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
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
- 91% positive reviews (47)
- 1,940 students
- 16 lessons (2h 7m)
- 13 additional resources (2 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: English
- English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch
- 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
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
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U1
Introduction
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About Me
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Influences
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U2
Preparing for the Photoshoot
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Developing Ideas
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Props and Materials
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Mood Board and Art Direction
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Equipment: Cameras, Lenses, and Lighting
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U3
The Photoshoot
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Studio Set-up
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The First Shot: Photographing the Eyes
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Quick Selection, Edit, and Printing
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The Second Shot: The Collage
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The Third Shot: Glass and Water
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U4
Post-production
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Image Selection
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Editing the Photos 1
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Editing the Photos 2
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Editing the Photos 3
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Sharing Your Work
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FP
Final project
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Portrait Photography: An Experimental Approach
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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
Domestika's courses are online classes that provide you with the tools and skills you need to complete a specific project. Every step of the project combines video lessons with complementary instructional material, so you can learn by doing. Domestika's courses also allow you to share your own projects with the teacher and with other students, creating a dynamic course community.
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.
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.
You can redeem the course you received by accessing the redeeming page and entering your gift code.
nadadebromas
PlusVery pleasant lecturer, creative content. I was able to get some exciting ideas for my own projects! I would love more of this!
sahure68
Un curso muy interesante, didáctico y creativo. Una buena forma de adentrarnos en la fotografía surrealista. Muy buen fotógrafo.
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sophiatm7
I really enjoyed the short course. I watched all the videos in one go, says a lot about the quality of the course I think. Especially liked the openness and clarity with which Oliver touches on many different topics along the way and also liked the fact that this is not the kind of photography that sets boundaries or regulations but invites you to look differently and experiment until you find something that really suits you.
annagambetti
Interessante avrei però preferito vedere più approcci creativi alla fine si è concentrato su pochi elementi. Mi è rimasto poco comunque può essere valido per l'approccio luci e post produziine
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javierlaracardador
Interesante en algunos aspectos, algo limitado en otros.
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