YouTube resources¶
Schedule reset: use the 35-week study map for 28 September 2026–30 May 2027. Any older month/week labels below describe the previous topic sequence, not the active calendar.
A topic-based catalogue of photography videos. Add videos to the most relevant topic table, filling in Link, Channel and Title; leave assessment columns blank until reviewed.
Topic coverage¶
The catalogue now contains 52 videos: your 9 existing entries and 43 researched recommendations. The latest additions add advanced multi-light design and mixed continuous-light/flash problem-solving. Books, paid courses and free articles are catalogued in separate files and excluded from video counts. Counts exclude your owned courses and the supplementary YouTube list. Each video is counted once under its primary topic; Subtopics records overlap. These are catalogue counts, not a measure of how thoroughly each skill is covered.
| Topic | Videos | Level known | Level unknown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camera technique and exposure | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Composition and visual storytelling | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Natural light | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Portrait lighting and modifiers | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| Flash | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Posing and subject direction | 8 | 6 | 2 |
| Children and families | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| Couples and weddings | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Editing and retouching | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Mature adults and fuller figures | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| Total | 52 | 50 | 2 |
Organisation rules¶
- Each video has one primary topic; retain secondary subjects in Subtopics rather than duplicating rows.
- Within each topic, sort by Level: Beginner → All levels → Beginner–Intermediate → Intermediate → Intermediate–Advanced → Advanced → Unknown. Unassessed blank levels also go last. Within the same level, sort by title.
- Level indicates prerequisite knowledge, not video quality; levels are inferred from the material's scope.
- Duration uses h:mm:ss or m:ss, including introductions, sponsorship and Q&A. Runtimes were checked against public YouTube metadata for all new recommendations and seven existing verified entries; the two unverified entries remain unassessed.
- Summary is one sentence about what you can learn. New summaries and ratings are provisional, based on publisher descriptions and available chapter lists, not full playback or transcript review.
- Existing assessments are preserved. The recommendation list prioritises sustained teaching, practical demonstrations and relevance to your programme; longer does not automatically mean better.
- Add one row per video. Escape any vertical bar within a cell as |.
- Adding a resource does not mark it watched or make it required viewing.
Choosing what to watch¶
Your Ghionis courses remain the core curriculum. Choose a supplement to solve a current practice problem within the existing two-hour weekly study allowance; fit optional viewing into that allowance. Sponsored gear and paid-course links in video descriptions are optional.
- Month 1: Tony Gale's composition seminar, then Scott Robert Lim on available light. In the latter, open shade starts at 5:23 and direct sunlight at 34:34.
- Month 2: Keep Neil's bounce flash lesson, then choose one-light portraits or Eli Infante's off-camera flash workshop for the setup you are practising.
- Month 3: Roberto Valenzuela on posing; communication begins at 31:44. Practise one direction or adjustment before adding more poses.
- Month 4: Choose the Photoshop or Lightroom lesson relevant to your workflow; use Tim Grey's black-and-white seminar for monochrome practice. Lightroom Classic catalogue management can be studied earlier if needed.
- Month 5: Start with Taking Great Images of Kids, then choose Jason Vinson's documentary approach or Francisca Roura's portrait approach. Use Michele Celentano's family posing lesson and Elena Blair's eight family poses before a family session.
- Month 6: Split John Branch IV's wedding walkthrough into sessions. Useful reference points: couple portraits 48:24, family portraits 1:29:06, reception 2:04:16.
- Month 7: Adam Marelli's composition lecture for a fresh perspective when reviewing your portfolio.
Remaining depth gaps: natural-light coverage has only one dedicated long seminar. Child and family coverage is now much stronger, including documentary work, directed portraits, toddler-specific location and studio techniques, family posing, newborn lighting, workflow and safety. Mature adults and fuller figures now have a dedicated section; detailed free instruction for fuller-figured men and complete mature-client sessions remains limited. Use your owned material for these areas rather than treating the catalogue as a complete syllabus.
