Portrait Photography with Natural Light
A course by Lupe de la Vallina , Photographer
Joined September 2017
Learn to create memorable portraits with just a camera and natural light
Joined September 2017
Taking a photographic portrait means considering who we have in front of us and what we want to show about that person. In fact, a portrait does not only show the image of a person, it also reflects the relationship between the photographer and the model. Lupe de la Vallina knows that a good portrait should attract the viewer and stir some emotion in them, even if some variables are out of the photographer's control.
In this online course, she teaches you how to create memorable portraits during an interview using minimal resources: a camera, natural light, a model or sitter who is not used to posing, and an everyday location. In this online course, learn to get to know your subject and discover their most fascinating trait to communicate that with great impact. Lupe then teaches you how to post-process the image to give it a personal touch that matches the mood you want to convey.
What will you learn in this online course?
12 lessons & 4 downloads
- 95% positive reviews (503)
- 9,281 students
- 12 lessons (2h 12m)
- 4 additional resources (1 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: Spanish, German, English, French, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Turkish
- Spanish · English · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
Recommended software & tools for this course
Adobe Bridge
Adobe Photoshop
Camera RawWhat is this course's project?
Take a series of photographs using only natural light and edit them in Photoshop.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Amateur and professional photographers and anyone looking for a way to create memorable portraits with minimum equipment.
Requirements and materials
You need to be familiar with using a camera and know some Photoshop basics.
In terms of materials, you need a camera, a fast lens, a willing model, someone to help you with the interview, and a computer with Photoshop Camera Raw and Adobe Bridge installed.
Reviews
Lupe de la Vallina
A course by Lupe de la Vallina
Lupe de la Vallina is a freelance photographer who specializes in portraits and travel. She collaborates with publications such as El País Semanal, Jot Down, and YoDona on a regular basis. Her work has been featured in Vanity Fair España, GQ Italia, Interiores, Magazine Fashion & Arts, Travel & Leisure, and Life & Style.
Her technique is intuitive and natural. She favors freedom of movement over perfection to adapt to her subject and encourage a deep dialogue between model and photographer, which is what characterizes her portraits.
Aside from photography, she occasionally writes and gives talks, focusing primarily on the capacity of wonder (TEDx, teacher training at the Francisco de Vitoria University, etc.).
Content
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U1
Introduction
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Presentation
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Influences
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U2
We prepare
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materials
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Choose and improvise
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Preparation of the photographer
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U3
We take photos
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Spatio-temporal organization
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Photographing interviews
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To locate
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The posed
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U4
It's time to touch up
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Organize photos
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Treatment of photos
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Preparation of photos to publish
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FP
Final project
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Portrait photography with natural light
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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Certificates
PlusIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
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Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
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Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
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Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
You’ll learn how to organize portrait sessions, select and edit images, manage minimal resources, and use natural light to create authentic, expressive portraits both outdoors and indoors.
This is an intermediate-level course, perfect for those who already know the basics of DSLR cameras and want to refine their portrait and editing skills.
You’ll need a DSLR camera, a fast lens (ideally 50mm), a computer with Photoshop and Bridge, spare batteries, and a card reader. Optional: reflector and access to natural light.
You’ll learn how to pick essential gear, find the best natural light, set moods with simple objects, and plan sessions to get great results without big expenses.
The course covers how to direct and relax your model, use artistic and musical references, and capture genuine expressions for authentic, emotional portraits.
You’ll see organized workflows for selecting photos in Bridge and editing in Photoshop, using technical and expressive criteria to highlight the best in each portrait.
You’ll learn how to adjust light, color, and saturation in Photoshop to bring out emotion, create atmosphere, and develop your own visual style.
Adobe Bridge
Adobe Photoshop
Camera Raw
Ha estado bien, ha explicado tips y su experiencia. Sin embargo creo que podría haber especificado más con el tema de parámetros a raíz del contraste de luces y demás, que pensaba que iba a hablar en el curso.
Ha estado bien pero para mi un poco escaso, a hablado mucho pero creo que ha echo poca practica esperaba fotos tanto dentro como fuera de casa
Me ha encantado la sencillez y cercanía de Lupe para transmitir sus conocimientos, totalmente recomendado el curso.
Corso molto interessante da seguire in ogni sua parte, mi ha ispirato molto per i miei prossimi progetti! Consigliatissimo
Adorei o curso, bem didático e bastante informativo