Portrait Photography Course

Learn the camera skills and lighting techniques used by professional portrait photographers.

Shoot with both natural light and studio lighting to create striking, polished portraits.

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Portrait Photography Course

Name: Portrait Photography
Rating: 5 (24 reviews)

Take stunning portraits using natural and studio lighting on this practical one-day portrait photography course. Led by a professional photographer, you'll learn how to use different lenses and focal lengths for portraiture, work with flash, modifiers and studio lighting setups, sculpt and control natural light using reflectors, frame and position your subjects for headshots and environmental portraits, review and critique your own images, and develop a stronger eye for what makes a great portrait.

Please bring your DSLR or mirrorless camera.

One Day

10:00 - 16:30 UK Time

Private Options

Key Learning Points

Key Learning Points
Shoot flattering portraits in any style
Choose the right equipment for the job
Frame and position subjects with intention
Shape portraits using natural light
Control and modify studio lighting setups

If attending an online course you must have a licensed copy of any software required and access to a suitable computer.

You should have a basic experience using your camera’s manual settings. You will need to bring a DSLR or mirrorless camera with you, all other equipment will be provided.

Professional Photography

Who is this course for?

For photographers who want to develop portrait skills using natural and studio lighting. Basic knowledge of manual camera settings required. Bring your own DSLR or mirrorless camera.

Expert Trainers

Course leader is an experienced industry expert

Class Size

1 - 10 in person or 1 - 6 online

Support

28 days free helpdesk support with all courses

Cancellation

Cancel before 7 days for 100% refund

Certificate

Earn a certificate of attendance on completion

Volume Discounts

Save money by using our Learning Pots scheme

Private & team training. This course is not on our public schedule at the moment. You can still request a bespoke quote below — we’ll contact you with dates and pricing.

Request a quote for Portrait Photography

This course is offered as private, bespoke or team training at our centre, live online or at your venue.

You can customise the outline, have a group where it's just your team or enjoy a one-to-one session with an expert.

Fill in the form below and our team will get in touch with pricing and helpful advice.

Course Dates

Course Outline

Introduction

Discussing the many different objectives of Portrait Photography

Narrative, headshot and environmental portraiture

A short discussion of the history of shooting portraits

Examining camera equipment and understanding settings

Using different lenses to create different portraits

Using modifiers and flash in portraits

Understanding how different focal lengths produce different images

Understanding the use of aperture in Portrait photography

How to get the best quality portrait

Framing shots

Framing and positioning your subject

Focusing on the eyes

Considering different angles and perspectives

Using the rule of thirds

Filling the frame

Incorporating context within your portrait

Using natural light in portraiture

The restrictions of working with natural light

Using the best types of natural lighting

Working in shade or in direct sunlight

Using modifiers to sculpt and control light

Capturing different types of portraits in natural light

Critiquing your captured shots

Introduction to studio lighting

When to use continuous lights such as LEDs, versus using Studio Flash

Taking portraits using a continuous light source

Introduction to using a studio flash light

Using a single studio light to take dramatic portraits

Critiquing your captured shots

Great facilities, knowledgeable and friendly tutor.

Putting lessons into practice throughout the day, knowledgeable instructor and tailored to what I needed to learn

The training was great - really interesting course and learnt a lot that I can use practically.

Great instructor and balance of practical and theory

All totally clear and easily digestible again!

The trainer was particularly good because her enthusiasm and passion for the subject of photography was infectious and added another dimension to the…

The course was good at providing enough opportunity to practice.

Vicki understood our requirements and was really helpful with talking us through possible solutions to the issues we are facing. She was happy to ans…

The new studio building is much improved on the previous base at Waterloo. The whole feel of the company has a new professional image.

Good teaching, great environment. You are great at what you set out to do. I'll be back...(again)

Vicki was a fantastic trainer. She made us feel so relaxed and welcome. I was a bit nervous that the course would go over my head having had no previ…

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Who attends?

Career Progressives

Professionals who wish to develop skills for their current role and companies who believe in developing their talent.

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Career Changers

People seeking opportunities which require new skills. Industry relevant training for those pursuing a new role.

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Graduates

Certified courses for those who have earned their theoretical stripes, but need to prove capability to future employers.

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Learn Your Way

Face To Face

Learn face-to-face with expert mentors in a dynamic setting that inspires growth and confidence.

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Live Online

Join remotely with expert mentors in real time — flexible, interactive learning that fits your lifestyle.

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Team Training

Upskill your team together. Build your team and develop consistency, and collective confidence.

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Three Steps To Success

Identify Your Path

Define your direction with purpose, aligning your learning journey to personal and career goals.

Learn With Experts

Gain practical insight from real-world experts who bring clarity, confidence, and momentum to your growth.

Earn Certification

Your certificate of attendance is proof of progress — benchmarking your skills and commitment to growth.

Portrait Photography Course