Camera technique and exposure¶
| Level | Duration | Title | Channel | Link | Subtopics | Summary | Worth watching? | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 58:49 | Photography 101: Camera Settings – The Basics of Photography | B&H Photo Video Pro Audio | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMIhAKo8ZEc | Exposure; White balance; Focus; RAW vs JPEG | Provisional: Learn how exposure, white balance, focusing and file format choices affect your photographs. | 4/5 — Month 1 refresher if camera settings still slow you down; otherwise skip familiar chapters. | Description, runtime and chapters; Tony Gale. Source. |
Composition and visual storytelling¶
| Level | Duration | Title | Channel | Link | Subtopics | Summary | Worth watching? | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 1:04:36 | Photography 101: Composition – The Basics of Photography | B&H Photo Video Pro Audio | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3PMe82jR1A | Framing; Negative space; Lens choice; Visual intention | Provisional: Learn to make deliberate framing decisions using balance, negative space, viewpoint and foreground/background relationships. | 5/5 — Month 1; a practical starting point for improving the frame before editing. | Description, runtime and chapters; Tony Gale. Source. |
| Intermediate | 1:26:50 | Bridging the Gap: Classical Art Designed for Photographers | B&H Photo Video Pro Audio | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwk3YFknyNA | Visual design; Geometry; Classical art; Portraiture | Provisional: Learn to apply design ideas from classical painting to photographic composition beyond the rule of thirds. | 4/5 — Later composition study and Month 7 portfolio work; concept-heavy rather than a shooting demonstration. | YouTube description/runtime and instructor companion page; Adam Marelli. Source. |
Natural light¶
| Level | Duration | Title | Channel | Link | Subtopics | Summary | Worth watching? | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner–Intermediate | 1:07:37 | Techniques for Photographing in Hard Light | B&H Photo Video Pro Audio | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9X6N3GrBQo | Open shade; Direct sunlight; Reflectors; Outdoor portraits | Provisional: Learn to choose between open shade and direct sunlight and modify available light for outdoor portraits. | 5/5 — Month 1 priority; directly supports outdoor practice with minimal equipment. | Description, runtime and chapters; Scott Robert Lim. Source. |
Portrait lighting and modifiers¶
| Level | Duration | Title | Channel | Link | Subtopics | Summary | Worth watching? | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 15:01 | Laws of Light: 5 Portrait Lighting Setups | The Slanted Lens | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_O6pbT7Ovw | Portrait lighting; Lighting patterns | Provisional: Learn five foundational portrait lighting setups to practise recognising and controlling facial light. | 5/5 — Useful now as a lighting reference and in Month 2; complements Ghionis demonstrations. | YouTube publisher description; full video not watched. |
| Beginner–Intermediate | 7:10 | Laws of Light: Placing a Softbox | The Slanted Lens | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbd-zWynkOs | Softbox placement; Feathering; Background control | Learn how softbox orientation, feathering and grids change illumination on the face, clothing and background. | 5/5 — Priority when practising with a softbox in Month 2. | Detailed instructor companion article; full video not watched. |
| Beginner–Intermediate | 59:35 | Mastering One Light Portraits | B&H Photo Video Pro Audio | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZzBZl1tnJo | One light; Exposure; Studio; Outdoor lighting | Provisional: Learn how a single light can create controlled portrait lighting indoors and on location. | 5/5 — Month 2 priority; apply the principles to your own light and skip the product introduction if unnecessary. | Description, runtime and chapters; Scott Robert Lim. Source. |
| Beginner–Intermediate | 12:11 | How to Use Light to Shape the Face | Professional Photographers of America (PPA) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuxjgDUyANs | Key and fill; Facial structure; Lighting ratio; Shadow control | Provisional: See how the balance and placement of key and fill light change facial shape, contrast and shadow depth. | 4/5 — A focused bridge between basic lighting patterns and mature-client lighting; practise it by keeping the key fixed and changing only the fill. | Public YouTube title, channel and runtime verified; recommended scope not independently audited through full playback. |
