Learn Portraits & Weddings Free

Start with How to take BETTER PORTRAITS NOW!! A quick guide to better photos! (14 min, Peter McKinnon), then The Portrait I've Dreamed Of Taking For 20 Years (18 min, Peter McKinnon). All 140 lessons here are free, from the teachers' own official uploads. You'll need speedlight flash, 5-in-1 reflector, 85mm portrait lens (about $505 of kit). The book to keep beside you: Light Science and Magic by Fil Hunter.

What you'll need

Speedlight flash: Light any room.
5-in-1 reflector: Soft, flattering fill light.
85mm portrait lens: The portrait look.

Lessons

How to take BETTER PORTRAITS NOW!! A quick guide to better photos! (14 min, Peter McKinnon, Intermediate)
The Portrait I've Dreamed Of Taking For 20 Years (18 min, Peter McKinnon, Intermediate)
This Portrait has been 20 YEARS In The Making! (11 min, Peter McKinnon, Intermediate)
Easy One Light Headshots | Take and Make Great Photography with Gavin Hoey (12 min, Adorama, Beginner)
Shallow Depth Of Field Portraits | LIVE with Gavin Hoey (64 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Single Speedlight Low Key Portraits | Take and Make Great Photography with Gavin Hoey (12 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Creative Bokeh Portraits | LIVE with Gavin Hoey (61 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
How ONE Flash Can Help You Master Portrait Lighting | Take & Make Great Photography with Gavin Hoey (13 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Mastering the Art of Clean and Flawless Portraits | LIVE with Gavin Hoey (65 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
3 Quick Fixes For Your Uninspiring Portraits | Take and Make Great Photography with Gavin Hoey (11 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Do Your Speedlight Portraits Fall Flat? | LIVE with Gavin Hoey (64 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
3 Posing Mistakes Every Headshot Photographer Should Avoid with Gary Hughes (18 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
5 Branding Portraits Every Photographer Should Be Shooting With Gary Hughes (34 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Black & White Portraits Done RIGHT! | LIVE with Gavin Hoey (65 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Dark And Moody Studio Portraits | Take and Make Great Photography with Gavin Hoey (12 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Into the Light Portraits | LIVE with Gavin Hoey (63 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Real Small Home Studio Portraits | LIVE with Gavin Hoey (64 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
A Simple Approach to Portraits: OnSet with Daniel Norton (70 min, Adorama, Beginner)
Capture Creative Portraits on the GO! | LIVE with Gavin Hoey (62 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Enhancing One Light Portraits with a 2nd Flash! | LIVE with Gavin Hoey (64 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Exploring The Dark Side of Character Portraits | LIVE with Gavin Hoey (64 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
How to Shoot Professional Headshots: OnSet with Daniel Norton (66 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
How to Use a Chair as a Prop for Studio Portraits | Take and Make Great Photography with Gavin Hoey (10 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Is Flat Light Ruining Your Portraits? | LIVE with Gavin Hoey (64 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
On Location Setup for Corporate Headshots | Ask David Bergman (16 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
One Spot. Five Portraits | LIVE with Gavin Hoey (65 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Portraits vs Headshots: OnSet LIVE with Daniel Norton (71 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Shoot Epic Men's Portraits with Just 1, 2, or 3 Lights with Lindsay Adler (15 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Shoot Single Speedlight Studio Portraits | LIVE with Gavin Hoey (64 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Studio Quality White Background Portraits (No Studio Required!) with Gavin Hoey (12 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Why Your Studio Portraits Aren't Sharp (and How to Fix Them) | LIVE with Gavin Hoey (63 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Best Softbox Size for Portraits: OnSet with Daniel Norton (68 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Dark, Cinematic and Slightly Spooky Portraits | Gavin Hoey LIVE (63 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Minimal Lighting Kit for Memorable Portraits: OnSet with Daniel Norton (60 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Setting Up Your First Portrait Studio | OnSet with Daniel Norton (80 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Shiny Studio Portraits | LIVE with Gavin Hoey (65 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Simple and Unusual Backgrounds for Studio Portraits | OnSet with Daniel Norton (68 min, Adorama, Beginner)
White Wall Studio Portraits | Take and Make Great Photography with Gavin Hoey (12 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Why Use An ND Filter For Location Portraits? | Take and Make Great Photography with Gavin Hoey (8 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
3 Lighting Tricks That Transform Men’s Portraits | Lindsay Adler (20 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Cinematic Hard Light Portraits (with speedlights) | Take and Make Great Photography with Gavin Hoey (10 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Clean & Beautiful Portraits Made Easy: OnSet LIVE with Daniel Norton (61 min, Adorama, Beginner)
Create Dramatic Character Portraits with Speedlights | LIVE with Gavin Hoey (66 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Elevate Your Portraits With An Amazing Light Beam! | Take and Make Great Photography with Gavin Hoey (11 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Flattering Darker Skin: Tips for Stunning Portraits | Inside Fashion and Beauty with Lindsay Adler (13 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Go from Dull to Daring: Use Bold Color for Jaw-Dropping Portraits | LIVE with Gavin Hoey (66 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
High Contrast Black and White Portraits: OnSet with Daniel Norton (65 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
How Can I Achieve White Background Portraits with One Light? | Ask David Bergman (16 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
How Pros Get Consistent Team Headshots On Location | Real Session with Gary Hughes (29 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Mastering Portraits | 3 Essential Lighting Setups: OnSet with Daniel Norton (63 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Single Light Portraits: OnSet with Daniel Norton (61 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
What do You Really NEED to Light a Portrait? OnSet with Daniel Norton (67 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Best Lens for Portraits: OnSet with Daniel Norton (63 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Can Black Balloons Improve Your Portraits? | LIVE with Gavin Hoey (63 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Create Professional Lighting for Mirror Portraits | Take and Make Great Photography with Gavin Hoey (11 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Double Duty Portrait Gear | Take and Make Great Photography with Gavin Hoey (13 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Enhance Your Portraits With A Theme | Take and Make Great Photography with Gavin Hoey (11 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Get Creative with Red Fabric | Studio Lighting Portraits with Gavin Hoey (11 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Improve Your Location Portraits in JUST 4 Ways! | Take and Make Great Photography with Gavin Hoey (10 min, Adorama, Intermediate)
Low-Key Portraits: OnSet with Daniel Norton (64 min, Adorama, Intermediate)

Books on Portraits & Weddings

Light Science and Magic by Fil Hunter - View on Amazon
The Hot Shoe Diaries by McNally, Joe - View on Amazon
Understanding Exposure by Bryan F. Peterson - View on Amazon