How to Create Professional Portraits

The creation of professional portraits is a two-part process: Part 1: Photography Part 2: Retouching Each of these 2 parts includes multiple steps.

Part 1: Photography Posing: Direct your model to be in the pose you want. Be creative. Is the pose flattering to the model (does the model look good)? What expression do you want your model to have? Pay attention to details: For example, is the model’s hair out of place? Is their jewelry straight? Are their clothes straight? Lighting: There are lots of different ways to light your model. Move the light around and try new things. Be creative. Are there any unflattering shadows? Are there any unflattering bright spots? Background: What is in the background? Is there anything showing that you don’t want in the background?

Part 2: Retouching Your goal is to create a portrait that looks realistic but is slightly enhanced so it looks a little better than reality. To do that you must do… Basic editing: Adjust the brightness, contrast, and color balance Retouching: – Use the “Healing Brush Tool” (it looks like a BandAid) to cover up blemishes in the skin – Use the “Clone Stamp Tool” (it looks like a rubber stamp) to “paint” over things you don’t want in the photo – Use the “Dodge Tool” (looks like a black ball on a stick) and “Burn Tool” (looks like a hand with thumb and index finger touching) to brighten and darken eyes and teeth

Your Assignment: 3 portraits Due April 7 or 8 (whenever you have class) You will submit 3 portraits You will create one portrait using the process above and show Ms. Beckman 1: the original photo (with NO Photoshopping) 2: the retouched photo (with Photoshopping) Image 3: you will use your own artistic/creative vision to take the retouched portrait a step further and into the unreal. The next slide shows an example. Don’t copy this. Come up with something original.