| Intermediate | 1:28:12 | Comprehensive Portrait Photography Lighting | B&H Photo Video Pro Audio | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfSECLod_PY | Natural light; Strobes; Continuous light; Location portraits | Provisional: Learn to compare portrait lighting setups using natural light, flash and continuous light across different situations. | 4/5 — Months 2–3 reference after one-light practice; overlaps other Lim seminars, so choose relevant examples. | Description, runtime and chapters; Scott Robert Lim. Source. |
| Intermediate | 9:32 | Easy Lighting Setup for Model Test Shoots | Lindsay Adler Photography | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWNp0lcti24 | One-light portraits; Model testing; Expression | Provisional: Learn a simple one-light model-test setup with background control, expression direction and finishing adjustments. | 3/5 — Useful later in Months 2–3; agency model tests are less central to your family and adult portrait goals. | YouTube publisher description; full video not watched. |
| Advanced | 20:37 | Advanced Portrait Lighting — Full Tutorial — Three-Point Starburst | SLR Lounge | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvqWeNBtlsc | Multi-light design; Three-point lighting; Starburst; Environmental control | Provisional: Follow an advanced Lighting 3 demonstration that coordinates several sources and an environmental starburst effect into one deliberate portrait. | 4/5 — Useful only after each light can be metered and evaluated separately; recreate the function of the setup with available equipment rather than copying its gear. | Public YouTube title, channel, runtime and publisher description verified on 23 September 2026; full lesson not independently audited. |
Flash¶
| Level | Duration | Title | Channel | Link | Subtopics | Summary | Worth watching? | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner–Intermediate | 1:10:53 | Off Camera Flash Portraits Made Easy | B&H Event Space | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABrNSSmkBCU | Flash/ambient balance; High-speed sync; Power; Light patterns | Provisional: Learn to balance flash with ambient exposure and connect camera settings, flash power and light placement. | 5/5 — Month 2; use after basic bounce flash, focusing on exposure and light control rather than equipment shopping. | Description, runtime and chapters; Eli Infante. Source. |
| Beginner–Intermediate | 56:34 | On-camera bounce flash tutorial | Neil van Niekerk | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5iCy6OK0rc | On-camera flash; Bounce lighting | Provisional: Learn to use bounced on-camera flash for more controlled portrait lighting. | 5/5 — Priority for Month 2; directly useful for indoor portraits and later events. | Instructor workshop page; full video not watched. |
| Beginner–Intermediate | 28:03 | The Definitive Guide To Flash Photography | Matthew Ruderman | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ca5q1kSTZPo | Flash fundamentals; Equipment; Settings; Editing | Provisional: Learn an overview of flash selection, settings, techniques and editing. | 4/5 — Useful Month 2 overview; prioritise technique over shopping and avoid duplicating core lessons. | YouTube publisher description; full video not watched. |
| Advanced | 14:19 | Senior Portrait Photoshoot Lighting Tutorial Mixing LED Continuous Light with Flash | John Gress | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAl452lJvWg | Mixed sources; LED and flash; Slow shutter; Sports portrait; Location lighting | Provisional: See how continuous LEDs, flash and a two-second exposure are combined in a high-school athlete portrait. | 4/5 — A compact mixed-source challenge, not an older-adult lesson; attempt it only after flash/ambient balance and subject sharpness are predictable. | Public YouTube title, channel, runtime and description verified on 23 September 2026; full lesson not independently audited. |
Posing and subject direction¶
| Level | Duration | Title | Channel | Link | Subtopics | Summary | Worth watching? | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 1:42:26 | Capturing Authentic Portraits | B&H Event Space | B&H Photo Video Pro Audio | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j3xjPZ6kZg | Non-models; Rapport; Emotion; Client relationships | Provisional: Learn ways to build rapport and draw out authentic emotion while directing a portrait subject. | 5/5 — First long-format choice for priority 1; lecture and Q&A, not a complete client shoot. | Publisher metadata and chapters; Chris Orwig; rapport 3:35, emotion 23:14, Q&A 58:15. Source. |
