Course Description
PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY PHOT 3250
This course is designed to be an introductory study of commercial portrait photography. You will gain experience in posing portrait subjects, critical positioning of lighting, use of portrait studio equipment, techniques and marketing principles used in the field. You will also develop techniques for critical evaluation of a portrait photograph. Towards these ends this class will meet the needs of individuals with careers in photography, commercial art, film/broadcasting, and public relations.
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Outcomes
I. Outcomes
A. University Outcomes
1. Communicating
a) To develop students’ effective use of the English language, quantitative and other symbolic systems essential to their success in school and in the world. Students should be able to read and listen critically and to write and speak with thoughtfulness, clarity, coherence, and persuasiveness.
2. High Order Thinking
a) To develop students’ ability to distinguish among opinions, facts, and inferences; to identify underlying or implicit assumptions; to make informed judgments; and to solve problems by applying evaluative standards.
3. Managing Information
a) To develop students’ abilities to locate, organize, store, retrieve, evaluate, synthesize, and annotate information from print, electronic, and other sources in preparation for solving problems and making informed decisions.
4. Valuing
a) To develop students’ abilities to understand the moral and ethical values of a diverse society and to understand that many courses of action are guided by value judgments about the way things ought to be. Students should be able to make informed decisions through identifying personal values and the values of others and through understanding how such values develop. They should be able to analyze the ethical implications of choices made on the basis of these values.
B. Program Outcomes
1. Photography Mission
a) To provide a diverse learning environment designed to prepare graduates with the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential for career success in photography. Areas of student development will include aesthetics, professionalism, technology, and business.
b) Photography Program Outcomes -
c) Upon completion of the Bachelor of Science Degree in Photography, the graduate will be able to:
(1) Discuss and demonstrate visual literacy.
(2) Recognize and demonstrate professional and visual ethics pertaining to photography.
(3) Demonstrate the attitude and skills for self-motivated learning and behavior.
(4) Understand and apply appropriate scientific principles and photographic technologies and possess the flexibility to accommodate technological change.
(5) Apply accepted principles and practices for managing processes, systems, materials, finances, and human resources in the photographic industry.
(6) Demonstrate appropriate communication, managing information, conceptual/creative/artistic and technical skills.
(7) Demonstrate the necessary technical and professional skills associated with creating and producing high quality images, on-demand, using a wide range of appropriate equipment to an informed, discerning clientele.
(8) Develop skills to create and maintain a dynamic portfolio appropriate to career goals.
(9) Demonstrate the ability to select appropriate equipment for specific purpose.
(10) Demonstrate proficiency within one of four specialty areas to in the profession. These four areas are: commercial, portrait, media and digital/technical.
Course specific Goals
OUTCOME #1 Communication Skills
The student will be able to apply oral, written, graphic and listening skills to ensure effective communications.
OUTCOME #2 Technical Skills
The student will be able to implement the various forms of current technology necessary to complete the tasks of photographing a human subject with specific portrait lighting techniques, utilizing the computer, to include word-processing, presentation software, and image manipulation applications.
