Picture Perfect Practice

Roberto Valenzuela is a Beverly Hills-based photographer, specializing in wedding photography. He has been recognized as one of the world's top wedding photographers by Junebug Weddings, and has won over 50 international print competition accolades from the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) association. He is an active speaker and teacher at photography conferences across the country. Learn more at robertovalenzuelaphotography.com.

Contents Foreword xi Introduction xiii How to Read This Book xiv The Location, Posing, and Execution Charts xvi Part 1: locations 1 Geometry 3 Geometry for Framing 5 Geometry in the Environment 7 Geometry for Balance 9 Putting It All Together 10 2 Balance 11 Balancing with People 12 Balancing with Objects 12 Five Key Questions for Choosing a Balance Point 12 Balancing with Space 15 3 Parallel Lines 21 Working with Horizontal Lines 22 Working with Vertical Lines 24 4 Symmetry 27 Combining Vertical Symmetry with People 29 Combining Horizontal Symmetry with People 31 Seeing Symmetry Everywhere 32 5 Color Elements 35 Keep Contrasting Colors to a Minimum 36 Find an Area Where the Colors Are Part of the Same Family 36 The Three-Color Limit 38 6 Depth 43 Depth and the Environment 44 Depth with Context 44 Depth for Mood 45 Depth with Movement 49 Shadows 53 The Bright Side of Shadows. 54 Using Dark Rooms Outside to Create Striking Portraits with Shadows 54 1: Shooting from the Shadow Side 55 2: Shooting in the Middle Between the Bright and Shadow Sides 56 3: Shooting from the Bright Side 57 Navigate by the Shadows on the Ground 59 Casting Shadows from Objects to Create Graphical Interest on a Portrait 61 Using an Off-Camera Flash or Video Light to Force Shadows to Appear Where Desired 63 8 Silhouettes 67 Vital Components of Silhouettes .68 A Very Bright Background to Create Contrast 68 Subjects or Objects Should Have Little or No Light Falling on Them 68 No On-Camera Flash 68 Clear and Recognizable Shapes 68 Correct Exposure 68 Creating the Opportunity for Silhouettes 69 Partial Silhouettes 70 Posing Silhouettes 72 Creating Contrasting Silhouettes 74 9 Reflections 77 Reflections Using a Single Mirror 78 Two Sides of the Same Person 78 Capturing Expressions and Relationships through a Mirror 79 Telling Multiple Stories through a Single Mirror 80 Creating Balance with a Single Mirror 81 Reflections Using Two Mirrors 83 Using Beveled Mirrors 84 Reflections from Water 86 Finding Reflections in Unlikely Places 88 10 Patterns and Repetitions 93 Incorporating Patterns into Photography 94 Breaking a Pattern to Isolate a Subject 94 Combining Patterns with Geometry 95 Using a Flash to Bring Out the Pattern 98 Combining Patterns with Geometry and Symmetry 99 Working with Repetitions 100 Positioning Subjects Within or Near the Repetition 100 Positioning Subjects to Become Part of the Repetition 101 11 Framing 103 Creating Action Inside a Frame 104 Creating Frames 105 Natural Frames 107 Double Frames 110 ABSTRACT FRAMES 111 Framing with People 112 Framing with Meaning 113 12 Paintings and Artwork 115 Choosing the Right Artwork 116 Removing Context 116 Composition with Paintings and Artwork 118 Technical and Lighting Tips 121 13 Contrasts 125 Old and New 126 Big and Small 128 Bright and Dark 129 Contrasting Expressions 131 Age Contrast 132 Contrasting Colors. 135 Breaking the Status Quo 136 14 Lens Flare 139 The Benefits of Lens Flare 140 Everything in Moderation 140 Moving Halos Away from the Body 140 Block and Crop 142 Setting Priorities 144 Advanced Lens Flare Techniques 145 15 Walls, Translucent Surfaces, and Textures 147 Walls and Shade 148 Proximity to the Sun 149 Reflecting a Patch of Sunlight 151 Reflecting Window Light in Front of Walls 152 Using an External Flash on Walls 153 Using Walls as Reflectors 154 Think Like a Photographer 157 Using Natural Walls 158 Superimposing Designs on Walls 159 Wall Textures 160 Making Texture Work for You 161 Using Contrasting Textures 163 Translucent Materials 165 Part 2: POSES 16 Five Key Posing Techniques 171 My Posing System 172 Technique 1: Systematically Sculpting the Body 172 Distributing Weight for Natural Posing 172 Symmetrical Posing 175 Technique 2: Posing the Hands 177 Posing Hands in Large Groups 179 Technique 3: Posing the Face 180 The "X" Factor 180 Technique 4: Injecting Expression and Balancing Energies 182 Cliches Don't Work! 182 Eyes Must Be Posed 183 Technique 5: Give Specific Directions 186 17 Posing Chart 187 Getting the Most Out of This Chapter 188 Traditional 188 Him Behind Her 192 Her Behind Him 194 Walking 197 Kissing 201 Playful, Action, Movement 206 Holding Hands 210 Sitting 213 Together Side by Side 216 Interpretive 219 Distance Apart 224 Hugging 227 Foreground/Background 230 Facing Each Other 234 Kiss Anticipation 238 Featuring Him 239 Featuring Her 240 T-Pose 242 Part 3: EXECUTION 18 Execution 247 Lighting through Direction 248 Simplicity through Subtractio 250 Beauty through Angles 252 The Tourist Test 254 Bird's Perspective 254 Dog's Perspective 257 Perspective through Lenses 259 Part 4: DELIBERATE PRACTICE 19 Deliberate Practice 263 Perform 264 Discover 265 Technical Problems 265 Location Problems 266 Lighting Problems 266 Pose/Expression Problems 266 Approach Problems 267 Artistic/Creative Problems 267 Breaking It Down 267 Analyze 268 Step-by-Step Practice Session 269 Situation 269 Breakdown Exercise Log 270 Integrating the Location Chart and Previous Practice Sessions 270 Practice Session Photos and Analysis of Results 271 Real-Life Application of New Skill Set 275 Final Practice Examples 277 Weeds or Plants 277 Narrow Hallways 278 Foreground/Background and Silhouettes 281 Ruffled Dress 283 Final Words 287 Index 289