| Beginner | 6:57 | How to Photograph Non-Models | 5 Tips with Claudia Paul | B&H Photo Video Pro Audio | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EEn4-TawGs | Non-models; Comfort; Connection; Communication | Provisional: Learn how to connect with non-model clients and help them feel more comfortable during a portrait session. | 4/5 — Short preparation for practice; complements the longer Orwig seminar without requiring another full lecture. | Publisher description and runtime; Claudia Paul; tips format, not an unedited session. Source. |
| Beginner | 7:41 | How to Pose Everyday People: Omar Gonzalez's 5 Tips | B&H Photo Video Pro Audio | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CphwhgmdFQ | Non-models; Client direction; Authenticity; Working space | Provisional: Learn practical ways to direct everyday people and use the space available to create authentic portraits. | 4/5 — Compact pre-shoot refresher for priority 1; not a full session or a mature-client specialism. | Publisher description and runtime; Omar Gonzalez; five-tip tutorial. Source. |
| Beginner | 9:55 | Simple Tips For Directing A Portrait Photoshoot | Uploader unverified; instructor Chris Orwig (corrected) | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fciGg3Wrffo | Portrait direction; Subject interaction | Provisional: Learn simple ways to direct a portrait subject and get a stronger performance in front of the camera. | 4/5 — Useful now and in Month 3; direction transfers beyond iPhone photography. | YouTube description names Chris Orwig; original Julia Trotti attribution is incorrect; uploader name not verified. |
| Beginner–Intermediate | 50:36 | Posing Men for Portraits | B&H Photo Video Pro Audio | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmI7k6hSWyw | Men; Grooms; Composition; Cropping; Studio portraits | Provisional: Learn to improve portraits of men through posing choices, composition and cropping while recognising common mistakes. | 4/5 — Month 3 and later groom portraits; useful practice with adult male subjects. | Description, runtime and chapters; Andre Brown. Source. |
| Beginner–Intermediate | 57:58 | Roberto Valenzuela: Breaking Down the Language of Posing | B&H Photo Video Pro Audio | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I60yllAcz2Q | Posture; Movement; Communication; Corrective posing | Provisional: Learn to build poses through posture, movement, energy and communication rather than memorising isolated positions. | 5/5 — Month 3 priority; a useful second explanation alongside Ghionis's posing lessons. | Description, runtime and chapters; Roberto Valenzuela. Source. |
| Unknown | Not verified | Creating a Heart-Shaped Pose with Sue Bryce | CreativeLive (Sue Bryce) | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qj9rXU4Tjso | Posing (title only) | Unverified: The supplied title suggests a heart-shaped posing demonstration, but the technique and video identity could not be confirmed. | Unrated — Keep for verification; do not treat this as a negative quality rating. | Direct YouTube fetch failed; no exact primary-source match found. |
| Unknown | Not verified | Portrait Posing Tips for Beginners | Photography Channel | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SMmvkjepfc | Posing (title only) | Unverified: The supplied title suggests beginner portrait posing, but specific learning outcomes could not be confirmed. | Unrated — Verify video identity/content before prioritising. | Direct YouTube fetch failed; exact ID/title searches did not verify this entry. |
Priority 1: directing ordinary and camera-shy adults¶
Start with Orwig's free seminar at 3:35–44:34 for rapport and emotion, then choose the Omar Gonzalez or Claudia Paul short tutorial before practice. These are teaching resources; none is verified as a complete, unedited session with a camera-shy client. The separately catalogued paid Orwig course offers a dedicated non-model shoot and review, but is not recommended at list price.
Practice: photograph one willing adult for 20 minutes. Explain what will happen, demonstrate a comfortable starting position, give one instruction at a time, and keep talking while adjusting the camera. Note the exact words that helped the subject relax. Select three frames showing a change in expression, then ask which felt most like them. This practice suggestion is ours, not an assignment from the videos.
