Portrait Photography: Capturing Authenticity

The most complex part of taking a portrait is not the technical aspects of the shoot, but capturing the essence and authenticity of your model. Through her lens, photographer Catalina Kulczar looks beyond the surface of her subjects to discover their true identity and bring it to light in striking portraits.

In this online course, learn Catalina's entire creative process for portrait photography. She guides you through the steps to set up your shoot and shares her secrets to working with models, such as directing poses and talking to them, as well as connecting and making them feel comfortable. She also teaches you about editing and retouching your photographs.

Catalina begins by telling you a bit about herself and how she came to become a photographer, along with her influences and what inspires her work. She then gives you an overview of what the course entails.

Before you start shooting, get to know your subject. Catalina explains how to better understand the person you've chosen to photograph by creating a mood board.

Next, look at the differences between working in a controlled environment, like a studio, or on-site, and gather all the equipment you need for your session.

Time to get to work! Prepare the set, including the lights, camera, laptop, photo gear, and an atmosphere that's comfortable for everyone.

Learn your teacher's techniques for directing your model, as well as how to make them feel relaxed to show themselves honestly and openly. Discover three looks to create a variety of portraits.

Move from the studio to a location, removing all the objects from the set, and shoot a portrait that focuses on a single element.

Finally, select your favorite photos to edit in Lightroom. See what you should take into account when making the decision and, once chosen, how to adjust the style that defines your images. After retouching, prepare your photos to share online and print for a magazine.

Shoot two portraits of the same person: a studio portrait and another in a location that represents the subject, such as their home or work.

Photographers with knowledge of lighting who want to enrich their photoshoots with a greater level of production and preparation to capture portraits that deeply connect with the subject.

Knowledge of photography, such as the relationship between light, aperture, shutter speed and ISO is required.

As for materials, you need a digital camera with manual mode, a light set-up, a computer with Lightroom, and props to build your set. A tether to connect your camera to your computer is recommended, but not necessary.