Mastering Beauty Lighting & Fashion for Portrait Photography

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Acclaimed artist and commercial photographer Joel Grimes takes you behind the scenes in the studio and teaches you the fundamentals of his favorite lighting techniques that will enable you to take your photography to the next level. Joel stresses the importance of developing your creative process while mastering the technical aspects of your craft, because it is your creative vision that will set you apart from all the rest. After seeing how the photos are captured in studio you’ll learn the secrets to Joel’s retouching techniques for bringing out the best in a subject’s skin and seamlessly compsiting a subject into a new background.

The Creative Process (02:37) Mastering your tools is only part of the process. What is most important that you fulfill your vision as an artist.
Choosing the Right Modifier (08:31) Knowing the principles of lighting will help you choose the right modifier for the desired look.
Beauty Dishes (04:15) You can achieve the same look with different beauty dish sizes just by changing the distance from the subject.
Umbrellas (04:05) A large umbrella can be a great source of light for lower cost.
Working with the Beauty Dish (11:08) Joel photographs a model with three different modifiers, starting with the beauty dish in this lesson, to compare the results each one produces.
Working with the 5 Foot Octa (05:49) The light modifier comparison continues with the 5 foot Octa.
Working with the 7 Foot Umbrella (05:16) The modifier comparison wraps up with a look at the 7 foot umbrella.
High Key Look (06:37) Using a three light setup Joel demonstrates how he produces a high key look.
Creating Edge Light (08:53) Joel demonstrates a super clean beauty shot with three lights and a new model.
Full Length Shot (03:56) The three light setup is slightly modified to create a full body shot that could later be cut out of the background and used in a composite.
Building the Foundation for a Skin Retouch (08:26) Joel starts by opening the photo as a smart object to maintain editing flexibility.
Global Smoothing Technique (07:26) This is a technique designed to maintain detail in the skin.
Fine Tuning the Skin (08:26) This step of the process is all about removing any flaws in the skin.
Dodging and Burning (06:32) Dodging and burning is an underrated technique, but a really important part of Joel's retouching process.
Applying Final Touch (07:09) The last step in the process is to determine the final levels of the tones on the skin.
Blown Out High Key Look (08:36) Joel demonstrates the retouching steps for achieving his signature high key look.
Starting the Composite (19:16) A composite combines a photo of a model shot in studio with an interesting background taken at a completely different location.
Shadows and Shading (07:06) Adding shadows and shading is one of the most important aspects of "selling the fake" and making the final composite more believable.
Atmospheric Additions (12:47) There are a few atmospheric effects you can add to really help pull it all together.

Course Time: 02 Hours 26 Minutes

L. Barnes

Apr 28 2013

WOW!!!!! I Love this skin softening technique!!!!! Looks so natural! Just what I have been looking for. Thank you soo much!!!
D. Cudic

Apr 9 2013

Joel, Thank you very much for this fantastic video! It's so inspirational. I really appreciate your work and your willing to share your knowledge with us. I've already applied your burn and dodge technique from this video to my new beauty headshots and I must admit, skin looks much better than before. I can hardly wait to see your new video. Kelbytraining - you're doing an amazing job. Thank you for that!
F. Barbiero

Apr 5 2013

Mr. Grimes shares his passion, skills, talent, work ethic and techniques which are second to none. He puts it all together to produce some of the most memorable results I've seen anywhere. After finishing the course I went immediately to his website to see more. Thanks!
B. Hanna

Apr 2 2013

This course was really detailed and eye-opening. Awesome job Joel!!
G. Johnson

Mar 23 2013

Joel, Thank You! You are Great! I am an architecture photographer and the techniques in your video have given me great ideas in what I do. I have always admired fashion photographers, after showing how you light the models makes me want to give it a try. Thanks Again!
T. Wallace

Mar 20 2013

I don't often get time to sit and enjoy too many of the classes on Kelby Training but I took a break from editing this afternoon to kick back with a good coffee and watch your class. Loved it mate! For me personally it's your straight forward approach and it is so good to see a 'photographer' who cares about light and more than anything else understands light. For me, this is the key to everything. I really enjoyed that element to the class. Enjoyed watching your PS work and it was slightly funny to see that you have found answers to problems in a similar way to myself and your use of PS quite obviously comes through experience more than just reading books, very much as I learned, perhaps this is why we both end up at a similar place but not the same place, which of course is good. Loved the comment about spending time with shadows on comps. I do comps from time to time with automotive work and have to confess that I often have up to 10 layers to try and get the shadows just right, its reassuring to know that I am not the only one who does this... lol! I really enjoyed the class and wanted to say, thank you!
S. Souvannasot