Children and families¶
| Level | Duration | Title | Channel | Link | Subtopics | Summary | Worth watching? | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 2:06 | 5 Tips for Posing And Directing Child Portraits | CreativeLive (Tamara Lackey) | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06J5n_WgEYQ | Children; Posing; Subject direction | Provisional: Learn to adapt posing and direction to each child's personality for a more enjoyable portrait session. | 5/5 — Priority for Month 5; closely matches your children and family goals. | YouTube publisher description; full video not watched. |
| Beginner | 19:15 | How to do a Photoshoot with a Toddler Video | Stacey Potter Photography | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyxCqu2AYCo | Toddlers; Session management; Assistants; Activities | Provisional: Watch a practical toddler session and note how prompts, hand-held activities and an assistant help sustain engagement. | 5/5 — Best new toddler-specific addition because it addresses the operational problem of keeping an unpredictable young child engaged during a real shoot. | Public YouTube title, channel and runtime verified; recommended scope not independently audited through full playback. |
| Beginner | 39:55 | Taking Great Images of Kids | B&H Photo Video Pro Audio | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uurXf_H2v9A | Children; Camera settings; Light; Interaction | Provisional: Learn practical choices for photographing children, including settings, light, composition and ways to hold their attention. | 5/5 — Best broad starting point for Month 5 before specialising in posed or documentary work. | Publisher title, description and runtime verified on YouTube. Source. |
| Beginner | 35:08 | Working With Newborns – Safety | Kelly Brown Newborn Photographer | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bodexbAHGE | Newborns; Safe handling; Studio practice | Provisional: Learn safe handling principles and studio practices for working with newborn babies. | 5/5 — Required foundation before any newborn posing practice; video learning does not replace supervised hands-on safety training. | Instructor-channel description and runtime verified on YouTube; Kelly Brown's official site also foregrounds newborn safety. Source. |
| All levels | 1:00:46 | How to Take Better Images of Your Kids | B&H Event Space | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2T0FpWscWw | Documentary family photography; Moments; Composition; Camera awareness | Provisional: Learn to turn everyday family life into stronger documentary photographs by combining light, moment, composition and trust. | 5/5 — Month 5 priority for authentic, unposed photographs and a useful counterpoint to formal portrait lessons. | Publisher description, runtime and chapters; Jason Vinson. Source. |
| Beginner–Intermediate | 26:41 | Complete Children’s Portrait Tutorial: Lighting + Shooting + Editing | SLR Lounge | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nP3eOPjLzU | Lighting; Shooting; Editing; End-to-end workflow | Provisional: Follow one children's portrait from concept and lighting through the shoot and final edit. | 4/5 — Compact Month 5 workflow lesson; shorter than preferred but useful because it connects capture decisions to the finished image. | Publisher description and runtime verified on YouTube. Source. |
| Beginner–Intermediate | 1:01:44 | Eight Family Poses That Always Work | B&H Event Space | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia9Zu4O9aEs | Families; Children; Natural posing; Transitions | Provisional: Learn eight repeatable family starting poses and how games, movement and transitions create natural expressions. | 5/5 — Month 5 priority before a family session; practise two poses at a time instead of memorising all eight. | Publisher description, runtime and detailed chapters; Elena S. Blair. Source. |
| Beginner–Intermediate | 43:58 | Family Photos That Stands Out | B&H Event Space | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFcDYkX6zGU | Family storytelling; Direction; Connection; Lighting | Provisional: Learn to plan, direct and light family photographs while building connection and visual variety. | 4/5 — Useful Month 5 supplement when you want stronger storytelling rather than a list of poses. | Publisher description, runtime and chapters; Chris Orwig. Source. |
| Beginner–Intermediate | 8:19 | How I photograph toddlers on gloomy days (real portrait tips that work!) | Szilvia Bodi | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WG6AfEzKVMU | Toddlers; Outdoor portraits; Overcast light; Play-based direction | Provisional: See a play-based outdoor approach for photographing toddlers in flat, gloomy light while allowing room for movement. | 4/5 — Short but useful location complement to the broader child lessons; watch before an overcast outdoor family session. | Public YouTube title, channel and runtime verified; recommended scope not independently audited through full playback. |
| Beginner–Intermediate | 58:03 | Newborn Photography – Session Workflow | Kelly Brown Newborn Photographer | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9xhhlU9vis | Newborns; Session planning; Preparation; Workflow | Provisional: Learn how to plan and prepare a newborn session so the sequence of setups is calmer and more efficient. | 5/5 — Month 5 newborn workflow reference; watch after the safety lesson and before attempting a session. | Instructor-channel description and runtime verified on YouTube. Source. |
| Beginner–Intermediate | 36:04 | Photographing Children’s Portraits | B&H Event Space | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Dwb2Upmu78 | Child portraits; Styling; Posing; Comfort | Provisional: Learn how vision, styling, posing and subject comfort shape a deliberate children's portrait. | 4/5 — Month 5 portrait-focused supplement; especially useful for planned, styled sessions. | Publisher description, runtime and chapters; Francisca Roura. Source. |
