My name is Paul Howard. I’m a portrait and headshot photographer in Red Deer, Alberta, in Canada. Like many, I find I’m happiest behind the camera. I revel in images of people, particularly faces.
The when and where is any time, any place. My “how” is pretty basic, at least I think it is: find or make the light I’m looking for and capture it. The why is a little more difficult to explain. . thephoblographer.com
When shooting portraits on location, choosing the right background is critical, and just like anything in photography, there is no one size that fits all. Let’s break them down into different scenarios. petapixel.com »
2020-09-24 18:29
In this video and article, we’re going to show you how to spice up an ordinary portrait using off-camera flash to simulate window light photography. We’ll use the CAMP framework (Composition, Ambient Exposure, Modify or Add Light, Pose & Photograph) to outline the steps we took to compose, light, and capture the final image. Step […] petapixel.com »
2020-05-30 20:23
About a month ago, photographer Eldar Nurkovic took a spur-of-the-moment portrait of his girlfriend—a pharmacist-in-training—in the middle of the street. That photo, showing the imprints of her mask and fear in her eyes at the impending outbreak, is now the face of an international awareness campaign by the World Health Organization. Nurkovic recently reached out […] petapixel.com »
2020-05-15 22:23
When everything went into lockdown a few weeks ago, I think my brain went into lockdown as well. It just zapped my motivation, my creativity, my income — everything. Suddenly 3 months of income were just gone. petapixel.com »
2020-04-09 18:05
If you look at album covers from the 1970s, one of the things you’ll repeatedly see is a particular type of wicker chair commonly referred to as a peacock chair. Here’s an interesting 7. petapixel.com »
2020-04-01 18:50
Photographer Joshua Cripps recently captured something really cool. Finding himself in the UAE leading up to an annular solar eclipse, he decided to try and shoot a dynamic portrait in the middle of the ‘ring of fire’ effect created by this kind of eclipse. petapixel.com »
2020-01-22 22:32
Today’s letter is all about how to work with a portrait subject. Hey Mike, Do you have any advice for making non-models comfortable in front of the camera? I always have trouble getting people to relax. thephoblographer.com »
2019-08-12 13:00
If you hold a preference for natural light portrait photography, you might find backlighting as one the effective techniques to use for creating dreamy images. It's not as simple as just shooting outdoors with the sun behind your subject, but a technique with the goal of a moody yet balanced look for portraits. thephoblographer.com »
2019-05-14 10:00
Through his most famous character’s lips, Arthur Conan Doyle once lamented “There is nothing new under the sun.” But he was wrong. Because I recently saw a photograph that was so utterly unique and awe-inspiring that it instantly froze the Lucky Charms-laden spoon that had been traveling toward my waiting craw. I’d just seen my […] petapixel.com »
2018-06-11 20:54
Professional portrait backdrops can cost over $1,000 apiece. If you’d like to get creative without getting broke, photographer Jessica Kobeissi has a thrifty DIY idea for you in this 4. 5-minute video. petapixel.com »
2018-04-10 21:02
Apple just released this 1-minute video that offers a short and sweet behind-the-scenes explanation of how the company created the Portrait Lighting feature found in the latest iPhones. Apple says it started out by studying the art of portraiture through the history of art, from paintings to photographs. After doing that research, the company then […] petapixel.com »
2018-02-23 20:26
Ever wonder how the iPhone’s amazing Portrait Model is able to create “fake” bokeh? Some Stuff Explained created this simple 5-minute explanation video that explains how Apple’s Portrait Mode works on iPhones with dual lenses. petapixel.com »
2018-01-11 19:20
Dual cameras have become ubiquitous in the smartphone world, and with them has emerged a new technique for simulating a shallow depth of field — the feature commonly called ‘Portrait Mode’. This 10-minute video from Marques Brownlee explains how it works, and it also pits Portrait Mode on an iPhone X, Note 8, and Pixel […] petapixel.com »
2017-12-11 23:28
One way portrait photographers like Annie Leibovitz light large-scale group photos is by lighting smaller groups by themselves and then compositing everyone together into a large group. Photographer Barry Harley recently employed this technique with relatively affordable gear for a group photo with friends while on vacation. Harley, his wife, and a group of friends […] petapixel.com »
2017-09-30 18:33
Portrait photography, in general, is one of the most popular niches in the industry and is often one of the first things a new photographer attempts to master as they hone their craft. But a key to making appealing portraits is making a good lens selection based on the look that you are attempting to produce. thephoblographer.com »
2017-07-26 19:00
Portrait photography, in general, is one of the most popular niches in the industry and is often one of the first things a new photographer attempts to master as they hone their craft. But a key to making appealing portraits is making a good lens selection based on the look that you are attempting to produce. thephoblographer.com »
2017-07-26 19:00
The artistic effect created by compositing images in a double exposure is certainly nothing new, but the masking techniques learned in constructing this kind of image in Photoshop are valuable in all sorts of post-production. petapixel.com »
2017-06-16 20:43
There is a progression that takes place in the journey that is our lighting knowledge: ambient light > on-camera flash > bouncing that flash > off-camera strobes > gels. At first it is learning the ways of ambient light (read: I don’t want to buy a flash). As our career progresses we decide to buy […] petapixel.com »
2017-03-17 19:42
Commercial photographer Blair Bunting shares his tips for adding colored gels to your portraits. The post How to Get Started with Split Color Portrait Lighting appeared first on 500px ISO. iso.500px.com »
2017-03-07 18:17
Working with a portrait subject in the studio first and foremost requires you to stop thinking about them necessarily as your subject and instead more as your collaborator. Now don't get me wrong, you're essentially going to the conductor of the orchestra most of the time so to speak--but you need to think about people in a different way. thephoblographer.com »
2017-03-03 20:02
If you want a neat example of creativity in action, look no further than photographer Andrew Tihi‘s recent portrait adventure. Watch as he uses a backlit bus stop advertisement to help him capture a glowing portrait against a white backdrop. petapixel.com »
2016-11-02 01:17
As with most creatives, when I have a concept in mind it will distract and consume me until it becomes a reality. I wanted to create a conceptual self-portrait that was dreamlike, surreal, and relevant to an inner conflict in my life. petapixel.com »
2016-09-08 17:53
“I live for magic and dreams. I find inspiration everywhere, but mostly in life and people,” says fine-art & portrait photographer Jovana Rikalo, about her fun and whimsical fairy-tale photography.
Lia Konrad is a 23-year-old photographer who grew up in small town Hof, Germany with big ideas. With a very small budget for a camera with a single lens—but none for lighting—and a homemade costume, she has created a marvelous series of fantasy environmental portraits.