Portrait Photography: An Experimental Approach
A course by Oliver Mayhall , Portrait and Art Photographer
Capture a subject from a new perspective by exploring creative techniques to take abstract photographs, from the initial idea to the final edit
“In my portraits, I try to depict my subjects from a different perspective, exaggerating the shapes and dimensions, and representing reality in an abstract way.”
His surrealistic approach has seen photographer Oliver Mayhall work with clients including BAFTA, EMI Records, Crisis, and Cubitt, and sell his art to collectors around the world.
In this online course, he teaches you his unique method for taking portrait photos, from the initial idea to the final image. Discover unconventional techniques for playfully capturing abstract shots. Escape the ordinary and surprise your audience with experimental portraits
What will you learn in this online course?
16 lessons & 13 downloads
- 92% positive reviews (52)
- 2,127 students
- 16 lessons (2h 7m)
- 13 additional resources (2 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: English
- Spanish · English · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
Capture and edit a set of captivating experimental portraits.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone with an interest in learning an alternative approach to portrait photography.
Requirements and materials
No previous knowledge is required to take this course.
In terms of equipment, you will need access to a camera, editing software such as Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, or Capture One, and a printer.
Reviews
Oliver Mayhall
A course by Oliver Mayhall
Oliver Mayhall is a London-based portrait and art photographer. He first discovered photography while studying at Nottingham University and later traveled around California, Mexico, Cuba, and Columbia to hone his craft. During his travels, he developed an interest in filmmaking and went on to complete a Masters in documentary filmmaking at Goldsmiths. After graduating, Oliver worked as an assistant photographer, learning from fellow creatives in the industry before going on to pursue his passion as a full-time freelancer.
Since then, he’s worked with clients including BAFTA, EMI Records, Crisis, and Cubitts. Oliver also sells his work as limited edition pieces to collectors around the world.
Content
-
U1
Introduction
-
About Me
-
Influences
-
-
U2
Preparing for the Photoshoot
-
Developing Ideas
-
Props and Materials
-
Mood Board and Art Direction
-
Equipment: Cameras, Lenses, and Lighting
-
-
U3
The Photoshoot
-
Studio Set-up
-
The First Shot: Photographing the Eyes
-
Quick Selection, Edit, and Printing
-
The Second Shot: The Collage
-
The Third Shot: Glass and Water
-
-
U4
Post-production
-
Image Selection
-
Editing the Photos 1
-
Editing the Photos 2
-
Editing the Photos 3
-
Sharing Your Work
-
-
FP
Final project
-
Portrait Photography: An Experimental Approach
-
What to expect from a Domestika course
-
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.
-
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
-
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
What are Domestika's online courses?
Domestika courses are online classes that allow you to learn new skills and create incredible projects. All our courses include the opportunity to share your work with other students and/or teachers, creating an active learning community. We offer different formats:
Original Courses: Complete classes that combine videos, texts, and educational materials to complete a specific project from start to finish.
Basics Courses: Specialized training where you master specific software tools step by step.
Specialization Courses: Learning paths with various expert teachers on the same topic, perfect for becoming a specialist by learning from different approaches.
Guided Courses: Practical experiences ideal for directly acquiring specific skills.
Intensive Courses (Deep Dives): New creative processes based on artificial intelligence tools in an accessible format for in-depth and dynamic understanding.
When do the courses start and when do they finish?
All courses are 100% online, so once they're published, courses start and finish whenever you want. You set the pace of the class. You can go back to review what interests you most and skip what you already know, ask questions, answer questions, share your projects, and more.
What do Domestika's courses include?
The courses are divided into different units. Each one includes lessons, informational text, tasks, and practice exercises to help you carry out your project step by step, with additional complementary resources and downloads. You'll also have access to an exclusive forum where you can interact with the teacher and with other students, as well as share your work and your course project, creating a community around the course.
Have you been given a course?
You can redeem the course you received by accessing the redeeming page and entering your gift code.
Muy buen curso. Recomendado!
Muy buen curso. Muy inspirador.
Oliver es ingenioso e imaginativo. Usa sus influencias para convertir a sus sujetos en retratos abstractos llenos de vida. Muy buena fuente de inspiración.
Such a great course - I like the pace, it covers all the essentials. The instructor is presenting everything in an engaging way - the perfect balance between theoretical knowledge, practice tips and creative freedom.
mui bueno curso