OUTCOME #3 Photographic Exposure
1. Make an exposure reading and interpret the measurements using a reflective light meter and an incident light meter.
2. Calculate equivalent exposures; discuss practical applications of these.
3. Describe how reflective and incident meters differ in their mechanism of light measurement.
OUTCOME #4 Subject Posing for Portraiture
1. Learn to pose human subjects for pleasing results in portraiture
2. Work with subject in posing and composing head shots, 3/4 and full length portraits
3. Be able to evaluate and correct improper/unflattering posing
4. Produce portraits utilizing various posing techniques
OUTCOME #5 Window Light Technique
1. Create a portrait using window light as the source of illumination.
2. Describe the proper placement of the camera, subject, window, and reflector.
3. List methods to control lighting ratio in a window light portrait.
OUTCOME #6 Reflector Portrait Lighting Technique
1. Create outdoor portrait lighting with only the aid of a silver or white reflector
2. Position reflectors properly to aid natural light
3. Define angle of incidence
OUTCOME #7 Working with Adobe Photoshop
1. Learn how to save files with the appropriate pixel count for printing.
2. Learn to use the various tools for retouching problem areas in a portrait.
3. Produce appropriate and pleasing cropping of a portrait.
4. Print portrait with good color and contrast in inkjet medium
5. Learn to save work onto CD for assignment submissions
OUTCOME #8 Studio Lighting with PowerLights
1. Describe the advantages of this type of studio lighting equipment.
2. Describe the quality of light produced by various lamp heads.
3. Set up, control and use the studio lights safely.
4. Describe the controls on the Power Lights.
OUTCOME #9 One Light Portrait Lighting and Use of the Flash Meter
1. State the advantages of this approach to lighting.
2. Place lights properly to achieve soft edge shadow.
3. Place reflector to control lighting ratio.
4. Take a flash meter reading using the incident mode.
5. Create a portrait using one light.
OUTCOME #10 3:1 Light Ratio for Portraiture
1. Describe three methods to establish 3:1 light ratio.
2. Create a 3:1 ratio using a flash meter.
3. Produce a photograph using the 3:1 ratio.
OUTCOME #11 Multiple Light Setup in Portraiture
1. Define the lights in a multiple light set up.
2. Describe the order and placement of the lights in a portrait scheme.
3. Meter accent lights to maintain detail in the photograph.
OUTCOME #12 Proper Use of Colored Gels with the Studio Lights
1. State the use of colored gels in a portrait.
2. Describe the use of colored gels as accent lights.
3. Meter the background to establish the value of a colored background.
4. Use gels and produce portrait with proper exposure and techniques.
OUTCOME #13 Creating a High Key Portrait Photograph
1. Set up lights to create a clean high key photograph.
2. State the relationship between background meter reading and subject meter reading in a high key photo.
3. Produce high key photograph.
4. Describe special consideration for clothing in a high key photograph.
OUTCOME #14 Understanding Requirements of Wedding Photography
1. List the elements of a wedding contract.
2. Describe equipment used in wedding photography.
3. Describe the basic coverage photographs in wedding photography.
4. State one basic pose for the couple.
5. Pose bride for formal portrait.
6. Arrange lights for formal group portraits.
7. State the considerations in developing and pricing a wedding package.
8. Pose a large group.
OUTCOME #15 Working With a Professional Color Lab for Prints
1. Learn how to fill out a digital print order.
2. Define format proofing.
3. Describe how the photographer can increase profits using lab offerings.
4. List two special services offered by a lab.
5. Design a portrait price list using the cost savings programs offered by the lab.
A. Assessment
Quizzes
There will be approximately four quizzes throughout the semester that are worth 50 pts. each.
Shooting Assignments
We will have 7 different shooting assignments which are worth 100 points each. Each assignment will require 2 8×10 prints.
The portrait assignments will be executed in the studio or on location on your own time. It will be your responsibility to provide a model for your shooting experiences. Do not photograph the same subject over and over as part of your experience in this class includes working with different types of subjects. Each assignment will reflect specific portrait techniques demonstrated in class.
Window Lighting
Outdoor Reflector/ Lighting
One Light Studio Portrait
3:1 Light Ratio in the Studio
High Key Lighting Portrait
Location Alien Bee
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NOTE
It is understood that shooting assignments are expected to be new original work shot for this class and not work “recycled” from other classes, etc. Academic Dishonesty is a severe offense at the university and is not worth the risk!
Other Points Possible
There will also be in-class exercises and possibly special event attendance which will have points awarded. Attendance to each class will ensure you have the opportunity to gain the maximum possible points and
to participate in all demonstrations and discussions that will allow you to complete your assignments.
Attendance will be recorded at each class period. If you should be ill notify me by phone or email before classtime and I will make note of your need to make up points missed by alternative method.
Portrait Research Presentation 100 pts.
Each student will be required to research a subject relating to the field of Portrait Photography and present their findings in a brief 7-10 minute presentation during one of the two designated class periods. These presentations may cover a variety of subjects – as long as the subject relates to photography.
Some possible examples of subjects:
Your personal experiences photographing a wedding
A favorite or interesting portrait photographer
An interview with a professional portrait photographer in the area
Comparison of different portrait photographers’ price sheets/offerings
Features comparisons of different cameras, flash gear, etc.
Review/uses of a lab’s offerings
Overview of prior studio work experiences (good/bad, etc.)
Etc., etc.
You will have access to a computer to show a Powerpoint presentation, or the document camera to project your images from photos, magazine images, brochures, etc. As long as the network is working properly you should also have access to websites as well. Images will help convey your message to the class so try to incorporate at least a few visual support items.
Final Portrait Portfolio
A photographer’s portfolio is extremely important throughout their career. This class requires a portfolio be turned in at the end of the term. This portfolio should be comprised only of work accomplished during this semester and the type of work produced for this class (i.e. portraits -not fashion shooting or commercial, etc). It should represent your best work, and in the interest of creating a comprehensive portfolio it should contain different subjects, different techniques, etc. It should not however be simply the six assignments assembled for additional grade. Rather this portfolio should contain the best of your assignments as well as additional work that you have accomplished in using the tools and techniques introduced in this class. Students are expected to shoot additional work beyond fulfilling the assignments.
Portfolio
- 20 retouched portraits posted to a new set named ….Summer Portrait Portfolio by “your name”
- Proshow Gold Presentation
- New Page ….. Portrait Portfolio 20 images properly sized and published to your blog.
Activities
Class preparation
It will be necessary for the student to spend approximately two hours outside of class time to complete each of the seven shooting assignment and the in-class presentation, and to achieve the stated outcomes for the course.
Homework/Shooting Assignments
Homework assigned for the course will be completed in accordance with the format and expertise expected and demanded by the professional standards normally found acceptable by the industry. Work is expected to be completed in a timely fashion and submitted to the instructor for evaluation. Just as in the photo industry, when an image is submitted after the magazine is laid out, it is not considered
Class Participation
Active participation in class is encouraged and sought in order to have an interesting and complete learning experience. Students will be called upon to participate in the demonstrations and to actively participate in peer evaluation sessions.
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B. Assessment this for Course
1. Grading System
Each student will be evaluated on their work and ability to succeed in course-related activities. Evaluation of student performance will be based on the following criteria:
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Shooting Assignments |
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#1 |
100 |
Points |
8.33% |
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#2 |
100 |
Points |
8.33% |
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#3 |
100 |
Points |
8.33% |
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#4 |
100 |
Points |
8.33% |
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#5 |
100 |
Points |
8.33% |
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#6 |
100 |
Points |
8.33% |
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Portfolio |
200 |
Points |
16.67% |
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Written/Management |
0.00% |
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Quiz |
200 |
Points |
16.67% |
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Presentation |
100 |
Points |
8.33% |
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Professionalism |
100 |
Points |
8.33% |
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Total |
1200 |
Points |
100.00% |
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