Dark Conceptual Portraits
A course by Eduardo Gómez (Alter Imago)Photographer
A course by Eduardo Gómez (Alter Imago), Photographer
Carry out a somber-looking photoshoot from concept to editing
Specializing in the artistic portrait with mysterious and dark themes, photographer Eduardo Gómez - better known as Alter Imago - explores through his work forbidden themes, monstrous and fantastic characters, as well as all kinds of oddities that come to mind. With more than 15 years of experience, his photographic experience has led him to work on different projects where imagination and a taste for the dark are key.
In his first Domestika course, Directing Models for Photography, Eduardo teaches the art of directing people for fashion photographs and portraits, and this time he will teach you how to make dark-themed portrait photographs from scratch, incorporating influences from mystery, horror movies, Gothic literature and various elements of dark fantasy that will serve you not only to have fun and unleash your creativity to the fullest but also as an art and business form.
What will you learn in this online course?
16 lessons & 31 downloads
Theme and character definition
5 minutes, 43 seconds
Mood board and sketch
7 minutes, 1 second
Casting
11 minutes, 48 seconds
Dramatic lighting
11 minutes, 47 seconds
Model and session address
6 minutes, 6 seconds
Digital development
17 minutes, 36 seconds
What's included in this course?
You'll be introduced to Alter Imago’s work and experience in the world of dark photography, you'll discover his main influences, both in photography and in cinema, literature, art, among others. Then you'll briefly see what you'll learn and do throughout this course.
Learn the creative process to generate and develop a concept from scratch before defining the theme and the character. Once you have a clear idea, you'll do a little research and gather all the information on a mood board.
Next, you'll define in a sketch the framing, the pose, the physical characteristics of the character, among other important elements to choose the right person in the casting.
Before preparing your photoshoot, you'll understand the importance of costumes and makeup so that your model can interpret their character perfectly. In addition, Alter Imago will share various tips on the set, the props, and the art direction. You'll learn to define the lighting to create a dark and somber atmosphere.
You'll see how to achieve the right lighting scheme, with homemade lamps and also with professional flashes. Then, you'll see a new style of model management - different from the one he teaches in his previous course - much more emotional and theatrical.
Finally, you'll select the best photos and learn to edit them in Adobe Photoshop to give them a finish, add effects and export your photos for social networks or print them as a work of art.
What is this course's project?
You'll make a photoshoot of a dark character from scratch, developing the concept, sketch, production, shooting, and editing.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Photographers of all levels, visual artists, designers, art directors, and any creative person who wants to translate their ideas into unique and different photographs.
Requirements and materials
You'll need previous knowledge about photography and camera management.
You must have a camera, home or professional lights, and a model or friend you want to transform with dark aesthetics.
Reviews
- 6 months ago
Buen curso, lo utilicé más que nada para aprender un poco más sobre composición e iluminación, tiene recursos valiosos
- 8 months ago
El curso me ha parecido muy interesante, el contenido y las explicaciones son muy buenas. El profesor es un gran comunicador . He aprendido mucho. Lo recomiendo cien por cien.
- 1 year ago
Este es un curso super entretenido y divertrido con una cantidad de ejemplois y materiales que vienen a la perfección para quienes amamos crear.
- 1 year ago
It is an interesting course. I recommend it a lot.
- 1 year ago
Me encantó, muchas gracias :)
Since 2015 he has regularly published on his YouTube channel 'Alter Imago fotografía', where he has 90,000 subscribers and more than 36 million minutes of viewing. He has won the silver medal at the Photography World Cup in Sydney (Australia) in 2018 in the digital illustration category, and the Nation Awards in Dublin (Ireland).
Content
- U1
Introduction
- Presentation (Who I am)
- Influences
- What will we do in the course
- U2
The concept, creative process and casting
- Theme and character definition
- Mood board and sketch
- Casting
- U3
Preproduction
- Costumes
- The makeup
- Art direction: set and daring
- U4
Lighting and shooting
- Dramatic lighting
- Model and session address
- U5
Postproduction
- Digital development
- Skin retouching
- Digital backgrounds and dark atmosphere
- Special effects and final finish P1
- Special effects and final finish P2
- FP
Final project
- Dark conceptual portrait
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
Dark conceptual photography focuses on creating portraits with dark, mystical, and dramatic atmospheres, featuring fantastical characters and unsettling themes. It stands out for its powerful visual style and meticulous attention to lighting, costumes, and post-production.
You don’t need to be an expert, but basic photography and camera skills are recommended. The course is designed for intermediate learners and covers everything from concept development to post-production.
You’ll need a camera (DSLR, mirrorless, or even a smartphone), light sources (homemade or flashes), themed costumes, makeup, props, and a computer with editing software like Photoshop.
You’ll learn how to develop characters, design mood boards, direct models, create dramatic lighting setups, style with makeup and costumes, and edit photos to achieve a professional dark aesthetic.
The course teaches you to choose visual references, blend character traits, and carefully design makeup, costumes, and settings to create a cohesive and original visual identity.
Yes, the course includes lighting setups using household lamps, showing how to create dramatic and mystical effects without expensive equipment.
Programs like Photoshop are used for advanced editing: color correction, texture blending, Dodge & Burn, and special effects like smoke or eerie digital backgrounds.