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Read This If You Want to Take Great Photographs of People:
No clichés. No cheese. No camera-club jargon. This straight talking introduction to photographing people is the hotly anticipated follow up to the bestselling Read This if You Want to Take Great Photographs.
Ideal for users of any camera with a basic knowledge of a few photo-fundamentals, this book walks you through the essential techniques of photographing people, whether it’s on the street, at home or in the studio. Packed with iconic images by acclaimed photographers, you’ll have the inspiration and knowhow needed to get out there and take great photographs of friends, family and everyone else.
50 master photographers including:
Richard Avedon, William Klein, Cindy Sherman, Garry Winogrand, Richard Renaldi, William Eggleston, Sebastião Salgado, Henri Cartier-Bresson, August Sander, and Joel Sternfeld
Ideal for users of any camera with a basic knowledge of a few photo-fundamentals, this book walks you through the essential techniques of photographing people, whether it’s on the street, at home or in the studio. Packed with iconic images by acclaimed photographers, you’ll have the inspiration and knowhow needed to get out there and take great photographs of friends, family and everyone else.
50 master photographers including:
Richard Avedon, William Klein, Cindy Sherman, Garry Winogrand, Richard Renaldi, William Eggleston, Sebastião Salgado, Henri Cartier-Bresson, August Sander, and Joel Sternfeld
128 pages, Paperback
Published September 22, 2015
236 people are currently reading
1464 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
July 10, 2023
"Read This if You Want to Take Great Photographs of People" by Henry Carroll is a must-read for street photographers who want to unleash their artistic prowess. Carroll's guide offers practical tips and techniques that will elevate your street photography game.
Carroll's focus on capturing authentic moments and telling stories through your lens resonates deeply with street photographers. He encourages readers to observe their surroundings, connect with subjects, and convey the vibrant narratives of everyday life. With a straightforward and accessible writing style, Carroll's insights are easy to grasp and apply.
The book is filled with stunning visual examples that showcase the artistic possibilities in street photography. These images not only inspire but also serve as practical demonstrations of Carroll's advice. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced street photographer, you'll find inspiration and new perspectives within these pages.
While the book primarily revolves around photographing people, the principles and techniques can be adapted to various aspects of street photography. Carroll's inclusion of a section on post-processing adds an extra layer of creativity and refinement to your artistic vision.
In a nutshell, "Read This if You Want to Take Great Photographs of People" is an invaluable resource for street photographers aiming to unlock their artistic potential. Carroll's guide, accompanied by captivating visuals, provides inspiration and practical techniques to capture the essence of the streets. Regardless of your skill level, this book will empower you to express your unique artistic vision through street photography. Get ready to ignite your creativity and take your street photography to new heights with this insightful guide.
Carroll's focus on capturing authentic moments and telling stories through your lens resonates deeply with street photographers. He encourages readers to observe their surroundings, connect with subjects, and convey the vibrant narratives of everyday life. With a straightforward and accessible writing style, Carroll's insights are easy to grasp and apply.
The book is filled with stunning visual examples that showcase the artistic possibilities in street photography. These images not only inspire but also serve as practical demonstrations of Carroll's advice. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced street photographer, you'll find inspiration and new perspectives within these pages.
While the book primarily revolves around photographing people, the principles and techniques can be adapted to various aspects of street photography. Carroll's inclusion of a section on post-processing adds an extra layer of creativity and refinement to your artistic vision.
In a nutshell, "Read This if You Want to Take Great Photographs of People" is an invaluable resource for street photographers aiming to unlock their artistic potential. Carroll's guide, accompanied by captivating visuals, provides inspiration and practical techniques to capture the essence of the streets. Regardless of your skill level, this book will empower you to express your unique artistic vision through street photography. Get ready to ignite your creativity and take your street photography to new heights with this insightful guide.
July 31, 2021
This is a book in a series of photography books by Henry Carroll. It is geared towards beginning photographers with some basic photography fundamentals but also has plenty to offer to those who are already at it for a lot longer. I have done a lot of street photography, shoot people at events fashion shows, theater and music gigs and sometimes at portrait shoots and I enjoyed reading through it and looking at the photos that Carroll picked to illustrate his text. (You can see some of my photography at https://digitaldolfphotography.wordpr...)
