Group Portrait Photography Handbook

129 Pages·2005·3.53 MB·English

by  Bill Hurter

F O R D I G I TA L A N D F I L M P H OTO G R A P H E R S
GROUP PORTRAIT
P H OTO G R A P H Y H A N D B O O K
2ndEd.
BILL HURTER
Amherst Media
®
PUBLISHER OF PHOTOGRAPHY BOOKS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
BillHurterstartedoutinphotographyin1972inWashington,DC,wherehewasanewsphotographer.Heevencovered
thepoliticalscene—includingtheWatergatehearings.AftergraduatingwithaBAinliteraturefromAmericanUniversity
in 1972, he completed training at the Brooks Institute of Photography in 1975. Going on to work at Petersen’s
PhotoGraphicmagazine,heheldpracticallyeveryjobexceptartdirector.Hehasbeentheownerofhisowncreativeagency,
shotstock,andworkedassignments(includingayearorsowiththeL.A.Dodgers).Hehasbeendirectlyinvolvedinpho-
tography for the last thirty years and has seen the revolution in technology. In 1988, Bill was awarded an honorary
MastersofSciencedegreefromtheBrooksInstitute.HeiscurrentlytheeditorofRangefindermagazine.
Copyright © 2005 by Bill Hurter.
All rights reserved.
Front cover photograph by Leslie McIntosh.
Back cover photograph by Frank Frost.
Published by:
Amherst Media, Inc.
P.O. Box 586
Buffalo, N.Y. 14226
Fax: [phone]
www.AmherstMedia.com
Publisher: Craig Alesse
Senior Editor/Production Manager: Michelle Perkins
Assistant Editor: Barbara A. Lynch-Johnt
ISBN: 1-58428-159-6
Library of Congress Card Catalog Number: 2004113075
Printed in Korea.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechani-
cal, photocopied, recorded or otherwise, without prior written consent from the publisher.
NoticeofDisclaimer:Theinformationcontainedinthisbookisbasedontheauthor’sexperienceandopinions.Theauthor
and publisher will not be held liable for the use or misuse of the information in this book.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ThePhotographers ..............................6
Introduction ..................................12
1. Cameras for Group Portraiture ...............14
FilmCameras .................................14
FilmChoice ..................................15
Black&WhiteFilm ..........................15
DigitalSLRs ..................................16
Price ......................................16
DimensionsandWeight ......................16
ImageSensors ..............................16
EffectivePixels ..............................18
RemovableMedia ...........................18
ReformatYourCards .........................19
FileTypes ..................................19
ColorSpace ................................20
LCDMonitor ...............................23
d.
WhiteBalance ..............................23 ar
h
c
LensCompatibility ..........................24 Or
nis
LensConversionFactor .......................24 en
D
y
ShutterLagTime ............................24 b
h
p
a
ExposureLatitude ...........................25 gr
o
ot
EvaluatingDigitalExposures ..................25 Ph
DigitalISOs ................................27 2. Technical Basics ............................30
Noise......................................27 Filmvs.DigitalRetouching ......................31
Contrast ...................................28 Lenses .......................................31
Black&WhiteMode .........................28 FocalLength ................................31
BurstRate ..................................28 Focus ........................................34
Batteries ...................................29 DepthofField ..............................34
Sharpening .................................29 ShiftingtheFocusPoint ......................35
Metadata ...................................29 PlaneofFocus ..............................35
ClockSettings...............................29 ShiftingtheFieldofFocus ....................36
TABLEOFCONTENTS•3
MeteringandExposure .........................37 TheGoldenMean .............................55
IncidentFlashmeters .........................37 Line,Form,andDirection .......................56
OptimumShootingApertures .................38 Line ......................................56
ShutterSpeeds ..............................38 Shapes .....................................56
PleasingCompositionalForms.................57
3. Posing .....................................41 Direction ..................................58
SubjectPositioning.............................41 SubjectTone ..................................58
