Photographing Men: Posing, Lighting, and Shooting Techniques for Portrait and Fashion Photography, First Edition

Photographing Men: Posing, Lighting, and Shooting Techniques for Portrait and Fashion Photography, First Edition

by Jeff Rojas
Released February 2016
Publisher(s): Peachpit Press
ISBN: 9780134433233

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Book description

More and more men are seeking out great portrait, commercial, or fashion photography. For working photographers, photographing men may be one of today's greatest new opportunities. But, while there are dozens of books, guides, and workshops on photographing women, there's been practically nothing comparable for men… until now!

Jeff Rojas's Photographing Men is today's definitive full-color guide to every aspect of modern male photography. Rojas builds on his unique in-person course, which has made him Google's #1 go-to search result for knowledge on photographing males. Rojas covers posing, styling, posing, lighting, post-production, and more, showing how to achieve outstanding results and maximum creative expression. You'll discover how to:

  • Make male clients look natural, masculine, and confident

  • Skillfully document your male clients' best attributes, physical and emotional

  • Define every man's face shapes, body shapes, and other features

  • Compensate for flaws and perceived flaws, including acne, baldness, double chins, gray hair, wrinkles, and large features

  • Overcome the challenges of styling male subjects, including big, skinny, and short men

  • Understand how a suit should really fit your subject - and what to do if suits are out of the question

  • Properly light all shapes and sizes of men for portraits, fashion, and commercial images (with complete lighting diagrams, behind-the-scenes images, and gear lists)

  • Get detailed examples and tips for portraits, 3/4 poses, and full-length poses

  • Photograph entrepreneurs, managers, prosperous men, innovators, "classic" and "handsome" men, athletes, muscle men, underwear models, and even movie stars

