Portraits Made Easy
Create portraits that feel alive-without complicated gear or confusing jargon.
Whether you're photographing family, friends, or clients, this step-by-step guide shows you how to move beyond stiff poses and flat lighting to capture genuine expression, flattering light, and clean compositions. Janet Blisset's practical approach helps you build confidence fast and make portraits you're proud to share.
Inside you'll learn how to:
See and shape light (window, shade, golden hour, and simple flash) for natural, flattering results.
"Pose without posing" using prompts, movement, and micro-adjustments that look effortless.
Draw out real expressions and connection-even with nervous subjects.
Choose backgrounds and environments that tell a story (and hide distractions).
Compose portraits with intention: leading lines, framing, depth, and negative space.
Troubleshoot common problems on the spot-harsh sun, clutter, mixed light, groups, and more.
Retouch portraits with a light touch in Lightroom (plus when to use specialized tools like Evoto or PortraitPro).
What's inside:
Clear explanations + quick checklists
Mini challenges to practice each skill
A full post-processing walkthrough for clean, natural edits
A Quick Reference Checklist you can review before any shoot
A practical Glossary for fast look-ups
Who it's for:
Beginners and early-intermediate photographers who want repeatable results with simple setups-no studio required.
About the author:
Janet Blisset writes the Photography Quick Guides series, known for no-fluff, results-first teaching that helps you shoot more confidently, anywhere.
If you want portraits that don't just show what people look like-but who they are-this book will get you there, one simple step at a time.