Head-and-ShouldersAxis .......................42 TensionandBalance ...........................60
HeadPositions ................................42
The7/ View .................................42 5. Building Groups ............................63
8
The3/ View .................................42 PosingHierarchy ..............................63
4
Profiles ....................................42 PosingDialogue ...............................65
TiltingtheHead ...............................43 PerimeterCheck ...............................65
HeadLevelsandPlacementinGroups.............43 CoordinatingApparel ..........................66
ChinHeight ..................................44 Photographer’sFavorites ......................67
ExpressionsandCommunication .................45 Seating.......................................68
Eyes .......................................45 ArrangingSmallGroups ........................73
Mouths ....................................46 StartwithTwo ..............................73
CameraHeightandPerspective ..................47 AddaThird ................................73
PosingHands .................................48 AddingaFourth .............................75
Using3/-andFull-LengthPoses ..................51 FiveonUp .................................75
4
ObviousThingstoAvoid .....................80
4. Composition ...............................53
TheRuleofThirds .............................53 6. Building Big Groups ........................82
NaturalnessCounts ............................82
PosingLevels .................................83
Level1,Standing ............................85
Level2,TallKneel ...........................85
Level3,ShortKneel ..........................85
Level4,Sitting .............................85
Level5,LyingDown .........................86
Stepladders ...................................87
LinkingShapes ................................87
TheReallyBigGroup ...........................89
7. Outdoor Lighting ...........................90
Roundness ...................................90
LightingRatios ................................91
DeterminingLightingRatios ...................93
LightingRatiosandTheirUniquePersonalities ...94
ost.
Fr FindingGoodLight ............................95
k
n
Fra TheBestLight .................................96
y
b OneMainLight ...............................97
h
p
a
gr Reflectors ....................................97
o
ot
h Fill-inFlash ...................................98
P
4•GROUPPORTRAITPHOTOGRAPHER’SHANDBOOK
UsingFlashFill,Metering,andExposure ...........99
BackgroundControl ...........................101
DirectSunlight ...............................102
ProblemsOutdoors ...........................103
8. Indoor Lighting ............................107
Feathering ...................................107
LightingtheLargeRoomorDanceFloor ..........108
FocusingUmbrellas ...........................109
WindowLight ................................110
SubjectPositioning ..........................111
Exposure ....................................111
Fill-inIllumination............................112
DiffusingWindowLight .......................113
BounceFlash .................................113
LightingLargeGroupswithBounceFlash .......113
Diffused“Straight”Flash .......................114
n.
UmbrellasandSoftboxes .......................114 o
d
or
TheMakingoftheUltimateGroupShot ..........115 G
Al
y
b
h
p
Glossary .....................................117 gra
o
Index .......................................122 hot
P
TABLEOFCONTENTS•5
[ THE PHOTOGRAPHERS ]
Michael J. Ayers, PPA-Certified, M.Photog., Cr., APM, most revered photographers. It’s this talent combined
AOPA, AEPA, AHPA. Michael Ayers, WPPI’s 1997 with his natural ability to make people feel at ease in
InternationalPortraitPhotographeroftheYear,isastudio front of the lens that attract so many of his clients.
owner from Lima, Ohio. He has lectured about portrai- Marcus’s comprehensive portfolio of work clearly illus-
ture and his “album architecture” all across North trates his natural flair and versatility. His work has been
AmericaandhasalsobeenafeaturedspeakerinEurope. published in numerous magazines in Australia and over-
Janet Baker Richardson. From a successful career as a seas, including Black & White, Capture, Portfolio Bride and
producer of television commercials, Janet was drawn countlessotherbridalmagazines.
