Book Description
Artwork from 30 of the industry's top photographers is used to highlight both clear-cut shooting strategies and colorful, cutting-edge approaches to family portraiture in this handbook intended for idea gathering and inspiration. Advice on focal length, perspective, and maximizing the potential of digital equipment highlights the technical aspects of family portraiture while group posing strategies demonstrate how best to flatter each subject and convey a sense of family unity. A lengthy discussion of lighting—the backbone of portraiture—and the manipulation of shadows and highlights instructs photographers on how to create mood and interest in a variety of lighting scenarios, both indoors and out. Specifics on adjusting body lines, colors, and shapes, working with young children, and creating a comfortable atmosphere ensure that the photographer captures the unique personality of each family with dynamic and attractive images.
Customer Reviews:
Great guide.......2007-09-28
This book is very helpful with posing techniques, lighting and other tips. Well worth the money. Lots of quality photo examples. Great to have in your reference library.
Great ideas for group Photography.......2007-09-10
There were so many inspiring examples in this book. I loved the ideas for photographing large groups. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking to perfect the art of photographing families or groups.
An excellent, comprehensive book.......2007-08-23
As a retired professional photographer I expected the finer points of family portraiture to be missing. Instead, it was excellent both in the fundamentals and in the detailed aspects of photographing groups. As a retiree I am using it for in-depth review, and I love it. My wife and I studied with Monte Zucker many years ago and we were happy to see his work included, along with Bill McIntosh and other fine professionals.
Great photos.......2007-08-11
The book was great in it's explanations about what techniques to use for the best possible shot. I'll be using it's techniques from now on.
Great Hobby Photog.......2007-07-21
This book is very readable. It is short and to-the-point. This is the type of book to pick up, read and then go do the things described. I read quickly and started my own photography experimenting. I also enjoyed being able to go back and quickly find answers to my questions while working. This is a very user-friendly book.
Book Description
• Documentary-style wedding photography is the hottest sector of an always-hot market
• Covers art and business, from taking pictures to telling the story to making the sale
Every photographer—and every bride—needs The Art of Digital Wedding Photography! With this book, pros and aspiring pros can get in on the perennially hot wedding market, using the newest digital technology to get compelling, cutting-edge results. And for today's sophisticated bride-to-be, this is the perfect idea book, packed with great images that will inspire beautiful, unforgettable photos of that special day. Authors Bambi Cantrell and Skip Cohen show how to create traditional formal, photojournalistic, and magazine-style pictures and tell the story of each couple in a unique, romantic way. Their cutting-edge style appeals to big-spending first-timers as well as to the lucrative love-is-lovelier-the-second-time-around crowd. The Art of Digital Wedding Photography is the best book out there for love and money!
Customer Reviews:
Great Wedding Photography Book!.......2007-10-03
This book has excellent recommendations and techniques for capturing the most beautiful wedding photos. The pictures published in this book alone are worth the cost of the book, IMO. They are beautiful and give great ideas. She tells you exactly how she captured the photo although I would've liked some more technical info on some of the photos. I highly recommend this book.
are you a photographer?.......2007-10-01
If you are a photographer, you know perfectly well that no book is going to teach you much of the style you develop on your own. It is great for general ideas, but you really should be able to see who you are working with and figure out what kind of shots will suit the couple. I doubt that there are many brides that will appreciate a picture like the one on the front cover of this book.
Strong photographs, weak on techniques.......2007-09-02
If you're looking for a book that illustrates wedding photography in broad strokes, this book is fine. It talks about breaking the day down into different sections, what the photographer likes to have in her bag, some post-processing filters she uses, etc... However the treatment is on the shallow end in detail.
On the back of the book it says "... to inspire any bride-to-be and the photographer on her special day." I think as long as your not looking for more than inspiration, this book will be fine, however it does not really go into technical depth on the challenges and techniques to handle those challenges that a wedding photographer will encounter.
It's really aimed more at inspiration than instruction.
Good general book on Digital Wedding photography.......2007-05-15
Bambi covers all the basics, from before the event, the event, manipulating the image and delivery. Not a lot of details (except she does give exactly what is in her camera bag), but overall a good book. I was somewhat surprised at the poor quality of some of the images, especially the cover image. Not what one would expect from Bambi.
First book much better.......2006-12-07
I returned this book after the first read. As a new wedding photographer I admire Cantrell's style and her first book was excellent, thus I had high expections for her second book which covered digital wedding photography. It seems as if she was distracted in writing this book. The explanations regarding equipment, dealing with the wedding couple, pricing, are vague and the explanations tired and repetetive, and many of the photos are out of focus and grainy. Definitely not of the quality and caliber of her first writing endeavor. If one is buying this book searching for ideas on how to effectively manage your digital workflow, deal with jpeg vs. raw, eye-candy photos for inspiration for one's one work, and digital techniques for wedding photography, you will not find it here. You may want to purchase her first book for inspiration and ideas, it is better written.
