Read This If You Want to Take Great Photographs of People by Henry Carroll Summary

Read This If You Want to Take Great Photographs of People is a practical guide that teaches essential techniques for capturing compelling portraits in everyday settings like streets, homes, or studios. It emphasizes creativity over technical jargon, using iconic images from masters like Richard Avedon and Henri Cartier-Bresson to illustrate concepts like composition, lighting, and emotional connection.

This book is ideal for amateur photographers using smartphones, DSLRs, or mirrorless cameras who want to elevate their portrait photography. It’s tailored for those seeking actionable advice from legendary photographers, with examples spanning street photography, studio work, and candid shots.

The book focuses on composition, lighting, and storytelling, with specific techniques like framing subjects in their environment, using natural light effectively, and capturing authentic emotions. It avoids technical complexity, prioritizing creative approaches applicable to any camera.

Featured photographers include Richard Avedon (studio portraits), Cindy Sherman (conceptual self-portraits), Garry Winogrand (street photography), and Sebastião Salgado (documentary work). These examples demonstrate diverse styles, from candid moments to staged narratives.

Unlike technical manuals, this guide uses minimalist text and iconic imagery to teach through visual inspiration. It skips camera-specific jargon, making it accessible for phone photographers while still valuable for advanced users seeking creative frameworks.

Yes—the book avoids complex terminology, focusing on universal principles like "finding the light" and "observing interactions." Beginners learn through analyzing masterworks, while intermediate photographers gain fresh perspectives on portraying personality and mood.

Yes. It covers posing techniques for studio settings and spontaneous approaches for street photography, emphasizing adaptability. Examples include Richard Renaldi’s intimate portraits and William Klein’s dynamic street scenes.

This concept teaches photographers to observe subtle interactions, emotions, and environmental details that elevate a portrait. It’s illustrated through Henri Cartier-Bresson’s "decisive moment" philosophy and Dorothea Lange’s emotive documentary work.

It advises blending into environments, using natural gestures, and building quick rapport with subjects. William Klein’s confrontational street portraits and Nan Goldin’s intimate snaps exemplify strategies for authentic, unposed shots.

Some advanced photographers note the book prioritizes inspiration over advanced technical instruction. However, its strength lies in democratizing artistic concepts for casual shooters, making it a bestselling primer since 2015.

While Carroll’s original Read This book covers broader basics, this edition specializes in human subjects. It retains his signature style of pairing concise advice with iconic images but delves deeper into portraiture’s emotional and contextual layers.

With smartphone photography dominating, the book’s emphasis on universal principles—like composition and emotional resonance—remains timeless. Updated editions continue to integrate contemporary photographers like Tyler Mitchell, bridging classic and modern styles.