One the best ways to elevate your visual sensibilities as a photographer is by perusing through photography books: monographs, photo essays or photo stories. It's heartening to see so many photographers producing and publishing books of their own. Here is my list of books that you should consider looking through or even better, owning out right, in the new year.
Traditional Photography Books
Before You Grow Up, by Ernesto Bazan was reviewed in the New York Times by James Estrin and he said this about Bazan's book: “Ultimately, “Before You Grow Up” is about the importance of family and the fragility of life — what a man leaves behind for his children, as well as grandchildren and great-grandchildren he might never meet”. Bazan's gift to his kids is ultimately a gift to us. Step up and receive it!
Feast For The Eyes: The Story of Food in Photography. Ever since I attended Meera Seetharaman's food styling and photography class, I am hooked on food photography. Perhaps you are too!
Stop Here, This is the Place is a wonderful collaboration between a writer and a photographer.
The Distance Between Us, by Christopher Capozziello isn't an easy book to go through but I love the compassion this photographer displays for his brother. MediaStorm, produced a documentary based on the book that is well worth watching as well.
Cig Harvey's latest, “You An Orchestra You A Bomb” will be a part of my collection for sure. Her conceptual photography makes me take pause and think.
Love alternative processes? Then “Borne Back,” by Victoria Will is a must! Her tintype portraits are gorgeous, dark and delicious all that same time.
When David duChemin writes or talks or teaches, I pay attention. His book, “The Soul of the Camera: The Photographer's Place in Picture-Making” must be in every photographer's bookshelf. Period.
I love the way William Albert Allard sees the world and the way he sees America is extra special. Consider “Portraits of America“. I have no idea why this books is selling only for $8.21. Someone missed a zero after the eight.
How do other family photographers approach this genre of family photography? “Family Photography Now” will show you how.
Valerie Jardin is a prolific street photographer. Thankfully her book, “Street Photography: Creative Vision Behind the Lens” is a wonderful primer on that genre of photography. Weren't we all street photographers at one time? Learn more about her and her other books here.
I haven't seen this one yet, but as a fan of Scott Kelby's, I am sure, his latest, “The Flash Book: How to fall hopelessly in love with your flash, and finally start taking the type of images you bought it for in the first place” will help you grapple with your speedlites and studio strobes.
If you have ever watched Lindsay Adler teach posing, you'll want to definitely buy her book, “The Photographer's Guide to Posing: Techniques to Flatter Everyone“. I have the Kindle version of this book and I keep flipping through it all the time. So much to learn and use right away!
I interviewed Chris Knight in advance of his book, “The Dramatic Portrait: The Art of Crafting Light and Shadow” and it is one of the most popular chat on my YouTube channel.
Roberto Valenzuela's books on posing and lighting in the past few years have been very popular among photographers. If you are starting out, diving into his books will get you going in the right direction. This year he published, “Wedding Storyteller, Volume 1: Elevating the Approach to Photographing Wedding Stories” and in 2018 you can expect “Wedding Storyteller, Volume 2: Wedding Case Studies, Workflow, and Editing“. A no-brainer purchase for wedding photographers!
E-Books
Tamara Lackey's From Start To Finish: The Portrait Shoot Playbook, How To Prepare For, Shoot, And Deliver A Photography Session is a digital book (for now) but let that not stop you from diving into it. Tamara packs this book with information that is both deep and wide for portrait photographers. If you are starting out, this book is a must. Read it cover to cover.
My friend Nigel Merrick helps photographers who are struggling to market their businesses. I thoroughly enjoyed reading his latest book, From Zero To Booked. I highly recommend you give it a read, especially before the new year.
Ok, so these photography books should get you going in 2018. But you don't have to wait to buy those photography books in the new year. Buy them now, before December 31st, to claim them as valid business expenses. Plus, Christmas is right around the corner, so if you see a photography book you already have or would like to gift someone, you've got this guide now.
Comment below on the photography books you ended up buying. Some of the links above are connected to my Amazon affiliate account and I make a small commission when you buy the books through this post. Thanks for supporting Tiffinbox in 2017. I look forward to continuing to serve your photographic interests in 2018 and beyond.
Happy New Year to you all!
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