Photographing People

Learn the techniques for photographing people. Develop your understanding of portraiture and gain skills in wedding, action, fashion and nude photography.

Course Code: BPH102
Fee Code: S2
Duration (approx) Duration (approx) 100 hours
Qualification Statement of Attainment
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Learn to Photograph People 

  • For persons with some experience with photography to help develop skills specific to photographing people.

  • Explore opportunities for part or full time work

  • 100 hour, self paced course -Combine with other courses for a certificate

What is a portrait?

A photographic portrait focuses on the person and attempts to convey an image of what or who the person is, whether physically, or perhaps spiritually or emotionally.

There is also the group portrait, usually an image of a small number of people (such as a team or family portrait).

However, people can also be photographed in other ways, where the focus might not be the individuals being photographed, but the social or cultural context (fashion, news events, sporting events etc.) or their relationship to the scene in which they are placed. 

 

Lesson Structure

There are 10 lessons in this course:

  1. Introduction
    • Common Considerations (People move, moods are uncontrollable, people dress differently, subjects can change)
    • Digital or Film
    • Resources
    • Photo Composition
    • Unity
    • Balance
    • Proportion
    • Harmony
    • Contrast
    • Rhythm
    • Line
    • Form
    • Mass
    • Space
    • Texture
    • Colour
    • Patterns
    • Tone
    • Camera Techniques
    • Principles of Light
    • Mood
    • Colour Control
    • Terminology
  2. Equipment, Materials and Studio Work
    • Lenses
    • Aperture
    • Type of film
    • Digital
    • Filters
    • Lighting
    • Basic Studio
    • Flash
  3. Basic Techniques
    • Body Language
    • Clusters
    • Context
    • Culture
    • Willingness of Subject
    • Hiding and Highlighting Features
    • Informal or Formal
    • Enhance character with surroundings
    • Composition and lighting
    • Subject
    • Context
    • Subject Placement
    • Lines and Pathsa
    • Creating Effects
    • Composition
    • Rule of Thirds
    • Rapport
    • Subject Placement
    • Lighting
    • Lenses
    • Setting the Scene
    • Developing a Portrait Style
  4. Portraiture
    • Studio
    • Outdoor
    • Available Light
    • The Face
    • Portraiture
    • Procedure
    • Posing
  5. Wedding Photography
    • Introduction
    • Creating Romance
    • Managing People
    • Planning
    • Other Considerations
    • Digital Wedding Equipment
    • Lighting (Rain, Sun, Dull days)
  6. Candid Photography
    • Introduction
    • Candid Techniques
    • Photographing Events
    • Outdoor and Indoor
    • The Photo Essay
    • Model Release Forms
  7. Nude Photography
    • Study of the Human Form in Western Art
    • Nude or Naked
    • Cultural Conventions
    • Athletic, Dynamic Nudes
    • The Nude in Nature
    • Portraits and Self Portraits
    • Bedroom Nudes
    • Erotic and Pornographic Nudes
    • Nude Photography
  8. Sports, Street and Action Photography
    • Sports
    • Equipment
    • Freezing Action
    • Blurring Movement
    • Panning
    • Viewpoint
    • Digital Cameras
    • Sports photography tips
    • Streetscapes
    • Water as a setting for photography
  9. Fashion Photography
    • Guidelines for Fashion and Glamour Photography
    • Special Equipment and Techniques
    • Fault Finding
  10. Folio Project
    • Introduction
    • Purpose of a Folio
    • Types of Folio
    • Framing
    • Other Ways to Use Your work
    • Create a photo essay or portrait album

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Aims

  • Identify resources that could improve your ability to photograph people, examining the principles of photography and also exploring the issues related to digital photography.
  • Discuss the preparation for a photo shoot by exploring the different equipment and materials needed for a successful shoot. Also examine lighting a subject within a studio setting and explores digital photography issues
  • Discuss techniques used for taking photos of people
  • Improve your ability to shoot better portraiture photographs.
  • Explain the issues and applications concerned with wedding photography.
  • Take better candid photos of people.
  • Describe how to take appropriate nude photos for different situations.
  • Describe how to take action photos of people.
  • Describe how to take better glamour and fashion photos.
  • Compile a folio of people photography.

WHY STUDY THIS COURSE?

  • To take better photos of people, as an amateur or aspiring professional photographer
  • To illustrate your work better - as a blogger, teacher, writer, marketing professional, artist or any other situation where you need to use photos of people
  • Because you are passionate about the subject

 

Member of Study Gold Coast Education Network.
Member of Study Gold Coast Education Network.
ACS Global Partner - Affiliated with colleges in seven countries around the world.
ACS Global Partner - Affiliated with colleges in seven countries around the world.
Since 1999 ACS has been a recognised member of IARC (International Approval and Registration Centre). A non-profit quality management organisation servicing education.
Since 1999 ACS has been a recognised member of IARC (International Approval and Registration Centre). A non-profit quality management organisation servicing education.

How can I start this course?

You can enrol at anytime and start the course when you are ready. Enrolments are accepted all year - students can commence study at any time. All study is self paced and ACS does not set assignment deadlines.