toward photographing children because of the simplicity Don Blair. For over 50 years, the name Don Blair has
and honesty of the profession. Not having the funds for been synonymous with fine portraiture, craftsmanship,
studiolightswhenshestartedout,Janetmasteredtheuse and extraordinary contributions to the industry. Don
ofoutdoorandwindowlightandhassubsequentlycreat- Blair, who passed away in 2004, was a master craftsman
ed a meaningful niche in the world of children’s portrai- and a gifted and caring educator—hailed as a leader in
ture.JanetliveswithherfamilyinLosAngeles,whereshe this field. Don was well known for sharing his wealth
runsahome-basedbusiness. knowledge with photographers throughout the United
Becker.Becker,whogoesbyonlyhislastname,isagre- States and in numerous other countries. It’s no accident
garious,likeableweddingphotojournalistwhooperatesa that in professional circles such as PPA, Camera Crafts-
successful studio in Mission Viejo, California. He has men of America, Intermountain Professional Photog-
been a featured speaker at WPPI and has also competed raphers Association, and WPPI he was among the most
and excelled in international print competition. Visit his respectedofallportraitphotographers.Hewasaffection-
websiteat:www.thebecker.com. atelyknowntomanyas“BigDaddy.”
Vladimir Bekker. Vladimir Bekker, owner of Concord Amy Cantrell. Amy Cantrell, a commercial, editorial,
Photography in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, specializes in andfine-artphotographer,hasapassionforphotograph-
weddings and environmental portraits. An immigrant ing people. She has made her reputation photographing
from the Ukraine, Vladimir took up photography when celebritiesandexecutivesintheLosAngelesareaandhas
he was a boy. He graduated from Lvov Polytechnical had her work featured on the covers of many prominent
University with a master’s degree in architecture, which magazines. She recently became interested in photo-
explains why many of his wedding images include archi- graphing weddings and successfully employs her people
tectural details. His studio photographs over 100 wed- skills in this field, as well. She was voted Professional
dings a year. He has won numerous internationalawards Photographers of Los Angeles County’s (PPLAC)Photog-
forhisprintsandalbums. rapher of the Year in 1999 and is currently the president
Marcus Bell. Marcus Bell's creative vision, fluid, natu- of that organization. Several of her exhibits have been
ralstyle,andsensitivityhavemadehimoneofAustralia’s reviewed favorably by the Los Angeles Times and other
6•GROUPPORTRAITPHOTOGRAPHER’SHANDBOOK
publications. You can visit her web site at www.amy mer manager of trade relations at Eastman Kodak
cantrell.com. Company. Terry is a Rochester Institute of Technology
Ron Capobianco. Ron Capobianco has been a profes- graduate with a degree in Photographic Science and a
sional photographer for over twenty-five years. Based in marketingdegreefromtheUniversityofPittsburgh.Terry
New York and working throughout the U.S. and Europe haslecturedextensivelythroughouttheUnitedStatesand
as a fashion and beauty/editorial photographer, he has aroundtheworld.
a broad knowledge of the photographic profession. William L. Duncan, M.Photog., CPP, APM, AOPM,
Ron has a background shooting architecture, corporate AEPA. Bill Duncan was one of the original members of
images, and annual reports. His commercial work has WPPI with three levels of advancement. He has been a
been seen in Vogue, W, Glamour, New York, French Vogue, consistent winner in print competitions from all organi-
Harper’s Bazaar, the New York Times, and Madam Figaro. zations and is known around the country for his unique
HisweddingworkhasbeenseeninModern Bride, Bride’s, images. He is the instructor of the “Artistry in the
Wedding Bells, Manhattan Bride, and other bridal publica- LanguageofLight”seminars.
tions. He also has collaborated on several book projects Gary Fagan, M.Photog.,Cr., CPP. Gary, with his wife
including, Eclectic Living: At Home with Bari Lyn (Harper Jan, owns and operates a studio in Dubuque, Iowa. Gary
Collins, 1998) and Hair: The Inter-Beauty Collection concentrates on families and high-school seniors, using
(Intercommunication Magazine, 1979) by Elena Domo. his half-acre outdoor studio as the setting. At a recent
HisworkhasbeenexhibitedatgalleriesinNYandParis. WPPI convention, Gary was awarded WPPI’s Accolade of
Anthony Cava, BA, MPA, APPO. Born and raised in Lifetime Excellence. He was also awarded the Inter-
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Anthony Cava owns and oper- nationalPortraitoftheYearAwardbythatsameorganiza-
ates Photolux Studio with his brother, Frank. Frank and tion.AttheHeartofAmericaconvention,hehadtheTop
Anthony’s parents originallyfounded Photolux as a wed- MasterPrintandtheBestofShow.Forthehighest-scoring
ding/portrait studio, thirty years ago. Anthony joined master print in the region, Gary received the Regional
WPPI and the Professional Photographers of Canada ten Gold Medallion Award at the PPA national convention
years ago. At one time, he was the youngest Master of ASP(AmericanSocietyofPhotographers)banquet.