I like the set-up of this series of books: not too much technical talk, well illustrated, some talk about the ideas/philosophies behind shots, why the shots work (composition, etc.) and in this book also a bit of talk about the legal side of photographing people.
I like the set-up of this series of books: not too much technical talk, well illustrated, some talk about the ideas/philosophies behind shots, why the shots work (composition, etc.) and in this book also a bit of talk about the legal side of photographing people.
March 18, 2016
Loved the first one, and loved this even more
July 25, 2021
Great for beginners, favourite part was the technical tips towards the end and the wide variety of different styles throughout!
October 13, 2020
Jag tyckte om bilderna och innehållet men inte texten eftersom det var alldeles för svårt språk och inte alls för nybörjare, som jag är säker på att många kommer hålla med om som läser den. Den kändes lite utdaterad också och väldigt typisk 2015-fotografistil som var året den publicerades. Intressant innehåll men kunde varit mycket enklare!
August 21, 2023
Gave some good tips
Some points were dramatised and others were common sense but otherwise a handy little book for those new to photography
I really enjoyed the selection of photographs shown and it’s variety. Works well as a photo book
Some points were dramatised and others were common sense but otherwise a handy little book for those new to photography
I really enjoyed the selection of photographs shown and it’s variety. Works well as a photo book
April 7, 2024
Will up my rating if I take great photographs of people
September 7, 2024
Honestly I’m too lazy to watch YouTube videos even though they’re free. I liked that this book explained everything simply but also had examples. I would lend this to everyone who chooses to borrow it because you will probably learn at least one thing from it
January 11, 2020
I didn't enjoy this nearly as much as his other book, "Read This if You Want to Take Great Photographs," mainly because I disliked so many of the pictures he chose as examples. I know, I know, it's art, so it's all subjective. But let's just say: while I will look at this from time to time as a reference, I will also keep it on a high shelf away from my children! The writing, however, is characteristically helpful, instructive, and clear. I like that he doesn't get bogged down in technical jargon.
December 25, 2019
One of the most readable and useful short books on people photography that I've read. It is accessible, has great picture analysis, and some useful tips that come in handy, even if you are already familiar with the basics. I also like the cross-references that he provides next to each photo to other pictures in the book.
January 14, 2020
Insightful and practical at the same time. Totally recommend it.
September 28, 2017
Great book for photographers of all levels. It doesn't have a lot of jargon or technical info. It won't be boring when covering the "basics" (for experts), and it won't scare away beginners with anything too complicated.
It's full of solid, sound advice. Plus, it's nearly half beautiful photographs, so you'll have plenty of inspiration and entertainment along the way.
I'm looking forward to reading the others by this author.
It's full of solid, sound advice. Plus, it's nearly half beautiful photographs, so you'll have plenty of inspiration and entertainment along the way.
I'm looking forward to reading the others by this author.
May 17, 2022
This was a great read. I would have given it 5-stars, but I find it annoying and lazy when someone teaching photography tells you that you can just "fix it in post-processing" instead of telling you how to get it right in camera or offer a good resource that does. Also, some of the photos he chose for this are a bit racy... I wouldn't let my children have free access to it.
November 26, 2015
Great and accessible, it doesn't get bogged down in the technical. Good start book.
October 25, 2016
Çok yararlı bir kitap olduğunu düşünüyorum. İnsan fotoğrafı çekmek kadar o fotoğrafı okumakla ilgili de çok güzel bakışaçıları sunuyor.
September 9, 2019
Nice overview of aspects to keep in mind when making portraits. Easy to read due to the tiny one-pager chapters and the accompanying photo to each chapter.
May 26, 2024
Heel fijn naslagwerk. Geen nieuwe dingen geleerd maar fijn om bij sommige zaken nog eens te kunnen stil staan.
Read
March 14, 2025fundamentals, like the difference between shutter speed and aperture, leading lines and the rule of thirds.