Please note that if a student is being assisted by someone else (e.g. an employer or government subsidy), the body offering the assistance may set deadlines. Students in such situations are advised to check with their sponsor prior to enrolling. The nominal duration of a course is approximately how long a course takes to complete. A course with a nominal duration of 100 hours is expected to take roughly 100 hours of study time to complete. However, this will vary from student to student. Short courses (eg. 100 hrs duration) should be completed within 12 months of enrolment. Certificates, Advanced Certificates and Awards (eg. over 500 hours duration) would normally be completed within 3 -5 years of enrolment. Additional fees may apply if a student requires an extended period to complete.
If a student cannot submit their assignments for 6 months to ACS, they should advise the school to avoid cancellation of their student
registration. Recommencement fees may apply.

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What do I need to know before I enrol?

There are no entry requirements that you need to meet to enrol in our courses, our courses are for everyone.
If you are under 18, we need written permission from your parent/ guardian for your enrolment to continue, we can arrange that after you have enrolled.

You don’t need to purchase any additional resources to complete our courses.

We aim to teach you the essentials without you having to purchase any specific computer program.
We recommend that you have access to a word processing program, such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs, so that you can easily complete and submit your assignments.

You sure can. We are here to help you learn whatever your abilities.

Yes, if you are enrolling in a Certificate or Advanced Certificate, you might be eligible for credits if you have evidence of your previous studies or relevant experience. More information is here.

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If you have limited computer skills, we can make special arrangements for you.

This is possible, it depends on the institution. We recommend that if you would like to use our courses that you contact the institution first. Our Course Handbook is a good resource for this.

Our courses are written in English and we only have English speaking academic staff. If you can read and complete your assignments in English, our courses are ideal for you.

Our courses are designed to build knowledge, hands on skills and industry connections to help prepare you to work in the area, running your own business, professional development or as a base for further study.

This course has been designed to cover the fundamentals of the topic. It will take around 100 hours to complete, which includes your course reading, assignment work, research, practical tasks, watching videos and anything else that is contained in the course. Our short courses are a great way to do some professional development or to learn a new skill.

It’s up to you. The study hours listed in the course are a rough guide, however if you were to study a short course (100 hours) at 10 hours per week, you could finish the course in 10 weeks (just an example). Our courses are self-paced, so you can work through the courses in your own time. We recommend that you wait for your tutor to mark and return your assignment before your start your next one, so you get the benefits of their feedback.

The course consists of course notes, videos, set tasks for your practical work, online quizzes, an assignment for each lesson (that you receive feedback from your tutor from) and ends in an exam (which is optional, if would like to receive the formal award at the end), using our custom built Learning Management System - Login.Training.

Our courses are designed for adults to gain professional development and skills to further their careers and start businesses.

Our custom online learning portal allows you to conduct your learning online. There may be practical tasks that you can do offline. You have the option of downloading your course notes or print them to read later.

There is also the option to pay an additional fee for printed course notes and or USB (availability limited to location and deliverability).

Yes, if you don’t have access to the internet, you can receive the course as paper notes or on a USB stick for an additional fee. We can also make alternative arrangements for you to send your assignments to us.

We offer printed notes for an additional fee. Also, you can request your course notes on a USB stick for an additional fee.

Yes, your tutor is here to help you. Simply post any questions you have in your login.training portal or contact the office and we can pass on a message to your tutor.

We are more learning focussed, rather than assessment focussed. You have online quizzes to test your learning, written assignments and can complete an exam at the end of the course (if you want to receive your certificate). You will not receive a pass/ fail on your course work. If you need to add more details on your assignment, we will ask you to resubmit and direct you where you need to focus. If you need help, you can ask your tutor for advice in the student room.

Each module (short course) is completed with one exam.

Exams are optional, however you must sit an exam if you would like to receive a formal award. You will need to find someone who can supervise that you are sitting the exams under exams conditions. There is an additional cost of $60 incl. GST for each exam.
More information is here

There are practical components built into the course that have been designed to be achieved by anyone, anywhere. If you are unable to complete a task for any reason, you can ask your tutor for an alternative.

When you complete the course work and the exam and you will be able receive your course certificate- a Statement of Attainment. Otherwise, you can receive a Letter of Completion.

You can bundle the short courses to create your own customised learning bundle, Certificates or Advanced Certificates. More information is on this page.

Yes, our courses are built to be applicable for people living anywhere in any situation. We provide the fundamentals, and each student can apply their own unique flair for their own interests, region and circumstances with the one-on-one guidance of a tutor. There is also a bit of student directed research involved.

Employers value candidates with industry skills, knowledge, practical skills and formal learning. Our courses arm you with all of these things to help prepare you for a job or start your own business. The longer you study the more you will learn.

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Who are ACS Distance Education?

ACS Distance Education have been educating people for over 40 years.

We are established and safe- we have been in education for over 40 years.
We are focused on developing innovative courses that are relevant to you now and what you will need to know in the future.
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The following academics were involved in the development and/or updating of this course.

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