Pictorial Portrait Photography
A course by Lídia Vives , Photographer

Learn how to capture the essence of Renaissance masters in your photos
With a camera and a computer you can not only create scenes, but also whole new worlds, which is Lídia Vives' area of expertise. The Spanish photographer draws inspiration from the great Italian masters of the Renaissance to create realistic and surrealist works in equal parts, as she has demonstrated in the different exhibitions she has held in Mexico, Spain, and France.
In this online course, Lídia teaches you photographic retouching techniques and art direction tips to create your own portraits in a pictorial Renaissance style.
What will you learn in this online course?
16 lessons & 11 downloads
- 97% positive reviews (203)
- 3,861 students
- 16 lessons (2h 23m)
- 11 additional resources (3 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: Spanish, English, French, Italian, Portuguese, Turkish
- Spanish · English · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish · Romanian · Indonesian
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
Create a photo portrait with Renaissance-style features.

Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Photographers, artists, and anyone interested in the art of portraiture.
Requirements and materials
You need an SLR with any of these lenses: 18-35mm, 50mm, or 75mm, as well as the ability to use your camera's manual mode.
You also need a computer with Adobe Photoshop and digital development software. Lídia uses Camera Raw, although you can also use Adobe Photoshop Lightroom.
Regarding lighting, you can work with natural light or with a softbox and you also need a white reflector, which can be made of foam board or expanded polystyrene.

Reviews

Lídia Vives
A course by Lídia Vives
Lídia Vives is an artistic photographer, renowned for her pictorial self-portraits filled with secrets. Influenced by Henri-Cartier Bresson, she discovered photography as a means of artistic expression at sixteen, and decided to switch her paint brush for a camera.
Lídia’s work has been exhibited in Spanish and Australian galleries, using her Instagram account as a visual diary where she expresses all that she doesn’t say out loud. Her main clients include brands and editorials for which she creates fashion and advertising photography, and above all, for art collections.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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Presentation
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My influences
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What will we do in the course?
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U2
Composition and color
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Composition + balance. What it is and what examples there are.
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The center of interest + format and reframe.
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The colors and their characteristics.
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U3
Portrait theory and photo shoot
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The Renaissance portrait.
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Lighting, set preparation and treatment of models
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Renaissance photo session
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U4
Photo development and retouching
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Revealed in Camera Raw
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Revealed in Camera Raw II
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General retouching
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General retouching II
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Skin retouching and Dodge and burn
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Color
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Final retouching
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FP
Final project
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Pictorial photographic portrait
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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:
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Amazing course and teacher!
me gusto
El curso es muy bueno, me ayudó a ver desarrollar mi creatividad y sacar mejor provecho a lo que tengo en casa para crear un escenario más pictórico.
Didactic description, to better interpret the poses and colors specific to Italian Renaissance painting. Thank you for this photographic journey. Much better than my English...
Excelente curso, se aprende mucho.