Master Lighting Guide for Portrait Photographers Paperback – April 15, 2014

I'm a third year commercial advertisment photography student and I have to say that I wish I had found this book in my first year. Christopher Grey really knows his stuff. He has diagrams along with his photographs to explain each type of lighting situation. I actually learned quite a bit about different lighting accessories used for various lighting like hairlights, and different ways to show separation from the background. This is definitely a great book to have around to review a few pointers before a shoot. I'm half way through the book and I just got it yesterday night. It's very easy reading. The format just flows. The techniques and suggestions are great building bases. If you've already taken portraiture classes, some of this will be review (Part I-The Principles of Portrait Lighting), but I still think this is a great book to have. Part II is Portrait Lighting in Practice. It gives one or two examples in each category. Editorial, corporate, ...etc. If you have any hesitation on your technique and possible outcomes, this is a great book. It'll reaffirm your confidence in the way you do things; moreover, you may be reminded of something that you might have forgotten.

This book, and Chris Grey's DVD's (Shoot Smarter) are FANTASTIC!The easy to understand diagrams, the unique and creative techniques and the overview of styles is second to none...After buying this book on Amazon I was so impressed that I actually flew from California to Chicago to take a 4 day class from the author at Shoot Smarter University (Will Crocket's studio in Arora, IL).In all of my training, and with all my EXPENSIVE equipment purchases in camera equipment, NOTHING has improved my creative and technical output like Chris Grey's books, training, and videos...As I say to my friends, "I have drank the Kool-Aid that is Chris Grey's teaching and I am an evangelical believer in his techniques". I now have the confidence to shoot JPEGs and not worry about my "recovery" in PhotoShop!Other GREAT books by Chris Grey include Photoshop Effects for Portrait Photographers (Focal Press) and an up-coming book about Canon Cameras (Fall 07).HIGHLY reccomended!

I bought this book thinking I would be able to easily set up a studio from it.I found this book extremely informative BUT on a medium to high-end level.It is not really a practical guide for the beginning photographer however, I am sure I will be refereing it to in the future.Chris Grey explains how he set up his lighting in order to get the shots he shows in this book.My problem was that most of his sets are based on the photographer buying many many different types of reflectors, lights and flags etc.He does not really explain the simple, beginners studio.He does not explain for low ceilings etc.He shows his shots and explains how he got them so if you have the same set up, the same size room etc, you too can reproduce these shots.While it is a well written book, I found it to be on a high level.If someone is already at this level of lighting equipment, then he already knows all the info on ratios Chris writes about.Great reference guide and enjoyable to read.Not for the beginner who wishes to use it as a guide to setting up his first studio.

To those with learning disabilities as myself, having suffered a stroke, that use visuals for their input, this book was excellent in all it's methodologies of teaching lighting techniques!First were the photos themselves, each was shown along with the lighting ratios, and the effect of the various lighting implements used for that particular mood or style of photo being expressed.Next was a series of photos taken with the same lighting ratio, but with different equipment, showing just how illuminating light can be, and how a Softbox, Umbrella, and what have you can change and influence just how mood and intensity are controlled.I highly recommend this book for it's excellence in handling the subject at hand...namely Portrait Lighting!