Three key compositional elements, none of which overlap or interfere with the other. On a basic level, we all know the classic ‘tree growing out of head’ photo faux pas.
long(ish) focal length (see p.25), commonly referred to as a ‘portrait lens’
mise en scène, a construction of ‘coded’ elements which add up to imply a narrative. Props, furnishings, colours and lighting have all been considered
juxtapositions
what kind of person still uses a Rolodex in 2012?
The aperture is a hole in the lens which you can make wider (more light enters) by selecting a low ‘f-number’, or narrower (less light enters) by selecting a high ‘f-number’.
vicariously looking through the eyes of the subject
when shouLd i oBtain a siGned modeL reLease? In commercial photography (such as fashion shoots and advertising) the safest answer is ‘always’.
Start by asking for royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable usage covering all media worldwide, re-assignable by you. It can be negotiated downwards from there!
For child models, consent is required from the parent or guardian.
are there any Limitations on the imaGe if Brand names on CLothinG are visiBLe? So for most artistic or journalistic uses, you should be fine if marks or names are visible in your shot, but wider commercial use of such images would be very risky.
For his project ‘Touching Strangers’, Richard Renaldi entices people on the street out of their comfort zone by asking them to pose intimately with someone they don’t know. There are rules in portraiture about how your subject should stand, what they should do with their hands, and so on. What their body language inadvertently reveals is their ability (or inability) to relate to strangers.
digital single-lens reflex (dsLr)
Others go directly to the hotspots – public events and spectacles. These are the places where your potential subjects are so distracted they either don’t notice or don’t care that you’re taking their picture.
ISO controls how sensitive your camera is to light. The higher the ISO, the more sensitive your camera. This means your camera needs less light to achieve the correct exposure. In other words, by upping your ISO you can use faster shutter speeds and narrower apertures, which is exactly what you want on the street.
Negative space is the area around your subject. With black and white, this negative space can become so present in your photograph that it calls for you to build your composition around that, rather than your subject.
Three key compositional elements, none of which overlap or interfere with the other. On a basic level, we all know the classic ‘tree growing out of head’ photo faux pas.
long(ish) focal length (see p.25), commonly referred to as a ‘portrait lens’
mise en scène, a construction of ‘coded’ elements which add up to imply a narrative. Props, furnishings, colours and lighting have all been considered
juxtapositions
what kind of person still uses a Rolodex in 2012?
The aperture is a hole in the lens which you can make wider (more light enters) by selecting a low ‘f-number’, or narrower (less light enters) by selecting a high ‘f-number’.
vicariously looking through the eyes of the subject
when shouLd i oBtain a siGned modeL reLease? In commercial photography (such as fashion shoots and advertising) the safest answer is ‘always’.
Start by asking for royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable usage covering all media worldwide, re-assignable by you. It can be negotiated downwards from there!
For child models, consent is required from the parent or guardian.
are there any Limitations on the imaGe if Brand names on CLothinG are visiBLe? So for most artistic or journalistic uses, you should be fine if marks or names are visible in your shot, but wider commercial use of such images would be very risky.
For his project ‘Touching Strangers’, Richard Renaldi entices people on the street out of their comfort zone by asking them to pose intimately with someone they don’t know. There are rules in portraiture about how your subject should stand, what they should do with their hands, and so on. What their body language inadvertently reveals is their ability (or inability) to relate to strangers.
digital single-lens reflex (dsLr)
Others go directly to the hotspots – public events and spectacles. These are the places where your potential subjects are so distracted they either don’t notice or don’t care that you’re taking their picture.
ISO controls how sensitive your camera is to light. The higher the ISO, the more sensitive your camera. This means your camera needs less light to achieve the correct exposure. In other words, by upping your ISO you can use faster shutter speeds and narrower apertures, which is exactly what you want on the street.
Negative space is the area around your subject. With black and white, this negative space can become so present in your photograph that it calls for you to build your composition around that, rather than your subject.
