Overview

Christopher Grey’s Master Lighting Guide for Portrait Photographers is the perfect companion for any new or aspiring studio photographer because portrait lighting is difficult for a new photographer to master. This book is a good reference for new studio portrait photographers because of several factors.

As I moved from one chapter to the next I was often reminded of the many lessons from my Studio Lighting 1 & 2 courses from college. The book includes practical introduction to professional studio equipment and easy to reproduce diagrams demonstrating technical setups. As a result every page left me wanting to try another setup in the studio.

Lighting Guide Overview

I would never say that a single book could replace the hands on experience you receive from a paid photography course. So, I highly recommend every photographer drop the cash to support your local community college and take a photography class or two.

Content

Master Lighting Guide for Portrait Photographers is divided into two parts and Christopher Grey does a great job of building a solid foundation of understanding before moving into practical application. There isn’t an overload of technical information because there are plenty of images to help illustrate nearly every topic covered. Furthermore, Part One covers the principles of portrait lighting by covering topics like;

• The Nature of Light
  • The Physics & Properties of Light
• Professional Lighting Equipment
  • 1. Light Positions
  • 2. Light Types
  • 3. Light Modifiers
• Light Ratios
• Classic Lighting Styles

Christopher Grey gives a guided tour through nearly every imaginable portrait lighting scenario in Part Two so, this is when the book really started to generate inspiration. This is when we start to discuss portrait lighting in practice. We learn about all the basics from low-key to high-key and even some great examples of stylish over-exposure.

In conclusion, I would recommend this book for any photographer just starting out in a controlled lighting environment. Learn more about Christopher Grey and see some of his work at http://www.christophergrey.com.

Technical: Master Lighting Guide for Portrait Photographers by Christopher Grey is published by Amherst Media, publishers of fine photography books.