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Home / Courses / Portrait Fundamentals

portrait photography course 101 and 201

Portrait Fundamentals

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In this comprehensive course, you’ll learn how to make use of natural light as well as on and off-camera flash for making stunning portraits anywhere.

We’ll cover:

  • The exposure triangle
  • Camera metering
  • Focusing and sharpness
  • Properties of light (color, quality, direction)
  • Equipment for working with natural light
  • Lighting patterns for portraiture
  • Lighting ratios
  • Angles of view and the facial views
  • Basic flash mechanics
  • The power of flash
  • Maximizing one flash on-camera or off
  • Equipment for off-camera flash
  • How to set up your speedlights
  • Metering for flash and working with ratios

You’ll also join us on location for three different photo sessions with models and a married couple. You’ll see exactly how we shoot in different lighting conditions. You’ll learn how to properly meter for one or more flashes, including inside and outdoor settings, and a sunset.

This is a 25-part video course with over 6 hours of valuable information and tips.

Every photographer wants to flatter their subjects to make them look their best. If that resonates with you, then this is course is what you’re looking for so let’s get started!

Purchase this course: Click here to purchase this course, or read more about it by visiting Portrait Photography Fundamentals.

Course Content

Portrait Fundamentals: Lesson 1 Introduction 1 Quiz
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Lesson Content
Portrait Fundamentals Lesson 1 Quiz
Portrait Fundamentals: Lesson 2 The Exposure Triangle 1 Quiz
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Lesson Content
Portrait Fundamentals Lesson 2 Quiz
Portrait Fundamentals: Lesson 3 Metering 1 Quiz
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Lesson Content
Portrait Fundamentals Lesson 3 Quiz
Portrait Fundamentals: Lesson 4 Focus 1 Quiz
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Lesson Content
Portrait Fundamentals Lesson 4 Quiz
Portrait Fundamentals: Lesson 5 Properties of Light 1 Quiz
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Lesson Content
Portrait Fundamentals Lesson 5 Quiz
Portrait Fundamentals: Lesson 6 Equipment for Natural Light 1 Quiz
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Lesson Content
Portrait Fundamentals Lesson 6 Quiz
Portrait Fundamentals: Lesson 7 Portrait Lighting Patterns 1 Quiz Sample Lesson
Lesson Content
Portrait Fundamentals Lesson 7 Quiz
Portrait Fundamentals: Lesson 8 Lighting Ratios 1 Quiz
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Lesson Content
Portrait Fundamentals Lesson 8 Quiz
Portrait Fundamentals: Lesson 9 Angles 1 Quiz
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Lesson Content
Portrait Fundamentals Lesson 9 Quiz
Portrait Fundamentals: Lesson 10 Overview of Working with Flash 1 Quiz
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Lesson Content
Portrait Fundamentals Lesson 10 Quiz
Portrait Fundamentals: Lesson 11 The Power of Flash 1 Quiz
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Lesson Content
Portrait Fundamentals Lesson 11 Quiz
Portrait Fundamentals: Lesson 12 Basic Flash Mechanics 1 Quiz
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Lesson Content
Portrait Fundamentals Lesson 12 Quiz
Portrait Fundamentals: Lesson 13 Getting to Know Your Speedlight 1 Quiz
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Lesson Content
Portrait Fundamentals Lesson 13 Quiz
Portrait Fundamentals: Lesson 14 Maximize One Flash On-Camera 1 Quiz
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Lesson Content
Portrait Fundamentals Lesson 14 Quiz
Portrait Fundamentals: Lesson 15 Equipment for Off-Camera Flash 1 Quiz
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Lesson Content
Portrait Fundamentals Lesson 15 Quiz
Portrait Fundamentals: Lesson 16 Setting up Speedlights for Off-Camera Flash 1 Quiz
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Lesson Content
Portrait Fundamentals Lesson 16 Quiz
Portrait Fundamentals: Lesson 17 Indoor Shoot With a Model – Natural Light 1 Quiz
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Lesson Content
Portrait Fundamentals Lesson 17 Quiz
Portrait Fundamentals: Lesson 18 Indoor Shoot With a Model – Off-Camera Flash 1 Quiz
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Lesson Content
Portrait Fundamentals Lesson 18 Quiz
Portrait Fundamentals: Lesson 19 Indoor Business Portrait Shoot 1 Quiz
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Lesson Content
Portrait Fundamentals Lesson 19 Quiz
Portrait Fundamentals: Lesson 20 Outdoor Portrait – Part One: Natural Light 1 Quiz
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Lesson Content
Portrait Fundamentals Lesson 20 Quiz
Portrait Fundamentals: Lesson 21 Outdoor Portrait Part Two: Off-Camera Flash 1 Quiz
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Lesson Content
Portrait Fundamentals Lesson 21 Quiz
Portrait Fundamentals: Lesson 22 Outdoor Portrait Part Three: Golden Hour 1 Quiz
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Lesson Content
Portrait Fundamentals Lesson 22 Quiz
Portrait Fundamentals: Lesson 23 Frequently Asked Questions Sample Lesson
Portrait Fundamentals: Lesson 24 Possible Pitfalls to Avoid
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Portrait Fundamentals: Lesson 25 Course Review and Wrap up
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Portrait Fundamentals: Additional Training Webinars
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About Darlene Hildebrandt

Darlene Hildebrandt, Master of Photographic Arts (MPA), is a Canadian photography educator and the founder of Digital Photo Mentor. She holds Canada's highest professional photography designation from Professional Photographers of Canada, served as Managing Editor of Digital Photography School, and represented Canada on Team Canada at the 2025 World Photographic Cup. With over 35 years of experience, from darkroom film retouching to modern digital editing, more than 17,000 students have learned to edit with confidence through her structured online courses in Luminar Neo and Lightroom Classic and the Digital Photo Mentor Community.

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