February 13, 2023
I have decided to pick up my camera again and want to improve the quality of my photos - especially ones of people. ‘Read this if you want to take great photographs of people’ is a good place to begin. This book is nicely set out. You have 7 themes and each theme is broken up into 2 page chapters exploring that theme. These themes include: Composition, Context, Gaze and many more. Each chapter contains a picture and a brief commentary that discusses the chapter and talks through how the picture on show demonstrates the focus of the chapter. I really enjoyed going through this book - slowly. There is no point rushing through this book. It’s better to read and savour and possibly try out. And that is what I have been doing. This is a practical and inspiring book to go out and use your camera more. This is definitely a book that I will return to again and again as I practice my photography of people.
February 15, 2024
Dobra książka dla kogoś kto chce zacząć z fotografią, ale całkowicie nie wie od czego zacząć, nawet nie ma pojęcia czym jest migawka. Podoba mi się koncept tłumaczenia na podstawie dzieł światowej sławy fotografów: na jednej stronie jest zdjęcie ukazujące dany temat, na drugiej zaś jednostronne omówienie w prosty i przejrzysty sposób. Główną myślą jest to, że nie musisz znać wszystkich funkcji aparatu, bo prawdopodobnie nigdy ich nie wykorzystasz. Zawiera też 3/4 rozdziały omawiające funkcje aparatu, działanie np przesłony czy jak ustawić oświetlenie - typowo techniczne rzeczy, napisane tak, że można zrobić sobie zdjęcie i mieć w telefonie w ramach przypominajki przy pracy. Pożyczyłam od kolegi, który też pasjonuje się fotografią i chyba kupię sobie własną do kolekcji. (Jest tak przejrzysta, że dałam ją do przejrzenia mamie, która już jest trochę na bakier z technologią, ale dostała od nas aparat i ułatwiło jej to naukę.)
January 3, 2025
"Як знімати неймовірні портрети" — одна з книжкової серії порад для фотографів від Генрі Керола. Я вже читала до цього 'Як знімати неймовірні фотографії", і мені імпонує лаконічна манера автора та його смак до світлин, які він обирає ілюстраціями до тексту.
Книга про портрети в першу чергу призначена для тих, хто працює з людьми — у студіях чи на вулицях. Коротенькі розділи про композицію, кольори та світло подані у фірмовому стилі автора — професійно, з гумором і нотками поезії. Світлини, що супроводжують текст, дійсно неймовірні. Це як сходити на виставку найкращих знімків ще й у супроводі найкращого гіда.
Пригадую, що в одному з відеокурсів на YouTube було сказано, що для гарного фотографа необхідна в першу чергу не "гарна" фотокамера і не ідеальне розуміння технічних тонкощів, а багатий візуальний досвід.
Невеличка книга Керола пропонує і теорію, і підказки щодо налаштувань камери, і, безумовно, розширює візуальний досвід.
Книга про портрети в першу чергу призначена для тих, хто працює з людьми — у студіях чи на вулицях. Коротенькі розділи про композицію, кольори та світло подані у фірмовому стилі автора — професійно, з гумором і нотками поезії. Світлини, що супроводжують текст, дійсно неймовірні. Це як сходити на виставку найкращих знімків ще й у супроводі найкращого гіда.
Пригадую, що в одному з відеокурсів на YouTube було сказано, що для гарного фотографа необхідна в першу чергу не "гарна" фотокамера і не ідеальне розуміння технічних тонкощів, а багатий візуальний досвід.
Невеличка книга Керола пропонує і теорію, і підказки щодо налаштувань камери, і, безумовно, розширює візуальний досвід.
January 13, 2020
If you are a beginner "serious" photographer, this is probably the right book for you. It gives a good introduction on various ideas and concepts to find your own style and avoid beginner mistakes when taking pictures with an expensive camera. But if you were looking for simple tips/shortcuts to take pictures where your subject "looks good" (e.g. vacation pictures with you significant other) this book won't help you. So, 4 stars because the book delivers on its title, but definitely not what I thought.
February 9, 2021
Great overview of connecting and making images with impact
Assumes some knowledge of photography from a technical perspective but more focused on creative choices such as perspective and framing, with lots of amazing and inspiring examples given through showcasing other photographers work. That is the main advantage of this book, you get to see photographs which are effective and you can appreciate that they are and then it talks you through the techniques in a way which is very transferable over to your own work.
