Great Portrait Photographers

[bhurdle]

So... I got into this business to do weddings but I did some senior shots for my nanny's daughter and I'm getting all these leads. I picked up a 3rd SB-800 a while back, threw a roll of white seamless up in my 'Texas basement', and started shooting. I'm really liking the portrait business. Especially when it's one on one (not an engaged couple or a family). It's even got me thinking about putting a project together.

Anyway, while I don't have any studio lights (plan to get some once I know what I need - that's gonna be a mess), I've been studying many forms of lighting techniques. I'm getting nice shots but the ones I really love are the ones where the subject is doing something completely natural wether it be a real smile, a serious look, whatever...

So, that brings me to want to study some really good portrait photographers. I did a quick search on google and found everybody and their mom. You can't exactly do a google search with the word 'good' and expect not to find everyone. *note to self: add the word 'good' to my keyword list for the search engines*

Can someone tell me some good portrait artists that I can study? I'm looking for those who have a great technique. Perhaps someone who is really good with their subjects. Maybe there are some pioneers. While I wouldn't mind looking at work from photogs who have really good/original processing techniques, I would prefer those where it's all about the content.

Who do you guys look up to, follow, read about?

[carrbowl]

Renae Carr...hee hee...sorry you asked for that one!!! I'm in such a bad mood I had to make myself laugh at a horribly bad joke...just humor me!!

[Redneck]

Good portraits?
Look in the "People" section. There are many great portrait photographers. One of my favorites is Paco (texxter).

[Some Idiot]

Dan Winters

[srwatters]

Some of my favorite all-stars:
Richard Avedon.
Jerry Avenaim.
Timothy Greenfield-Sanders.

I sort of like the genre myself too

[dmcantrell]

Dave Hill is popular right now.

[Fireball]

The ones I study are:

Melissa Jill (who readily shares tips/tricks)
Jessica Claire
Amelia Lyon

All women, of course!

[texxter]

I enjoy and gain inspiration from these photographers, in no particular order.

Irving Penn
Paul Strand
Robert Mapplethorpe
Steve McCurry
Yousuf Karsh
Arnold Newman
Albert Watson
Bruce Davidson
Dan Sellers (contemporary in Dallas)
Francesco Scavullo
Mark Seliger
Greg O'Gorman

(edit) And how could I forget George Hurrell!

[kayumangi]

Well, I'm inspired by Paco's simplicity, he often makes it look easy even if it's not =)

[bhurdle]

Thanks for the list! I'm going to get my bookmarks all updated now. I think I'll start with the famous Renae Carr.

[dmora]

Originally Posted by texxter

I enjoy and gain inspiration from these photographers, in no particular order.

Irving Penn
Paul Strand
Robert Mapplethorpe
Steve McCurry
Yousuf Karsh
Arnold Newman
Albert Watson
Bruce Davidson
Dan Sellers (contemporary in Dallas)
Francesco Scavullo
Mark Seliger
Greg O'Gorman

(edit) And how could I forget George Hurrell!

Lots of heavy hitters on that list.
I love this site.
Master Photographers presented by photography-now.net - The International Photography Index.

[dmora]

Originally Posted by dmcantrell

Dave Hill is popular right now.

I always thought this was photo illustration.

[dmcantrell]

Originally Posted by dmora

I always thought this was photo illustration.

Yeah, the post-processing does play a large part in the finished product -- but his pure photographic technique to get the image to start with is pretty impressive as well. I think there's a behind-the-scenes or something on his site.

[dmora]

Originally Posted by dmcantrell

Yeah, the post-processing does play a large part in the finished product -- but his pure photographic technique to get the image to start with is pretty impressive as well. I think there's a behind-the-scenes or something on his site.

yea i saw some.... lots of work to get 1 photo... very creative.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

If you want "classic" looks go to a book store (Half Price Books sometimes has a good photography section-varies from store to store) and pick up some older books and look at how they posed and lit their models.

Many times you can get a better feel from a book than a comp screen as to what they did and how they approached it.

Do a search for some of the "press kit" shooters that did the Hollywood Stars portraits in the 30's through the 60's there were a handful of really skilled shooters doing these for all the big studios.