Photographic Arts (MPA) in Canada. Cava won WPPI’s Deborah Lynn Ferro. A professional photographer
Grand Award for the year with the first print that he ever since 1996, Deborah Lynn calls upon her background as
enteredincompetition. awatercolorartist.Shehasstudiedwithmasterphotogra-
TonyCorbell.Sincebeginninghisphotographycareer, phersallovertheworld,including,MichaelTaylor,Helen
Tony has photographed three U.S. presidents, numerous Yancy, Bobbi Lane, Monte Zucker, and Tim Kelly.
heads of state, about 550 brides and grooms, a couple of Deborah has earned her Masters and Photographic
astronauts, and lots of famous and not-so-famous faces. Craftsman degrees from PPA. In addition to being a fine
In his travels he has photographed lions in Africa, sun- photographer,sheisanaccomplisheddigitalartistandis
flower fields in Tuscany, Mayan ruins and street vendors coauthor of Wedding Photography with Adobe® Photoshop®
in Mexico, and volleyball players at the Olympics. Along (AmherstMedia,2003).
theway,Tonyhasspokenatover250seminarsandwork- Rick Ferro, CPP. Rick Ferro has served as senior wed-
shops nationally and internationally. He is the recipient ding photographer at Walt Disney World. In his twenty-
of the highest honor from WPPI, the Lifetime Achieve- fiveyearsofexperience,hehasphotographedover10,000
mentAward. weddings and received numerous awards, including
Stephen Dantzig, Psy.D. Dr. Stephen Dantzig owns having prints accepted into PPA’s Permanent Loan
and operates a small commercial studio in Honolulu, Collection.HehaswonnumerousawardsfromWPPIand
Hawaii. His work ranges from commercial fashion to he is the author of Wedding Photography: Creative Tech-
products,andinteriorstoexecutiveportraits. niques for Lighting, Posing, and Marketing (3rd ed., 2004),
Terry Deglau. Terry Deglau has been a professional and is coauthor of Wedding Photography with Adobe
portrait photographer for over forty years. He is the for- Photoshop(2003),bothfromAmherstMedia.
THEPHOTOGRAPHERS•7
Frank A. Frost, Jr., PPA-Certified, M.Photog.,Cr., years. Kathleen Hawkins holds a masters degree in busi-
APM, AOPA, AEPA, AHPA. Located in the heart of the nessadministrationandispastpresidentoftheWedding
Southwest, Frank Frost has been creating his own classic ProfessionalsofCentralFlorida(WPCF)andpastaffiliate
portraiture in Albuquerque, New Mexico for over twenty vice president for the National Association of Catering
years.Believingthat“successisinthedetails,”Frankpur- Executives (NACE). Visit their web site at: www.jeff
sues both the artistry and business of photography with hawkins.com.
remarkable results, earning him numerous awards from Elizabeth Homan. Elizabeth Homan owns and oper-
WPPI and PPA along the way. His photographic ability ates Artistic Images and is assisted by her husband, Trey
stems from an instinctive flair for posing, composition and her parents, Penny and Sterling. They opened their
andlighting. countrystyledstudioin1996.ElizabethholdsaBAfrom
Jennifer George Walker. Jennifer George Walker runs Texas Christian University and was decorated by PPA as
her studio out of her home in the San Diego, California theyoungestMasterPhotographerinTexasin1998andis
community of Del Mar. The affluent neighborhood is the recipient of many awards, including ten Fujifilm
close to the beach and a variety of beautiful shooting Masterpiece Awards, PPA’s Best Wedding Album in the
locations, and is lush with prospective clients. She has Southwest Region for six years, and two perfect scores of
wontheCaliforniaPhotographeroftheYearandbeenthe 100inPPAnationalprintcompetitions.
