4 Photography Books to Read on a Cozy Day

It’s certainly that brisk-weather time of year, and what better way to spend your snowy days inside than snuggling up with a good book? When it comes to books for photographers, there are lots of resources and hundreds of thousands of wonderful books out there. With that in mind I thought I would share 4 books that I found very useful and that I thought stood out in the sea of books for photographers.

 

1. Faces: Photography and the Art of Portraiture by Paul Fuqua & Steven Biver

One of my favorite books on the topic of photography—more specifically, Portraiture—is Faces: Photography and the Art of Portraiture by Paul Fuqua & Steven Biver. I really enjoyed this book because when I was first starting out, I found it not to be very overwhelming. It gets right down to the root of portraiture; the actual PEOPLE in the photos you are taking. Throughout the book there is also a lot of talk about focusing on the face and the eyes of your subjects to make truly memorable images that show their unique personalities. Another thing I like about this book is it’s not only informative about portraiture, but also has many stunning images in it! There are also lighting diagrams & descriptions, tips for setting up, and a detailed post production process to apply the finishing touches. The “voice” of the authors & their narration is the icing on the cake. It’s a very informative, but fun read and I would recommend it to any portrait photographer!

2. The Portrait Photography Course: Principles, Practice, and Techniques: the essential guide for Student Photographers by Mark Jenkinson

This book is great because it is extremely informative for those who are serious about getting into portrait photography. It is a valuable read because it guides you like an actual course would, taking you from the beginning to end; varying in skill level and gradually moving up to more challenging material. I found the course to be very complete—covering equipment, lighting styles, composition, and technique in a fairly detailed way. So if you are looking to get fantastic information and learn a lot about portraiture, this is your read!

3. The Photographer’s Market Guide to Building Your Photography Business by Vik Orenstein

This book is an excellent resource, full of practical advice to successfully start and/or maintain your photography business. I enjoyed it because it is a good read for business and non-business minded people alike; whether you are looking to start out or boost your existing business, you will learn to make the most your time and creativity. It breaks it down for you—starting with finding your niche, crafting a business plan and networking. The latter part of the book delves into showcasing your work, hiring accountants, and other support professionals such as lawyers to give your contracts a once over. It is a great resource in that it will take you through each step chronologically; making sense out of creating a business from scratch. I would recommend this to any photographer wanting to be a bit more business savvy or successfully start up their own business!

4. Inspiration in Photography: Training Your Mind to Make Great Art a Habit by Brooke Shaden

I recently had an opportunity to check this book out at my local library, and let me tell you, it’s definitely on my list of books I need to purchase! This book will show you how to teach or “train” your brain to see inspiration in any situation! For many photographers this may come natural, but some of us need a little help once in a while and this book can be a handy tool for that. Brooke Shaden reveals different techniques and exercises you can conduct to be more aware of and inspired by your environment and all the beautiful things around you every day. Not only that, but you will learn to plan, compose, and shoot beautiful atmospheric photography; applying her techniques to your own photography style. To me, this book is the perfect balance between instruction and insight, and it’s a marvelous source of inspiration!

 

What are your favorite books to read on a cozy day?