| Beginner–Intermediate | 10:58 | Photographing Toddlers with Perfect Lighting — Simple 2-Light Setup Tutorial | The Newborn Nerds | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMx80VEuwyE | Toddlers; Studio flash; Broad key light; Hair light; Movement zone | Provisional: Learn a forgiving two-light studio arrangement intended to keep an active toddler lit while moving around the set. | 4/5 — A distinct studio solution to the toddler movement problem; use after one-light fundamentals and prioritise a safe, obstruction-free set. | Public YouTube title, channel and runtime verified; recommended scope not independently audited through full playback. |
| Beginner–Intermediate | 30:13 | Posing Groups: Family Portraits with Michele Celentano | CreativeLive | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-20PwdQDIHA | Group posing; Family portraits; Lighting; Direction | Provisional: Learn approaches to arranging and lighting family groups while directing the people in the portrait. | 5/5 — Month 5, then Month 6 groups; a substantial free lesson, not the entire paid CreativeLive course. | YouTube publisher description and runtime; Michele Celentano. Source. |
| Intermediate | 1:03:44 | Photographing Newborns with Strobes and Flash | B&H Photo Video Pro Audio | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1T0vJrJMXA | Newborns; Strobes; Flash; Consistent light | Provisional: Learn how controlled flash can replace unreliable window light in newborn portrait sessions. | 4/5 — Month 5 extension after newborn safety and one-light fundamentals; skip until you can operate the light confidently. | Publisher description and runtime verified on YouTube; Sandra Coan. Source. |
Couples and weddings¶
| Level | Duration | Title | Channel | Link | Subtopics | Summary | Worth watching? | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intermediate | 1:10:18 | Cinematic Wedding Photos with Constant Light | B&H Photo Video Pro Audio | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_HucLRZN98 | Continuous light; Natural light; Wedding portraits; Candids | Provisional: Learn how continuous and natural light can be used for cinematic wedding portraits and candid photographs. | 4/5 — Month 6 extension after basic wedding coverage; useful creative reference, not an equipment requirement. | Description, runtime and chapters; Scott Robert Lim. Source. |
| Intermediate | 2:31:07 | Wedding Photography Behind the Scenes | Full Wedding Day | Free Wedding Photography Course | John Branch IV Photography | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQplYYMX--A | Wedding workflow; Couples; Groups; Ceremony; Reception | Provisional: Follow a real wedding day to see how preparation, portraits, ceremony coverage and reception photography fit together. | 5/5 — Month 6 priority; split across several study sessions and compare decisions with your Ghionis course. | Description, runtime and detailed chapters; also linked from instructor's website. Source. |
Editing and retouching¶
| Level | Duration | Title | Channel | Link | Subtopics | Summary | Worth watching? | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner–Intermediate | 1:06:15 | Black & White with Lightroom Classic – GreyLearning Live! | Tim Grey TV | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLTl1VlRoqc | Black and white; Conversion; Lightroom Classic | Provisional: Learn approaches to turning colour photographs into deliberate black-and-white interpretations in Lightroom Classic. | 5/5 — Month 4 black-and-white practice; older interface, but directly relevant conversion principles. | YouTube publisher description/runtime; instructor webinar catalogue confirms 1:06:15. Source. |
| Beginner–Intermediate | 1:02:45 | The 10 Best Features of Photoshop That Every Photographer Should Know | B&H Event Space | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4hjzoxCxmA | Photoshop; Retouching; Essential tools | Provisional: Learn a focused set of Photoshop tools for improving photographs without trying to master the entire application at once. | 4/5 — Month 4 bridge into the Ghionis retouching projects; updated presentation rather than the older version. | YouTube publisher description and runtime; Jeff Cable. Source. |
| Beginner–Intermediate | 1:11:39 | Traps to Avoid in Lightroom Classic – GreyLearning Live! | Tim Grey TV | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c98YeivvwM | Catalog management; Workflow; Organisation | Provisional: Learn to avoid Lightroom Classic habits that create disorganised catalogues and unreliable editing workflows. | 5/5 — Useful early if you use Lightroom Classic, before the image library grows; revisit in Month 4. | YouTube description/runtime and instructor's recording announcement; Tim Grey. Source. |
| Intermediate | 1:17:40 | Increase a Photograph’s Impact: Lightroom Tips & Tricks with Julieanne Kost | Adobe Creative Cloud | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=396AQfPJtNI | Develop module; Colour; Tone; Selective edits; Presets | Provisional: Learn to combine tonal, colour and local adjustments to guide attention and strengthen an image's visual impact. | 4/5 — Month 4; fast-paced and uses an older interface, so prioritise editing decisions over exact menu locations. | YouTube publisher description and runtime; Julieanne Kost. Source. |
Mature adults and fuller figures¶
Added 21 September 2026. This section brings together posing, camera perspective, lighting and retouching for the subjects you currently find most challenging. Mature age and body size are separate considerations; choose the relevant subtopics for each person. Titles retain the publishers' wording. All nine videos have verified public YouTube titles, channels and runtimes; assessments are provisional and based on descriptions, chapters and the linked publisher material, rather than full playback.