winner of the People’s Choice Award 2001 at the TiborImely.ImelyPhotographyisknownasoneofthe
Professional Photographers of California Convention. In most prestigious studios in the Tampa Bay area. Tibor, a
2003, Jennifer was the Premiere category Grand Award relativenewcomertoprintcompetition,enteredeighteen
winneratWPPI.YoucanviewmoreofWalker’simagesat prints in 2004’s WPPI Awards of Excellence 16x20 Print
www.jwalkerphotography.com. Competition. Of that number, he received a First Place
Alfred Gordon.RecognizedasoneofFlorida’stop-ten award, two Third Place awards, and thirteen Honorable
photographersin2001,2002,and2003,AlGordonoper- Mentions. He has won WPPI’s Accolade of Photographic
atesafull-servicestudioandhasphotographedweddings Mastery and Accolade of Outstanding Achievement, and
throughout the Southeast. He holds the Master Pho- was recently presented by WPPI with a Fujifilm New
tographer and Photographic Craftsman degrees from the Approach Award for new and innovative solutions to
PPA. He is also a Certified Professional Photographer tried-and-truephotographicmethods.
from the PPA, and has earned the AOPA degree from Claude Jodoin. Claude Jodoin is an award-winning
WPPI. He received the coveted Kodak Trylon Gallery photographer from Detroit, Michigan. He has been
Award twice, and has images in the coveted ASP Masters involved in digital imaging since 1986 and has not used
LoanCollection. filmsince1999.Heisaneventspecialistandalsoshoots
Dale P. Hansen, PPA Cert., APM, AOPA.DaleHansen numerousweddingsandportraitsessionsthroughoutthe
holds a bachelor of arts degree from Brooks Institute of [email protected].
Photography in Santa Barbara, California and has had Giorgio Karayiannis. Giorgio Karayiannis is one of
many of his photographs published nationally, in such those rare photographers who specializes in editorial,
publications as Audubon, National Geographic, World Book fashion, advertising, commercial, and portrait photogra-
andthecoverofPPA StorytellerinMarch1999. phy—and is successful at each discipline. He has been a
JeffandKathleenHawkins.JeffandKathleenHawkins technical photographic adviser for the Ilford Imaging
operate a high-end wedding and portrait photography Group International and is recognized for his ability
studio in Orlando, Florida. They have authored several to produce graphically intense images. He was recently
books, including Professional Marketing & Selling Tech- awarded the Australian Institute of Australian Photogr-
niques for Wedding Photographers (2001) and Professional aphers’ (AIPP)Editorial Photographer of the Year Award
Techniques for Digital Wedding Photography (2nd ed., and AIPP’s Victorian Portrait Photographer of the Year
2004), both published by Amherst Media. Jeff Hawkins Award, and has also been an award winner at WPPI
has been a professional photographer for over twenty conventions.
8•GROUPPORTRAITPHOTOGRAPHER’SHANDBOOK
Kevin Kubota. Kevin Kubota formed Kubota Photo- digital work. Charles Maring is the winner of the WPPI
Designin1990asasolutiontostifledpersonalcreativity. 2001AlbumoftheYearAward.Hisworkwasrecentlyfea-
The studio shoots a mixture of wedding, portrait, and tured in People magazine, which ran six pages of his
commercial photography. Kubota Photo-Design was one imagesfromtheStarJoneswedding.
of the early pioneering studios of pure digital wedding Heidi Mauracher, M. Photog., Cr. CPP, FBIPP, AOPA,
photography in the late 1990s and began lecturing and AEPA. The late Heidi Mauracher was one of the most
training other photographers to make a successful transi- acclaimed portrait and wedding photographers of our
tionfromfilmtodigital. day. Her unique style earned her more accolades and
Cal Landau.CalLandaustartedhisphotographybusi- awards from the professional organizations (PPA and
ness in 1996. He was an art major in college in the late WPPI)thananyothercontemporaryphotographer.Sadly,
1960s,andthoughhismotherwasatalentedartist,hedid shelostherbattlewithcancerin2003.Shewillbemissed
notinheritherskills,andspentthenextthirtyyearstrying byallwhoknewherandknewherworkandespeciallyby
to become a professional race car driver. His father was those of us fortunate enough to spend a few late nights
alwaysaphotohobbyistandgavehimaNikkormat,with talking with her about her passion and greatest love,
which he took pictures of auto racing and bicycle racing photography.