Book Description
This photographer's guide to creating successful model portfolios encourages a dynamic, diversified artistic approach and shares essential knowledge about the modeling industry, portfolio basics, and agency requirements. Photographers learn how to work with models for the best possible results, create and refine a standout portfolio, and sell that product to agents in the United States, England, and Asia. Three actual portfolios are included to help photographers conceptualize, sculpt, and refine their own portfolios to maximize their client's reach in the industry. Photographers learn why particular images were chosen for opening and closing shots, how to arrange the interior images, and what constitutes an appealing design. Featuring information on working with women, men, and children, this book will help new and experienced models and photographers alike in getting the results they desire.
Customer Reviews:
Great for beginners.......2007-09-03
Most of the things covered in this book are already known to photographers that have worked in the field, but for photographers starting in shooting models, this guide gives them a good start in the field.
Even though the book is titled 'A Step-by-Step Guide for Photographers', the information in here is even more valuable for models. Info on height classifications, measurements, posing, etc. I'd say all new models, and those that want to be models, this is a 'must have' book.
Professional model porfolios.......2007-08-10
This was a fantastic book. So much information. Every model and photographer should read this.
Helpful hints to helping models.......2007-06-13
This really helps with up and coming models who need a bit of direction.
I share this book with every new model I use.
Brings ideas to both of us.
It helps the models understand thier side of the business also.
Good for beginners.......2007-03-12
It's very pro, a little out of fashion, it's a 2004 book, so that's normal I guess. If you don't work in the USA market, it is a good guide about how to work.
Fantastic "Glimpse" into the world of shooting for models.......2007-02-15
This is a fantastic book. It provides great information about doing photography with a model's portfolio in mind It provides good examples with lighting guides, and dips the reader's toe into the fashion/modeling industry with just enough information to excite some readers - and scare others away. this is a good thing.
I just longed for more information; it lacked information about the modeling industry as a whole, particularly modeling agencies and how the work. this is good information for a photographer who wants to help models break into or maintain effective work with such agencies. Sadly, this information was lacking in the book, which is why I only gave it 4 stars. This information could help photographers work better with agency models on their portfolios.
That said, this book has a plethora of information on portfolios, the dos and do not, and plenty of other supplemental information that can be applied to any situation involving model photography.
Book Description
Combining two disciplines—posing and wedding portraiture—this professional resource helps photographers create flattering poses to build the best possible portraits and highest possible sales. Photographers are taught how to position the head, shoulders, torso, arms, hands, legs, and feet to correct figure flaws, make a client feel relaxed, and evoke a dynamic image that tells a story or defines a relationship. The challenges of shooting on location are addressed with tips for adjusting poses in any situation. A discussion of body language and how small adjustments can change an entire mood provides photographers with the ability to help their clients convey a variety of desired messages, whether elegant, sexy, or playful. Standing, seated, and floor poses are covered along with specific techniques for photographing brides, grooms, and wedding parties.
Customer Reviews:
Very Disorganized!.......2007-07-12
Sample pictures do not have a clear description of which poses are good or bad. You have to read text which is usually in different pages to determine the expalantion of the poses.
Writer is not clear in his explanations and is hard to follow.
I will not buy any other books by this author.
Not at all what I had hoped.........2007-03-27
This book did not have the creative and interesting posing techniques I had hoped for. Outdated is the best word I can think of to describe this book.
Utterly disappointing, do not buy this book!.......2007-03-11
I cant begin to describe how utterly useless this book is. The title suggested a book that would provide eduction and insight to posing for portrait and wedding photography: the reality is so far from the truth you wouldnt believe!
The poses and photos shown are amatuer, pathetic and laughable... at best. I constantly had to show my girlfriend the photos and commentary and we would collapse into fits of laughter....in fact, that might be the one positive comment I can make: it's a good laugh!
The photos used are very old (lots of 1980's glam fashion here) and the models are stiff and ill at ease. They look more like firing squad victums than examples of portrait and wedding subjects. The poses are over-done, look fake and staged to a painful degree.
To top it off, there is little teaching or recognisable educational structure to this book. I read it (a painful process) from start to finish and felt I learnt nothing. Nada, zip, zero. What a waste of time and money.
Do yourself a big favour and DO NOT buy this book.
Best one I have read .......2007-02-16
My model (daughter) and I use this book as our posing bible.
