Portrait Photography
96 resources created by 76 users
This Portrait Photography page on GoConqr gathers community-made mind maps, flashcards and notes, from black and white portraiture and lighting to environmental, colour and experimental work. It's built for school students revising the topic and teachers after ready-made material, with a little for university students too. There are over 80 resources here, including more than 80 mind maps and 2 flashcard decks, made by 71 contributors. Pick a map, follow the photographers it names, then build your own.
Top Portrait Photography resources
Mind maps
See all 89 mind mapsTopics in Portrait Photography
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About Portrait Photography
GoConqr OriginalWhat the resources cover
Nearly everything here is a mind map. They follow the ways a portrait project is usually organised: technique, genre and photographer research. Black and White Portraiture covers equipment, technical considerations, compositional techniques, lighting and locations, including a school studio, a friend as model, artificial lighting and reflectors.
Where to start
Begin with the mind map Portrait Photography. It offers practical advice, such as maintaining eye contact, being interested in people, choosing between available light and studio light, and thinking about the time of day. Then move to Portraiture maps for more detail. One covers camera settings such as aperture, shutter speed and ISO, with a lighting set-up of softbox, tripod, mirror and chair. Another looks at environmental portraits, where the setting complements the subject.
Photographers and styles
Several maps are about named photographers. successful portrait photographers lists Annie Leibovitz, Yousuf Karsh, Jimmy Nelson and Dorothea Lange, with who, what, when, where and why prompts. The maps on Arnold Newman describe him as a pioneer of environmental portraiture. Others sort work into black and white, colour and experimental groups, and there are maps on constructed and unusual portraits.
History and formal elements
The flashcard deck Section 4 - Pictures of People starts with Disdéri and the nineteenth-century cartes de visite, small images mounted on board and used as calling cards. The map The Portrait Element and the map titled Portrait list formal and visual elements such as line, shape, tone, texture, pattern, framing and the rule of thirds.
Using the maps together
Read a technique map first, then a photographer map, and test yourself with the flashcards. Compare how different maps treat the same idea, such as lighting, and note where they differ. Several maps relate to people projects and a zine project, which may suit coursework planning.
When you are ready, open a map that interests you and sketch a version of your own.
Frequently asked questions
Which resource should I open first?
Start with the mind map Portrait Photography. It gives practical advice on eye contact, light and the time of day. After that, try Black and White Portraiture for equipment, lighting and locations, or Portraiture for camera settings and studio set-ups.
What do the mind maps cover?
They cover technique, such as aperture, shutter speed and ISO, lighting and composition. They also cover genres, including black and white, colour, experimental and environmental portraits, plus photographers like Arnold Newman, Annie Leibovitz and Nan Goldin.
Are there any quizzes?
There are no quizzes on this page. It offers mind maps, two flashcard decks and a few notes. The flashcards, including Return of the portrait, are a good way to test what you remember after reading the maps.
Are the resources free to use?
Yes. Every resource listed here is free to open and study without an account. They were made by GoConqr users, not by GoConqr itself. A free account also lets you save progress and create your own maps, flashcards and notes.
Who are these resources for?
They mostly suit school students working on portrait photography projects, and teachers looking for ready-made material to share. A small number are pitched higher, so university students may find a few useful extras.
What if I cannot find a topic I need?
Try nearby maps, as ideas such as lighting and composition appear in several of them. You can also build your own mind map or flashcard deck on the missing topic, using the listed maps as a model.