for small magazines for fun. One day, someone who Leslie McIntosh. Continuing a family tradition into
crewedforCal’sracecaraskedhimtoshoothiswedding. the new millennium, Leslie McIntosh represents a new
Calturnedhimdownafewtimesandfinallygavein.“Of generationofhigh-qualityportraitartists.Recentlyreturn-
course everyone knows the rest of the story: I fell in love ing to Virginia Beach to join the McIntosh family busi-
with this job. So at 54, I am a very late bloomer and I ness, Leslie completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree
pinchmyselfeverydayforhowgoodIhaveit.” from the Art Institute of Chicago, moving on to London
Robert Lino, M.Photog.,Cr., PAPM, AOPM, AEPA, and then Hamburg to build a successful career in the
FDPE, FSA. Robert Lino of Miami, Florida specializes in advertisingandfashionphotographybusiness.Shesensi-
fine portraiture and social events. His style is formal and tively captures the mood of a subject’s character, person-
elegant,andheexcelsinstylizedposes.Hisabilitytocap- ality, and stage of life. Leslie has specialized in families,
ture feeling and emotion in every image is unparalleled. mothersandchildren,alongwithhighschoolseniors,but
Lino is a highly decorated photographer in national and isopentoallmarkets.
international print competitions and is a regular on the William S. McIntosh, M.Photog.,Cr., F-ASP. Bill
workshopandseminarcircuit. McIntosh photographs executives and their families all
Robert Love, APM, AOPA, AEPA, M.Photog.,Cr., CPP over the United States and travels to England frequently
andSuzanneLove,Cr.Photog.RobertLoveisamember on special assignments. He has lectured all over the
of Camera Craftsmen of America, one of forty active world. His popular books, Location Portraiture: The Story
members in the world. He and his wife, Suzanne, create Behind the Art (Tiffen Company LLC, 1996) and Classic
all of their images on location. Preferring the early Portrait Photography: Techniques and Images from a Master
evening “love light,” they have claimed the outdoors as Photographer (Amherst Media, 2004), are sold in book-
their “studio.” This gives their images a feeling of ro- storesandotheroutletsaroundthecountry.
manceandtranquillity. Caresse Muir. Caresse Muir began her home-based
Charles and Jennifer Maring. Charles and Jennifer business seven years ago, specializing in family, high
Maring own Maring Photography Inc. in Wallingford, schoolsenior,andchildren’sportraits.Fouryearsagoshe
Connecticut. Charles is a second-generation photogra- began photographing weddings. She is a member of
pher, his parents having operated a successful studio in WPPIandfrequentlyentersprintcompetition.
the New England area for many years. His parents now Melanie Maganias Nashan. Melanie Maganias
operate Rlab (www.resolutionlab.com), a digital lab that Nashan, founder of Nashan Photographers, Inc. in Liv-
doesalloftheworkforMaringPhotography,aswellasfor ingston, Montana, specializes in weddings; however, she
other discriminating photographers in need of high-end also photographs portraits, commercial/product work,
THEPHOTOGRAPHERS•9
andarchitecture.Herstrikingimageshavebeenpublished successful low-volume portrait/wedding business from
in such well-known magazines as Martha Stewart Wed- thestudioshedesignedandbuiltonherresidentialprop-
dings, The Knot, Bride’s, Modern Bride, and Sunset maga- ertyinFrisco,Texas.Shehaswonnumerousstate,region-
zine.In2003,PDN(PhotoDistrictNews)namedherone al,andnationalawardsforherphotography.
