| Portrait Magic

Guided by Matt Cosby, explore techniques to elevate your portrait photography to create enchanting and timeless portraits.

This workshop is designed for students looking to hone their craft and take a deeper dive into portraiture work. Together we will make images from the heart that are both inspired and evocative – plus we’ll have lots of fun too. 

This workshop is about so much more than just taking a picture of a person. It’s about connecting with your subject and creating a space where you can be confident to make your best work. Our goal will be to make images that have timeless qualities – and at the end of the day – photographs we can be proud of. 

Students will leave inspired, confident, and ready to make their own unique work out in the world. I will share my process and approach to a portrait session and through class lectures we will learn about the many masters that have come before us and discuss what made their work special. Students will learn how to execute the vision they see and feel in their hearts. We will discuss how to achieve a successful image in all different lighting scenarios with an emphasis on available light. There will also be class time for critiques where we will talk through how to make your images stronger. We will go over best practices to be prepared for portrait shoots ie camera and lens choice, gear, time constraints, etc. We will also work within Adobe Lightroom to make sure our images look their absolute best.

I believe that portrait photographers have a duty to create images that conjure emotion as well as being authentic and honest. We will discuss the many different types of portrait photography – from environmental, candid, and lifestyle, to street portraits and conceptual portraits. 

Being confident and kind helps people forget that they are being photographed…and that’s the sweet spot. Curiosity is key. We will work hard together to capture the spirit of our subjects. I know the title of this workshop references ‘magic’, but the secret magical sauce comes first and foremost from YOU, your vision, your gaze, and what you have to say. It also comes from knowing your camera, being prepared, and knowing how to navigate the inevitable curve balls you’ll run into. Whether it be an awkward subject, bad lighting, or worst of all – a stale vibe. This class will be a mix of classroom discussions, working with models, and going on field trips to create street portraits and environmental portraits. We’ll discuss how to approach strangers and how to make a strong image with them in a limited time. Keeping it fun and creative is the name of the game! Let’s make some magic.

Students should have some knowledge of their camera as well as Adobe Lightroom. Students should bring their laptops with Lightroom installed on them.

All images copyright Matt Cosby.