It has improved the appearance of our photos one hundred percent.
By reading the book, we now have the ability to spot "bad" poses and to work out better ones.
I never realized there was so much to hand, feet and head position that went into making THE photo you are looking for.
If you only purchase one book to help you grow as a portrait photographer, this is the one.
Don't expect pretty people in pretty poses, this is a how to book that builds from one pose to next.
Perfect.......2006-11-09
This book was just what I was looking for! All of the tips and hints throughout the book have made me a more conscious photographer. The art in the book shows what you should and shoud not do while posing clients. It's an advantage to see the good and the bad right next to each other to advance personal critques.
Book Description
Natural light portraiture is fast becoming a popular style of photography. Photographers and clients appreciate the understated, low-maintenance shoots and the spontaneous, casual quality of the photos. Featuring images shot on location, in clients' homes, and in the studio, the author teaches how to use the unique qualities of direct sun, window light, porch light, shade, and the light at sunrise and sunset to create flattering, natural-looking portraits. Photographers will learn how to select the right setting, equipment, backdrop, and props, as well as how to control the balance of light between subject and background. Each sample portrait is accompanied by detailed technical information to help photographers achieve the same results in their own work.
Customer Reviews:
Great guide.......2007-09-28
I love the simplicity of the tips in this book and yet the results are beautiful. Great photo examples and lots of important tips. Very useful.
THE book to own!.......2007-06-08
This is THE definitive book to own if you want are starting out in photography. Here you lear the basic lighting to look for as well as image diagrams and technicle stuff that you need! Doug Allen Box has killed the subject. I think that God himself would probably be the only one who can write a better natural light book.
very useful.......2007-06-08
We are starting a portrait studio and I wanted a little help refining the look I have gotten just by luck previously on outdoor shots. This book really had some great ideas, and realistic answers to common problems. I have been turning to it frequently.
dated.......2007-05-30
I found some of the technique in this book helpful, but it's redundant. The pictures in the book are not of high quality print and are dated. Overall, I was not satisfied with this book.
Useful information I'll refer to over and over.......2007-05-15
I really enjoyed the humor and tips in this book. Some things I've simply never thought of before but now I'm "armed and dangerous" with all the new things I've learned. I didn't want to put this down once I started reading it. I would definitely like to read more of his stuff.
Book Description
Every nude and lingerie photography shoot will benefit from the camera techniques, posing strategies, and prop selections discussed in this handbook from a seasoned model photographer. Sections on evaluating and modifying light, changing the setup, and ensuring the correct white balance combined with a gallery of set, prop, and posing possibilities provide photographers with the technical and artistic inspiration they need to visually enhance a model's assets and create the perfect mood. A variety of situations are covered, including photographs in water, of couples, and of tattoos. Based on the author's 20 years of experience, this handbook emphasizes the photographer's need to cultivate trustworthy relationships with their models in order to ensure the ease and trust that makes for stunning results.
Customer Reviews:
Great Tips.......2007-06-14
This book provides great tips for beginners like myself.
This is rather a photo book, not book about taking photos........2007-03-06
A said before, book consist of basically "well, i was there and i asked {ModelName} to do this, and she selected this pose, which makes this nice image" paragraphs...
So this book is collection of images with few not to detailed sentences about every shot.
I certainly expected more from this book.
Good start but becomes repetitive........2007-02-13
The book isn't very good at really explaining how the shot was created. So if you want to learn about how or why a certain setting was used in detail, this isn't the book for you. If you want to get some good ideas of tasteful nude/portrait photos, this could be the ticket. Some of the narratives of the motivation behind the shot is helpful. However by the end of the book, you may end up disappointed that you read the whole thing. About half way through the book just skim the verbiage and enjoy the photos.
Poor Quality photos, no real information.......2007-02-09
I brought this book a while back and was not happy with it, lucky for amazon I'm a lazy person when it comes to returning things, especially onine. The photos are poor, they look like someone used a compact camera to take the shot, and with no artistic or creative skill either.
There are maybe a few pictures which may be considered close to pro level but as a non pro myself I can already acheive better quality pictures. i expected more than this, there was no depth to the pictures on how they were designed or envisioned by the photographer, just a bunch of random pictures.
awesome.......2007-01-30
A great combination of practical advice and creative insight. This book shows real talent in protraying a delicate subject matter. The use of different locations and lighting techniques shows off Mr. Lemon talent and skill. A must have for any glamour photogher's library
Book Description
Covers the key aspects of the art and practice of professional portrait photography. Offers expert guidance with chapters by top professional portrait photographers on topics such as selecting equipment, refining lighting and exposure techniques, and establishing and operating a successful portrait business. Also covers specialty portraits, fashion and glamour photography, plus tips on presenting portraits to increase sales. 120 pages (over 150 illustrations), 8-1/2 x 11.