  • Complement every man's features in post-production techniques

  • And much more

    • Table of contents

    1. Title Page
    2. Copyright Page
    3. Dedication Page
    4. Acknowledgments
    5. Contents
    6. Introduction
      1. The Minimalist
      2. A New Perspective on Photographing Men
      3. Take Control: Invest in Your Client’s Personal Image
      4. What I Learned as a Portrait and Fashion Photographer
      5. My Method: Think Ahead
      6. Bonus Video
    7. Part I: Defining Features
      1. Chapter 1. Face Shapes
        1. Studying Face Shapes
          1. Square
          2. Round
          3. Triangular
          4. Oblong
          5. Oval
          6. Diamond
          7. Heart
        2. Making Decisions Based on Your Subject’s Face Shape
          1. Choosing the Right Lens
          2. Contouring Faces: My Method
          3. Contouring Faces in Adobe Photoshop: Dodge and Burn
      2. Chapter 2. Body Types
        1. Ectomorph (Skinny)
        2. Mesomorph (Athletic)
        3. Endomorph (Heavy/Large)
      3. Chapter 3. Perceived Flaws
        1. Baldness or a Large Forehead
          1. Lighting
          2. Background
          3. Depth of Field
          4. Lens Choice
        2. Acne, Scars, and Wrinkles
          1. Lighting
          2. Post-Production
        3. Redness or Rosacea
          1. Lighting
          2. Post-Production
        4. Double Chin
          1. Posing your Subjects
          2. Lighting
          3. Lens Position and Lens Choice
        5. White or Graying Hair
          1. Lighting
          2. Background
          3. Depth of Field
          4. Post-Production
        6. Glasses
          1. Lighting
          2. Turning your Subject’s Head
          3. Putting your Subject in Shade
          4. Shifting the Position of the Glasses
          5. Embracing it
    8. Part II: Posing and Styling
      1. Chapter 4. Understanding Body Language
        1. The Importance of Nonverbal Communication in Photography
        2. Body Language Made Easy
        3. Using Triangles and Negative Space to Your Advantage
        4. Analyzing Your Subject and His Environment
        5. Posing versus Directing Your Subjects
      2. Chapter 5. Standing Poses
        1. Hands in Pocket with Feet Shoulder-Width Apart
        2. One Hand on Shoulder, Other Hand in Pocket, with Legs Shoulder-Width Apart
        3. Hands in Pockets and Legs Apart
        4. Arms and Legs Crossed
        5. Hand Touching Face, Arms Crossed, Legs Crossed
        6. Jacket over Shoulder, Hand in Pocket, Legs Crossed
        7. Jacket over Shoulder, Arm Relaxed, Walking Toward Camera
        8. Hand in Pocket, Holding Triceps, Walking Toward Camera
        9. Additional Inspiration
      3. Chapter 6. Sitting Poses
        1. Hands Over Legs, Leaning Forward, Facing Camera
        2. Legs Up, Hand on Leg, Hand on Face
        3. Legs Apart, One Hand in Pocket, Other Hand on Knee
        4. Arms Crossed, Legs Crossed, Facing Camera
        5. Arms Crossed, Legs Crossed, Facing Sideways
        6. Leaning into Knee, Arms on Legs, Legs Out
        7. Sitting on a Stool
        8. Sitting on a Stool, Facing the Camera
        9. Additional Inspiration
      4. Chapter 7. Lying Poses
        1. Leg Extended, Back Leg Bent, Hand on Knee, Body Supported by Elbow
        2. Leg Extended Facing Camera, Leg Up, Elbow on Knee, Body Supported by Right Hand
        3. Both Elbows on Floor, Back Leg Bent
        4. Lying on Side with Head Propped on Hand, Arm on Stomach
        5. Lying on Side with Head Propped on Hand, Other Arm over Head
        6. Additional Inspiration
      5. Chapter 8. Styling 101
        1. Why Fit Matters More Than Style
        2. How a Suit Should Really Fit
          1. The Shoulders
          2. The Torso
          3. The Rear
          4. Sleeve Length
          5. Jacket Length
          6. The Break (Hem Length)
          7. The Collar
        3. Styling Tools for Your Studio
          1. Mini Spring Clamps or Binder Clips
          2. Garment Steamer
          3. Blotting Paper
          4. Underarm Shields or Sanitary Napkins
      6. Chapter 9. Styling Difficult Features
        1. Bigger, Broader Men
          1. Wear Light Layers
          2. Avoid Showing Bare Skin
          3. Wear Suspenders Instead of Belts
          4. Trim Facial Hair
          5. Wear a Hat
          6. Use a Pocket Square
          7. Pay Attention to the Background
        2. Taller, Skinnier Men
        3. Shorter Men
        4. Double Chins and Shorter or Wider Necks
        5. Long or Skinny Necks
    9. Part III: Lighting Men
      1. Chapter 10. Introduction to Lighting Men
        1. Artificial Light versus Natural Light
        2. Hard Light versus Soft Light
        3. Lighting Gear
          1. Barn Doors
          2. Beauty Dishes
          3. Diffusion Material
          4. Flags
          5. Gels
          6. Honeycomb Grids
          7. Octaboxes
          8. Reflector Dishes
          9. Softboxes
          10. Stripboxes
          11. Umbrellas
      2. Chapter 11. Portrait Photography
        1. The Classic Man
        2. Clean Background
        3. Clean Portrait
        4. Dramatic Portrait
        5. The Refined Man
        6. Painterly Portrait
        7. The Polished Man
        8. Signature Style
      3. Chapter 12. Commercial Photography
        1. Men’s Fragrance Campaign: Window Light
        2. Men’s Fragrance Campaign: Speedlights
        3. Fitness and Yoga Equipment
        4. Sports Equipment I
        5. Men’s Catalog
        6. Sports Equipment II
        7. Muscle Magazine
        8. Grit
      4. Chapter 13. Fashion Photography
        1. Window Light
        2. The Snapshot
        3. Eyewear Campaign I
        4. Eyewear Campaign II
        5. Luxury Campaign
        6. Simple Texture
        7. Natural Light
        8. Eyewear Campaign III
    10. Index

    Product information

    • Title: Photographing Men: Posing, Lighting, and Shooting Techniques for Portrait and Fashion Photography, First Edition
    • Author(s): Jeff Rojas
    • Release date: February 2016
    • Publisher(s): Peachpit Press
    • ISBN: 9780134433233