The Portrait Masters - The Creative Portrait Series with Richard Wood

Award-winning creative portrait and illustrative photographer, Richard Wood has created a course that challenges you to dive into your imagination and produce compelling images that evoke emotion and tell stories. Learn how to take an initial creative idea and turn it into an amazing piece of art with his masterful techniques in lighting, shooting, and post-production.

In this course, Richard starts with the importance of storytelling, and how to best plan for your vision. Learn how to photograph the elements you’ll need to create your final image. Then, he takes us through 3 different concepts: A mermaid on land, a mermaid in water, and a siren – plus a bonus shoot he did in collaboration with Sue Bryce of a planetary goddess. Discover Richard’s secrets as he explains his Photoshop techniques from compositing, to color grading and using layers to achieve a result that will leave you awestruck.

Once you master Richard’s key strategies to produce visionary images, your photography will become more powerful than ever!

https://theportraitmasters.com/product/creative-portrait-series/


THE ART OF STORYTELLING
Even if you are technically proficient behind the camera, learning how to access your deepest creativity is essential to produce successful illustrative portraits. Master Richard’s 4 key elements of an award-winning image, put his exercises into practice, and you’ll be well on your way to creating emotive and compelling work.

1. Introduction
2. The Art of Storytelling

PHOTOGRAPHING THE ELEMENTS
Watch as Richard takes us through which elements he needs to add to his mermaid images. Using the details from the fins of a goldfish to dry ice, smoke and mist, watch as he gathers everything he’ll need to produce the elaborate atmosphere for his final portrait. Don’t forget to download Richard’s sample elements to practice with!

1. Introduction
2. Photographing the Elements

MERMAID ON LAND SHOOT
In this segment, Richard photographs his mermaid sitting on a rock. Learn how to direct your model to bring out the emotion of the image you’re working towards, and how to set up your lighting to match your vision.

1. Introduction
2. Mermaid on Land Shoot

MERMAID IN WATER SHOOT
Dive deep into imagination with Richard as he photographs his mermaid in a shallow pool of water. This is very different that your usual studio portraiture. Learn how he uses lighting to join visual elements and emotional elements together to create an overall mood.

1. Introduction
2. Mermaid in Water Shoot

THE SIREN SHOOT
Using the shallow pool again, watch as Richard uses ambient lighting and a lighter color palette to photograph a siren. Learn how he uses props to tell a story and directs his model to evoke the most amount of emotion possible.

1. Introduction
2. The Siren Shoot

COLOR ADJUSTMENTS & COMPOSITING
In this segment, Richard starts the post-production of his Mermaid in Water image. Learn how to use layer masks and modes to add together all your different elements. Master his techniques to manipulate the color in your image like you never have before.

PRO TIP: How to open an image as an object so you can always access the Raw Adjustment Panel (1:21)

1. Introduction
2. Color Adjustments & Compositing

CREATING MOOD & A PAINTERLY EFFECT
Richard continues the post-production of his Mermaid in Water image here as he brings us through some atmospheric techniques to create a dynamic final product. Discover some of Richards secrets – that he’s never shared before, to elevate your work to the next level!

PRO TIP: How to make Photoshop work much faster (14:30)
PRO TIP: Lighting Effects to direct the eye & create a painterly effect (12:38)

1. Introduction
2. Creating Mood & a Painterly Effect
3. Final Touches

FULL POST-PRODUCTION: MERMAID ON LAND
Watch Richard’s full edit of his Mermaid on Land image from start to finish. He creates an underwater scene, an above water scene, and uses lighting effects to combine everything together. Learn how to build an elaborate background, how to place your model into it, and add in your details to enhance your final portrait.

1. Introduction
2. Mermaid on Land Post-Production Pt. 1
3. Mermaid on Land Post-Production Pt. 2
4. Mermaid on Land Post-Production Pt. 3
5. Mermaid on Land Post-Production Pt. 4

FULL POST-PRODUCTION: THE SIREN
Watch Richard’s full edit of his Siren image from start to finish. Learn how to experiment with multiple layers of texture and enhance the color palette of your image. Although Richard uses similar techniques as in his mermaid shots, he ends up with a much softer and lighter mood in this final portrait.

1. Introduction
2. Siren Post-Production Pt.1
3. Siren Post-Production Pt, 2

NEW ZEALAND VIDEOS
When Sue Bryce and her crew traveled to New Zealand, Richard and Sue collaborated on a shoot of a planetary goddess. Watch as they accomplish a creative lighting set up and photograph elements like revolving planets and a sun. Then, Richard takes you through his post production to end up with an other-worldly image.

1. Introduction
2. Interview
3. Shooting With The Model
4. Photographing Hair
5. Post Processing - The Base Layer
6. Post Processing - Mirror and Bangle
7. Post Processing - Final Touches

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