| Level | Duration | Title | Channel | Link | Subtopics | Summary | Worth watching? | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 15:21 | How to Get a Better Jawline in Photos | Headshot Photography Tip | Peter Hurley | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe3oJnFtA_k | Headshots; Jawline; Neck; Direction; Men and women | Provisional: Learn to direct head position so the jaw separates more clearly from the neck in a portrait. | 5/5 — A practical first exercise for your posing difficulty; apply gently within the person's comfortable range of movement. | YouTube metadata and instructor guest article; originally known as It's All About the Jaw. |
| Beginner | 7:30 | How to Pose Curvy Women // Curvy Girl Posing Tips | Vanessa Joy | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4sWtknfD-w | Fuller figures; Posing; Lens choice; Perspective; Editing | Provisional: Learn how posing and lens choices affect the rendering of a fuller figure, with accompanying editing considerations. | 5/5 — Short but directly relevant; a useful preview before the longer Sue Bryce session. | YouTube metadata and instructor companion article. |
| All levels | 51:39 | 39-45: The World War II Portraits Project with Glyn Dewis | Behind The Shot | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slbLq_91rbI | Older men; Portrait decisions; Rapport; Veteran portraits; Case study | Provisional: Explore the making of Glyn Dewis's portrait of veteran Harry Billinge and the thinking behind his older-subject portrait project. | 4/5 — Valuable longer case study for mature male portraits; an interview and image discussion, rather than a continuous live shoot. | YouTube metadata and episode page; photo discussion begins at 15:36. |
| Beginner–Intermediate | 3:36 | Capturing Timeless Portraits of Veterans with Glyn Dewis | Westcott Lighting | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_GCObMdc6E | Mature men; Rapport; Rembrandt lighting; Continuous light | Provisional: Learn how preparation, conversation and a simple Rembrandt lighting arrangement support a classic veteran portrait. | 4/5 — Brief mature-portrait example to pair with the existing 51:39 Dewis case study; not a complete session or fuller-figure lesson. | Publisher metadata and Westcott companion article; gear promotion is present. Source. |
| Beginner–Intermediate | 14:29 | How to Pose Curvy women for Boudoir | Yuliya Panchenko | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYvB29K2UGw | Fuller figures; Boudoir; Posing; Angles; Direction | Provisional: Learn posing adjustments and common mistakes when directing curvy subjects in a boudoir session. | 3/5 — Optional specialist reference; adapt useful angles to clothed portraits, as the session style is less central to your course. | Publisher YouTube description and runtime; boudoir context. |
| Beginner–Intermediate | 11:01 | How to Remove Eye Wrinkles and Crows Feet in Photoshop | PHLEARN | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgwbe367zAc | Mature skin; Retouching; Healing Brush; Fade; Texture | Provisional: Learn to soften eye wrinkles with the Healing Brush and Fade command while retaining some of the original lines. | 4/5 — Focused follow-up to the mature-skin lesson when eye-area edits look too strong. | YouTube metadata and instructor tutorial; older interface. |
| Beginner–Intermediate | 11:37 | How to Retouch Mature Skin in Photoshop | PHLEARN | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKmQt5VgZkI | Mature men; Skin shadows; Wrinkles; Layer opacity; Colour | Provisional: Learn to soften deep facial shadows and selected wrinkles while controlling opacity and restoring restrained colour. | 5/5 — Best targeted retouching starting point here; compare the result at normal viewing size to preserve believable texture. | YouTube metadata and instructor tutorial; shadow adjustment 1:20, reduced opacity 8:03; older interface. |
