Priceless--yet practical--ideas and insights from the master of portrait photography
* Ready-to-use insider tips for photographers at every level
* Author teaches across the country and is renowned for sharing his secrets

Michael Grecco is one of the best-known celebrity photographers in the world. His beautiful, insightful work is all around us--on movie posters, in advertising, on magazine covers, everywhere. "I delight in inspiring people," he writes. "I want them to stop, think, and feel." Now Grecco shares the secrets of great portraits with photographers at every level, in Lighting and the Dramatic Portrait. Sections on cameras, illumination, film and digital, creativity and conceptualization, connecting with the subject, and having a point of view, plus intriguing case studies that show "how I got that picture," make this book a resource photographers will use again and again through the years. Whether the subject is a star or a soccer mom, Grecco shows how to add artistry, drama, wit, humor, and personality to their portrait.

Customer Review: Do-it-yourself learning

The author provides some incredible pictures, offers less than you need to understand how they were taken, and ends up making you think, hard, about the creative process. This book will be most appreciated by more advanced photographers who are willing to take a do-it-yourself approach to learning how to light and take dramatic portraits. Everything you really need to know is in there, but you have to work to extract it. I think the process will make you a more thoughtful photographer and a better one. If you're the type who likes mindless step-by-step instructions, and discovers that such rote approaches can't really be applied creatively, you will be disappointed in this book. All others are invited to read, study, and learn.

Customer Review: Heavy on the name dropping, light on the details

Obviously, Michael Grecco is an accomplished photographer, his body of work speaks for itself. On the dust jacket and in the introduction, Grecco says, "...Assistants and other photographers have asked why I would want to give away my secrets in a book..." After reading this book, I would like to assure Mr. Grecco's contemporaries that his secrets still lie safe with him.

Lots of allusions to celebrity and lots of high end equipment name dropping occur. There is very little discussion about development of the theme of an image. This is definitely a book for Grecco fans not for experienced photographers seeking additional insight. The title is deceptive, the chapter on Illumination is 44 pages, that's right, 44 pages.

Don't bother.

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