I am a beginner with 2 year experience. The book surely gave me a very good boost for making progress in photography however revealed very little about technique authors used when taking those photos. If you are experiencing problems with aesthetics and composition in your photography this book will surely help you but you will learn very little about the authors' workshop. The book contains tips which to me were only sometimes innovative.

It is nice to have it, but if you're looking for some good advice on exposure times, aperture values, filters, etc., turn elswere.


Disappointed   September 30, 2004
 7 out of 7 found this review helpful

I was looking forward to receiving this book, and whilst some of it is useful I found many of the photos to be of an amateur standard and poorly executed. There is very little technical information, I suspect that this is because the authors just delved through their photo collections & threw the book together. It doesn't strike me as a book that they set out to produce, taking new photos to illustrate their skills & techniques.

Some of the photos are good for creating ideas, but I would have been far better off buying a photo magazine with a feature on portraits - this book has taught me nothing. I bought this on the strength of the other reviews so thought it only fair to provide my own one.


Excellent   March 6, 2004
 8 out of 9 found this review helpful

Very nice book with a hard back cover, high quality pictures and background to why and how each photograph example was taken including location, set up, lighting, composition, etc. All areas of portraiture covered and I was pleased to see that studio did not dominate the content.


Couldn't put it down   February 17, 2004
 11 out of 11 found this review helpful

If you want to take great portraits and are seeking inspiration with some guidance, this is the book for you. It is not a step-by-step (ABC) guide so would not appeal to someone who is seeking wide ranging, (where to start) how-to advice. It is more for those seeking ideas and inspiration which can be adapted to whatever style and approach taken. ie. it makes you think about what you are doing and what you want to do.

The Perfect Portrait Guide suits all levels with its' concise yet detailed approach. It contains the usual chapters you would expect for portraiture on such things as lighting, family portraits, equipment etc, as well as less common chapters such as capturing the moment, using shape form and texture, shooting in sunlight etc. The photographs are excellent backed up with detailed (and readable) creative and technical information and diagrams on lens type, film, lighting, etc.


Great textbook   January 31, 2003
 24 out of 28 found this review helpful

This book is a must have for all amateur or even semi-pro portrait photographers. It discusses portrait photography in every aspect from taking it to presenting it.

There are many beautiful photographs in this book each of which is provided with the technical details and a commentary.

The text is rather brief but yet comprehensive. Bigger fonts highlight the key ideas and make them easy to find and memorize.

The graphic design of this book is excellent.

I evaluate this book pretty high.