| Beginner–Intermediate | 59:41 | Sue Bryce: How to Photograph Different Body Types | CreativeLive | CreativeLive | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWvQUhzdtFA | Fuller figures; Women; Posing; Portrait shooting; Body types | Provisional: Learn how Sue Bryce adapts portrait shooting and posing to women with different body types. | 5/5 — Main longer posing lesson for this gap; pause to practise individual adjustments rather than only watching. | Publisher YouTube description and runtime; a substantial free excerpt, not the full paid course. |
| Beginner–Intermediate | 17:14 | Tips to Flatter Wrinkles | Photography with Lindsay Adler | Adorama | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBWfmBNoUhI | Mature skin; Shooting; Light quality; Light direction; Fill | Provisional: Learn how light-source size, direction and fill change the visibility of wrinkles before retouching. | 5/5 — Priority for your next mature-adult shoot; particularly useful for separating lighting problems from editing problems. | YouTube metadata and publisher companion article. |
Suggested order and practice¶
- Fuller figures: watch Vanessa Joy, then Sue Bryce; use Hurley's jawline lesson for head-and-shoulders portraits of men or women.
- Mature adults: watch Lindsay Adler's lighting demonstration, then PHLEARN's mature-skin lesson; use Glyn Dewis for a longer portrait case study.
- One practical session: ask the subject what they like in photographs and what degree of retouching they want, then make a comfortable seated portrait and a standing portrait if suitable. Keep exposure and framing consistent while changing one variable at a time: head position, body angle, camera height or light direction/fill. Review the comparisons together where possible.
- Retouch one selected image: start with exposure, colour and temporary distractions; soften selected lines only to the agreed degree and compare with the original at normal viewing size. Body reshaping is an optional client preference, not an automatic step for a fuller figure.
Your owned The Pose, Part 2 → Corrective Posing and Posing Hands lessons are useful companions. The general Posing Men for Portraits resource above also remains relevant, although it is not specifically a fuller-figure workshop.
Assessment sources and rating method¶
Ratings measure relevance to your seven-month programme, not a full technical audit or a claim that the videos were watched. 5/5 = priority at the indicated stage; 4/5 = useful supplement; 3/5 = optional or specialised; 2/5 = low relevance; 1/5 = skip for this programme. Unrated = insufficient evidence. Levels are inferred from scope and prerequisites, not official course labels. Provisional summaries rely on publisher descriptions. No transcript or full playback was reviewed. New additions were checked against public YouTube title, channel, duration and description metadata on 21 September 2026; available chapter lists were also inspected. This verifies identity and stated scope, not every teaching claim or regional playback availability. Older software lessons are flagged where interface differences matter. For newborn photography, safety instruction is a prerequisite and should be reinforced with qualified, supervised hands-on training before attempting specialist poses.
- New recommendations: the Source link in each row is the publisher's YouTube page. Additional primary corroboration: Adam Marelli, John Branch IV, Tim Grey's catalogue-workflow recording and Tim Grey's webinar catalogue.
- Neil van Niekerk: instructor workshop page.
- Matthew Ruderman: YouTube publisher description.
- Five lighting setups: YouTube publisher description.
- Softbox placement: detailed instructor article.
- Lindsay Adler: YouTube publisher description.
- Directing a portrait photoshoot: YouTube publisher description identifies Chris Orwig, not Julia Trotti. The original channel attribution is retained here for audit: Julia Trotti. The table now flags the correction; uploader name still needs verification.
- Tamara Lackey: YouTube publisher description.
- The Photography Channel and Sue Bryce entries remain unverified; this does not establish that their links are broken or that the videos are poor.
Resource index · Supplementary YouTube videos · Non-YouTube resources · Paid online courses · Books