Pictorial Portrait Photography

With a camera and a computer you can not only create scenes, but also whole new worlds, which is Lídia Vives' area of expertise. The Spanish photographer draws inspiration from the great Italian masters of the Renaissance to create realistic and surrealist works in equal parts, as she has demonstrated in the different exhibitions she has held in Mexico, Spain, and France.

In this online course, Lídia teaches you photographic retouching techniques and art direction tips to create your own portraits in a pictorial Renaissance style.

Start by meeting Lídia, who tells you a little more about her work and how she has developed her style over the years. See her influences, mainly in two worlds: painting and portrait photography.

Discover all the elements you need to know when creating an image: learn about composition and balance to structure and place all the elements well.

Next, see everything you need to know to work the center of interest in your photographs to guide the viewer's eye to where you want it to go. Learn the types of formats that exist, when to use them, the correct way to reframe, and how to work with color by considering its psychological meaning and characteristics.

Discover the main characteristics of the Italian Renaissance portrait. Move on to the photo session and see what light you should use and how to use it. In addition, prepare the set and your model.

Lídia explains to you what is the best way to deal with someone when you carry out a photo shoot, then you can start taking photos.

Before finishing the course, learn how to post-produce an image, starting in Camera Raw and ending in Adobe Photoshop. Discover how to give your photography the pictorial effect through a neat and professional retouching with Lidia's expert advice.

Create a photo portrait with Renaissance-style features.

Photographers, artists, and anyone interested in the art of portraiture.

You need an SLR with any of these lenses: 18-35mm, 50mm, or 75mm, as well as the ability to use your camera's manual mode.

You also need a computer with Adobe Photoshop and digital development software. Lídia uses Camera Raw, although you can also use Adobe Photoshop Lightroom.

Regarding lighting, you can work with natural light or with a softbox and you also need a white reflector, which can be made of foam board or expanded polystyrene.