Assumes some knowledge of photography from a technical perspective but more focused on creative choices such as perspective and framing, with lots of amazing and inspiring examples given through showcasing other photographers work. That is the main advantage of this book, you get to see photographs which are effective and you can appreciate that they are and then it talks you through the techniques in a way which is very transferable over to your own work.
March 11, 2023
This wasn’t exactly what I was expecting and that was a very cool thing. It felt like I was taking a photography class with every example presented in the book. And the “tech” pages were very concise and helpful. But I felt like a lot of the advice was to “trust your instinct” and “find your style”. I get you can’t really TEACH that. But by the end of the book I wasn’t really sure if I could take BETTER photos then I already was.
Perhaps I need to read a photography book on composition or something…still great book though.
Perhaps I need to read a photography book on composition or something…still great book though.
June 20, 2025
This book is pretty simple throughout. Honestly, I anticipated more X’s and O’s, rather than I referenced book. However, this is practical for newbies, which I am in the portrait photography. So, there were several examples of practical advice.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was the large amount of cross references. In photographs there’s often more than one disciplinary used. Therefore, the pictures provided serve more than the page’s purpose. Overall, it’s not a bad book, I would’ve opted for more specifics, but it’s still serving its educational purpose.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was the large amount of cross references. In photographs there’s often more than one disciplinary used. Therefore, the pictures provided serve more than the page’s purpose. Overall, it’s not a bad book, I would’ve opted for more specifics, but it’s still serving its educational purpose.
January 14, 2018
This book shows me that a great portrait has many forms, and a lot of it is about trying to show the inner person while only being able to see the surface. At the same time, I was looking for something more aimed towards taking photographs that people will love of themselves. I learned a lot from the book, and I will probably be able to apply it to my photography, but I wish it gave more tips on how to shoot people and get natural, happy shots.
March 31, 2025
livro bem gostosinho pra ler enquanto espero o lightroom ou o photoshop responder 😊
ótimo e dinamico! é um livro que fala muito do que eu estava querendo reestusar: semiótica, sensibilidade e claro, a mistura disso com a tecnica! Estava sentindo saudade de ter "pessoas" comentando sobre o que uma foto é capaz de fazer e comunicar.
Esse livro me lembrou dos dias de aula de fotografia em que meus professores falavam sobre o que tal foto significava e o porque ela era tao importante
ótimo e dinamico! é um livro que fala muito do que eu estava querendo reestusar: semiótica, sensibilidade e claro, a mistura disso com a tecnica! Estava sentindo saudade de ter "pessoas" comentando sobre o que uma foto é capaz de fazer e comunicar.
Esse livro me lembrou dos dias de aula de fotografia em que meus professores falavam sobre o que tal foto significava e o porque ela era tao importante
July 14, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
I really liked the level of detail and the use of images, which was super helpful for a visual learner like me. It focused mostly on street photography, which was interesting, but I would’ve liked a bit more balance with studio work. That said, the studio tips in the lighting section were genuinely useful. Even though they were quite basic, they’re great for someone just starting out. Overall, a really informative read.
I really liked the level of detail and the use of images, which was super helpful for a visual learner like me. It focused mostly on street photography, which was interesting, but I would’ve liked a bit more balance with studio work. That said, the studio tips in the lighting section were genuinely useful. Even though they were quite basic, they’re great for someone just starting out. Overall, a really informative read.
August 14, 2025
Duidelijke en bondige intro in het fotograferen van mensen, vooral de creatieve kant. De technische kant was wat vluchtiger. Helpt ook om kunstzinnige foto's beter te analyseren. ik had wat problemen met sommige woordkeuzes zoals 'lyrisch' en 'snaterend' over bepaalde vrouwelijke modellen en 'vreemdsoortig' over een Nigeriaanse man. Mogelijk lag dit aan de vertaler en niet aan Carroll, dat weet ik niet.
January 15, 2020
Art chapters are interrupted with technical sections.
Yes, a source of inspiration -- David's review
Yes, a good show of portraiture encompasses a range of styles -- Steph's review
Yes, a source of inspiration -- David's review
Yes, a good show of portraiture encompasses a range of styles -- Steph's review
Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews