***This course is currently on auction for one week. Relieve $l with codeSPRINGFS

Foreword

Dirt Cook has been steadily rise as a solid proper noun in photography over the final few years, and with simply a glimpse at his body of work, his client list, how he communicates and how prolific he is, information technology'southward easy to see why. It's that unambiguous natural extension of his self into his work that makes him and so compelling as a lensman and every bit an educator – you always get the feeling from Clay that there's something personal virtually the work, and him teaching information technology to you.

That Clay is very much a working photographer comes across clearly in this class because this isn't just composed of a shot-list and gear list, but rather a much more than complete overview of how to approach photography as a business should y'all want it to exist yours. From the very start, a prevailing motif is that this feels different from much of what's out there, and that Clay isn't there simply to teach you a look, but to teach you lot how to piece of work in this world, and succeed.

While his direct education on lighting and shooting is of its own intrinsic value (there's loads of that –  the specific minute details of fix-building, how to easily emulate  sunlight and all else), it is maybe the rest that will plow out to be the most valuable. His advice on working with a squad, on approaching and being approached by commercial and editorial clients, and pricing and social media strategy will aid y'all think like someone who's been doing this for a while even if you haven't – and information technology's not a nibble trail that leads simply to a blank infinite for your ain decision, but rather direct communication with explanations. What this also is not is a drove of trite advice and basic tips, no. With what he teaches here it's obvious Clay isn't picking from the bottom, and enlightens the viewer to things you won't find in a textbook. It's like shooting fish in a barrel to encounter why this course was Fstoppers' nearly in need.

 – Kishore Sawh, Editor-in-Chief SLR Lounge

Overview

Fashion and Editorial Portrait Photography includes an introduction to Clay and an overview of the gear he uses with an explanation equally to why. This gives those who oasis't followed Clay a clearer pic every bit to who he is, where he came from, and where he is going. Each lesson begins with Clay's photoshoot, transitions to the editing portion with Jordan Hatley, and then finishes with Clay's retouching and last touches.

The course begins with natural light and minimal gear, and the lessons are progressed throughout the tutorial by adding more gear and complex lighting setups. As with the photoshoots, the retouching begins with seemingly elementary editing and steadily adds to the workflow. The course ends with Dirt'south business advice as well every bit a final interview. Clocking in at a trivial over 11.5 hours, this video course tin can exist downloaded for $299.

This Download Includes

  • 11.5 Hours of Full Video Content (17.3 GB, 1080p 23.98fps h.264 mp4 files)
  • Clay'south Entire Studio Gear Guide
  • 18 On-Location Lessons with Studio Post-Processing
  • Tethering and Building a Portable Workstation
  • 6 Chapters on Business and Marketing
  • v Sample Estimates and Invoices
  • 19 RAW and JPEG Files from Each Shooting Lessons
  • Access to Dirt'due south Private Facebook Group for Boosted Private Mentoring

"Failure is the foundation to success."

The Photoshoot

Fashion and Editorial Portrait Photography is designed for talent of all levels and begins with the novice portrait lensman in mind. The commencement lessons kicking off in harsh natural calorie-free while Clay demonstrates his procedure of finding flattering Rembrandt style lighting by directing the model into position. The aforementioned process is followed as Clay demonstrates utilizing dappled lite and working predominately in shade.

"I actually similar a nice cinematic style of lighting. Cinematic lighting always comes from straight overhead."

After showing a very brief process of finding the lite, the videos provide a few frames of Clay in action and interacting with the model for several shots until they have a decent epitome to showcase the lesson.

In the showtime, the photoshoots feel virtually painfully curt in comparison to the extensive basic retouching skills, but this isn't a bad thing as information technology allows photographers of all levels to learn from the beginning or take in some new textile. Every bit the lessons continue to build on the foundational skills necessary for this type of dramatic work, Clay begins to really shine. His method of educational activity is very thorough and easily consumed and internalized. Not to mention he merely comes across as a very squeamish guy.

Clay then introduces artificial lights both outdoors and in a studio setting where he is clearly in his chemical element. Clay brings in his creative team, which includes way stylist/creative director Gunnar Deatherage from Projection Runway, every bit they hash out the look they are afterwards. This is one of the brightest highlights in the entire course, and this is likewise where the lessons focus more on the actual photoshoot and less on the retouch.

The photography portion ends at Derby Field, the home of The Kentucky Derby, and Clay brings in his singer/songwriter friends for the day to show his arroyo of photographing an actual editorial.

Existence able to see how the set was built and lit with explanations as to why are very beneficial. The biggest highlight is definitely witnessing Clay and Gunnar in action every bit they feed off of each other and straight the model in guild to create a dramatic portrait with a way and editorial feel.

"Really compression those brows. Just exist pissed. I know you lot feel ridiculous but you look really good."

The Retouch

The Retouch portion follows the same progression as the photoshoot. Jordan first shows how he uploads an image into Capture One by creating a new album, then uploading the image to that album. This is great for anyone who is wanting to learn Capture One or is considering making the bound from LR but is afraid of the new environment. He so makes his global adjustments and exports the variant into Photoshop.

As with the photoshoot, the Retouch is for all levels and starts off with the beginner in mind. Because of that, it is tempting to want to fast forrad directly to where Clay begins his color grading, however, Jordan is besides an excellent educator and introduces a more advanced workflow as the lessons progress, and there's no substitute for a potent foundation.

"Color grading is a creative process. It takes time and information technology is completely subjective, and then remember to have patience when developing your style."

Both Clay and Hashemite kingdom of jordan testify their methods of sharpening and extending pixels for shorter models by means of utilizing free transform in Photoshop, and much more than. From minimal retouching to learning the fundamentals of frequency separation, information technology's hither, and offers unique insight into things we take for granted similar 'cropping'.

"I would say that is 1 of the biggest critiques that I ever leave of other photographers is that I like crops, weird crops, I like strange crops, and I like crops that look like they're in a mag. And if you go through and you flip through a Faddy or a Vanity Off-white or a W or a V, a lot of times the dimensions aren't lined upward with necessarily the aspect ratio of what the lensman captures so there's a lot of strange crops. And so I like being tight as possible only not getting the total frame. So a fiddling toe crop, a little head crop doesn't really matter to me."

A great thing nigh the teaching here in regard to retouching is that it's a electric current school of thought, and arguably 1 more timeless, where information technology'south non about merely porcelain immaculate skin. Eliminating the "perfection" that can exist accomplished in frequency separation and with plugins, the images maintain a level of authenticity.

"Remember it's of import to step away from this and come up back to information technology at a subsequently time considering you might see the image in a whole new way."

The Business concern Side

This is the other major highlight of the course and it'southward over 2 hours worth. The information that Clay shares in regard to how he approaches commercial and editorial clients in regard to pricing and estimates is offered at workshops worldwide, ofttimes at a price betoken much higher than the course itself. He provides existent examples of how clients contact him and his thought-process when responding. This information is gold.

Clay and so touches on how he tackles social media, what has worked for him and why, and should help anyone understand the goals. Keep in heed that it near definitely isn't a 1-size-fits-all method to success, but the manner he prices himself and the factors he takes into consideration can exist adapted in any market. Information technology isn't limited to solely magazine clients either as the roots of his formula can exist used when pricing a unproblematic portrait shoot anywhere. Dirt besides explains why he does not put his prices on his website.

"I've actually gotten a lot of jobs by people asking 'Hey, what'south your rate?'"

CONCLUSION

Fashion and Editorial Portrait Photography is a class for all levels of talent and is geared toward the serious portrait photographer. Information technology is safe to say that a practiced chunk of it is fashion inspired portraiture, with bodily fashion entering the realm at more than half way through the class. At xi.5 hours, it is definitely a time investment, but worthy of that time. And while the toll point higher than a textbook , it's far lower than a classic workshop, and also easier to pace and refer back to.

Whether you are a beginner or considered to be more advanced, at that place is data for everyone to learn. And while the pace seems a piffling slow to begin, there'due south method to the madness and  Clay, Jordan, and the team did a fantastic job of edifice on the basics and quickly bringing those new skills into the adjacent lesson.

Equally an added bonus, there will exist a individual Facebook group merely for those with this tutorial and you'll exist able to have access to Clay, to other likeminded people and go the answers to your questions, and get the creative juices going.

If yous are looking to upgrade your skill-gear up in portraiture, mode portraiture, fashion, studio work and on-location shooting, this is a solid investment of both your time and coin, equally it will pay dividends.

Manner and Editorial Portrait Photography can be downloaded here.

This review was originally published in 2017