Composition for Portraiture: Creating Compelling Headshots, Group Shots, and Senior Pictures

In Composition for Portraiture: Creating Compelling Headshots, Group Shots, and Senior Pictures, Certified Professional Photographer Dan Ablan teaches the composition basics you need to know to improve your portraits. Starting with a definition of composition–what it is and why it's important–Dan then tackles the basic concepts of composition, such as the rule of thirds, negative space, and the use of angles in photography to create more compelling imagery. Dan then dives into portraiture, discussing the best ways to work with your subject (or subjects), and how to "posture" (rather than just "pose") your subjects in order to create flattering images that bring out their best. Additionally, Dan discusses the topic of "environment"–including foreground, background, and leading lines–as well as the best ways to crop your images (in camera and in post-production) to maximize success. The book wraps up with Dan discussing some of the lesser-known composition tools at your disposal (golden ratio, fibonacci spiral, golden triangle) to help you create your best composition when you're both shooting and editing your images.