Mar 16 2013

Joel, You are amazing! Love what you do and I am your new biggest fan. I love your techniques and style of photos.
O. Pages

Mar 16 2013

As usual, Joel Grimes is fantastic! Thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge, your work, your talent. Kelby Training...you guys really rock!!! More than 6 years following you and I've never ever been disappointed, FAB!!!
T. E Dougherty

Mar 14 2013

Joel, thank you for a great set of courseware. I am a huge fan, and have been following you on your blog, written press, and now Kelby Training. I appreciate the simplicity in your approach, for I too am color blind, and find the methods you've introduced a tremendous benefits. Thanks!
J. Maddox

Mar 12 2013

Great course as always from Joel. Love all the different ways you show how to use different modifiers.
I. Johnstone

Mar 11 2013

Thanks to you, Joel! Brilliantly informative!
R. Garrow

Mar 10 2013

Well I completed the video, folks I would highly recommend this to anyone. I learned so much I can not believe it. THANK YOU Joel Grimes for great training video.
L. Burke

Mar 9 2013

This class was really good. I think Joel always explains his points very well and makes the complicated become clear. Everything tied in together really well and I look forward to the next course posted by Joel Grimes
R. Garrow

Mar 9 2013

I am just about finished with this training Video, I would like to say thank you so much to Mr. Grimes. This will become one of my top video's so far, I will be returning to view the video for a reference a number of times. Mr Grimes goes into a lot of detail in the way he teaches, explaining his way of creating some great photo's, then going into the post process to show how he ends up with a beautiful image. I am supper impressed with Mr. Grimes way of teaching and I will be sure to view any further or past videos he makes.
K. Andersen

Mar 9 2013

Just want to say that if you only put up courses by Joel Grimes to kelbytraining.com it would still be worth the money! Fantastic instructor and I hope he will do more compositing stuff in the future!
K.

Mar 9 2013

Great tips on how to use the equipment and names of it.
D. Sala

Mar 9 2013

J. Grimes editing makes me realize you get can great results with little time.
A. Van Liessum

Mar 9 2013

Excellent training, enjoyed watching the whole course and learned a lot!
T. Patel

Mar 9 2013

This is an amazing course, I find that often a lot of information on many other courses will be blanketed under a lot of unnecessary information. Joel really brings a no non sense approach to his shooting and post production side. Really recommended tutorial, well done Joel!
J. Guindon

Mar 8 2013

Excellent course. Very easy to follow. Good job and thank you Joel!
R. Jaquet

Mar 8 2013

One of the best courses on Kelby Training. I learned so much!
R. Burnett

Mar 8 2013

I rented this course over 3 x days, needless to say I watched it all at once. What a fantastic idea, please keep the rental option available. Loved watching Joel Grimes do his stuff. I was having a problem making a decision regarding a lighting modifier and this is why I took this class. It has definitely solved my dilemma. Great class, keep up the awesome offerings.
R. Finch

Mar 7 2013

This was a very good course, I normally do not comment but felt I had to say something. thanks for helping me to understand light modifiers. THANKS!
J. Webb

Mar 7 2013

One of the best courses that I have seen so far. Joel has a soft delivery that is pleasant to hear and an easy to understand. The course is full of information that is delivered in a common sense way that covers the whole sequence from lighting to post processing. I will be watching again soon to follow the techniques with one of my images.
L. S

Mar 7 2013

This was excellent - very well explained. Thank you
D. Taylor

Mar 7 2013

The best course Joel has taught! Great job!
W. Mayo

Mar 7 2013

I was so looking forward to this class, and you did not disappoint Joel! Once again, I learned enough new stuff to keep me busy for months. Just ordered a huge umbrella and I am excited to start practicing with it. Keep 'em coming!
B.

Mar 6 2013

Once again Joel, a fantastic course! Thank you so much for your time, effort and willingness to teach us all your gifts. Kelby Training THANK YOU for bringing yet another kick butt course to the table. Never once have I regretted my membership.
R. Browne

Mar 6 2013

Thank you Joel and Scott, once again you hit it out of the park

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Your Instructor

Joel Grimes

Artist & Commercial Photographer

After receiving a BFA in Photography from the University of Arizona in 1984, Joel began working as a commercial advertising photographer based out of Denver, Colorado. His style of capturing portraits...VIEW FULL BIO»

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