ofAmerica’sTop15weddingphotographers. PatrickRice,M.Photog.Cr.,CPP,AHPA.PatrickRiceis
DennisOrchard.DennisOrchardisanaward-winning an award-winning portrait and wedding photographer
photographer from Great Britain. He has been a speaker withovertwenty-fiveyearsintheprofession.Heisapop-
and an award winner at WPPI conventions and print ular lecturer and judge across the United States and
competitions.HeisamemberoftheBritishGuildofpor- Canada and has authored numerous books, including
traitandweddingphotographers. Digital Infrared Photography (2004) and Professional
Parker Pfister. Parker Pfister is the consummate wed- Techniques for Black & White Digital Photography (2005),
ding photographer. Located in Hillsboro, Ohio, he also bothbyAmherstMedia.
shoots weddings in neighboring states and is quickly Martin Schembri, M.Photog., AIPP. Martin Schembri
developing a national celebrity. He is passionate about has been winning national awards in his native Australia
hisworkandcan’timaginedoinganythingelse(although for twenty years. He has achieved a Double Master of
hehasabeautifulportfolioofnatureimages).Visit:www Photography degree from the Australian Institute of
.pfisterphoto-art.com. ProfessionalPhotography.Heisaninternationallyrecog-
Norman Phillips, AOPA. Norman Phillips has been nized portrait, wedding, and commercial photographer
awardedtheWPPIAccoladeofOutstandingPhotographic and has conducted worldwide seminars on his unique
Achievement(AOPA),isaregisteredMasterPhotographer styleofcreativephotography.
with Britain’s Master Photographers Association, is a Fel- JosephandLouiseSimone.JosephandLouiseSimone
low of the Society of Wedding & Portrait Photographers, of Montreal, Quebec, Canada are two highly decorated
andaTechnicalFellowofChicagolandProfessionalPho- international photographers and teachers. They have
tographers Association. He is a frequent contributor to been a team since 1975, the year they established their
photographic publications, a print judge, and a guest Montreal studio. The Simones constantly strive to give
speakeratseminarsandworkshopsacrossthecountry. their clients a true work of art, a portrait that will pull at
Ray Prevost. Ray Prevost is a microbiologist who their heartstrings and command a very special position
worked for twenty-seven years as a medical technician in within the home or office, much like artist-painted por-
theModesto,Californiaarea.Hehasalwaysbeeninterest- traits throughout history. The Simones have lectured in
ed in photography, but it wasn’t until his two daughters France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Martin-
wereincollegethathedecidedtoopenuphisstudiofull ique,Guadeloupe,andtheUnitedStates.
time. In 1992, he received certification from PPA, and Kenneth Sklute. Beginning his photography career at
after four years of submitting prints, received his Master the age of sixteen in Long Island, New York, Kenneth
Photographerdegreein1996.RayisamemberofStanis- quicklyadvancedtoshootinganaverageof150weddings
laus Professional Photographers, Professional Photog- a year. He purchased his first studio in 1984 and soon
raphersofCalifornia,PPA,andWPPI. after received his Masters degree from PPA in 1986. In
Stephen Pugh. Stephen Pugh is an award-winning 1996, he moved to Arizona, where he enjoys a thriving
wedding photographer from Great Britain. He is a mem- business.Kennethismuchdecorated,havingbeennamed
ber of both WPPI and the British Guild and has won Long Island Wedding Photographer of the Year fourteen
numerousawardsininternationalprintcompetitions. times, and has often been named PPA Photographer of
FranReisner.FranReisnerisanationalaward-winning theYearandAPPAWeddingPhotographeroftheYear.He
photographerfromFrisco,Texas.SheisaBrooksInstitute has also received numerous Fuji Masterpiece Awards and
graduateandhastwicebeennamedDallasPhotographer KodakGalleryAwards.
of the Year. She is a past president of the Dallas Pro- David Anthony Williams, M.Photog., FRPS, AOPA.
fessional Photographers Association. She runs a highly David Anthony Williams owns and operates a wedding
10•GROUPPORTRAITPHOTOGRAPHER’SHANDBOOK