, this guide will help you produce the perfect portrait.

In chapters on how to flatter your subjects with poses and angles, light them just right, and retouch your photos in post-production, you'll learn how to:
Get to Know Your Subjects
Pick Props that Show Personality
Snap a Nice Selfie
Craft Environmental Portraits
Hide Flaws with Clever Angles
Take Candid Street Shots
Pick Poses that Flatter
Zoom In on Telling Details
Shoot Truly Joyful Holiday Portraits
Freeze a Subject's Fleeting Reflection
Set Up Avedon Lighting
Know Your Light Sources
Flatter with a Ring Light
Mimic Film Noir Shadows
Slow a Spinning Ballerina with Long Exposure
Combine Natural and Studio Light
Select Light Modifiers
Capture Musicians with Limited Lighting
Make Nostalgic Portraits with Film
Understand Retouching Tools
Go Classic with Black and White Conversion
Craft Whimsical Composites
Repair Old Photos of Loved Ones
Minimize Lines and Skin Flaws
Whiten Teeth and Eyes
Make Cautious Use of the Liquify Tool Brighten Exposure for Breezier Snapshots