Customer Reviews:
Get the NEW 2003, Same cover completely updated!!!!.......2007-10-04
There is a newer updated edition, I have this one, the 1998 and saw my friends 2003 and it is much improved. Very different photographers featured. It is confusing because the cover is identical! I am shocked it is not offered here.
Really for professional portrait photographers.......2002-03-15
This book really addresses the professional portrait photographer and how he or she should run their portrait studio. Photography techniques are glossed over on the assumption that you are familiar with the basics. Customer relationships, on the other hand, receives considerable attention from the author.
Incredible Illustrations.......2001-01-15
The photos in this book are inspiring and the text is comprehensive and easy to follow. Each technique is demonstrated with one or more beautifully composed photographs.
Overview of portrait business, lacking in technical detail.......2000-12-20
I asked the posters on a large format board for opinions on books on portrait photography, specifically detailed information on lighting techniques and posing, and several HIGHLY recommended this book.
Unfortunately, it was not what I looking for. However, it is a fine overview of the portrait business in general, and I recommend it for someone intending to enter the business. It contains discussions on selling, dealing with the customers, and the studio environment, and discusses different types of portraiture, such as glamour, wedding and corporate.
There was one chapter on lighting techniques, but wasn't as in depth as I would have liked. Moreover, methods were discussed and not demonstrated explicitly in the accompanying photos. Main light patterns such as closed loop, open loop, butterfly and broad are discussed without giving photos showing what they are. I still have little idea what they are.
Similarly, the chapter on equipment actually contained very few photographs portraying the equipment discussed.
The lack of "technical" photos demonstrating the equipment and technique is very uncharacteristic of Kodak's books. It seems that they included a collection of portrait photographs, sprinkled throughout the book, often having little connection with the subject discussed. However, this book also has much less of the "Kodak advertising" that their other books suffer from.
I felt that this book, overall, was rather good for what is was supposed to be. My criticisms are small and hopefully would be taken as suggestions to improve the next printing. Someone actually wanting to start a portrait business will require deeper technical knowledge than that provided here. I will be reading "The Lighting Cookbook" by Jenni Bidner to pursue this knowledge. I still haven't found anything that discusses posing, though.
This is a must have book !.......1999-08-09
Their are very few books that really are worth their price. This book is one of the rare educational books that every photographer should have to have to read over and over!
Book Description
Designed for professional photographers who are already well versed in the basics of lighting, this book will take their lighting to the next level, adding the flair and refinement that can turn professional images into world-class photos. Each chapter explores a different master photographer, with a thorough analysis of signature techniques, a look at the creation of his or her top images, and a discussion of past photographs that presented lighting challenges. A virtual master class, this book presents the teachings of nearly two dozen photographers for a fraction of the price of a single photography seminar.
Customer Reviews:
Great book!.......2007-08-08
I always refer to customer evaluations before deciding to buy a book and this is no different. Honestly, I have never been disappointed so far! This is a great book for all portrait photographers. It gives us a good overview of the techniques of the different masters considered to be the best there is. This is a good book! It should have been titled an overview of marter portrait photographer's techniques....grab one and you will never be disappointed!
Masterpiece work by Michelle--again!.......2007-04-13
Michelle takes you through the photographic lighting styles of some great photographers-this is a must buy if you'd like to look how various top photographers see lighting in different scenarios. I know, as I'm not only a Lighting Master at the annual Photo Plus Expo in New York, but I'm one of the chapters in this book.
Many photographers today spend thousands on camera bodies that change every Monday when the Board of Director's meet, yet they buy cheap lights. Hopefully this book will show you why lighting is to an image what the blood is to your body--without either, you have nothing. This is a must read for anyone interested in photography at every level.
Other great books, of course my own, Garage Glamour: Digital Nude and Beauty Photography Made Simple plus my latest, Rolando Gomez's Glamour Photography: Professional Techniques and Images and keep an eye out for Michelle's newest book coming out later this year! All the best, and remember, we're all students of photography as it's a never ending learning experience. --Rolando Gomez, contributing writer Studio Photography magazine.
Book Description
The completely revised and updated edition of the glamour photography classic! How to Photograph Women Beautifully, written by two of the most sought-after glamour and fashion photographers in the industry, is an invaluable visual course in creating glamour photography with professional results. This revised edition features totally updated technical information with stylish full-color photographs. Here are all the secrets to success in this competitive, yet lucrative photographic specialty, including time-tested, practical advice on everything from cameras and equipment; beauty basics; and photographing "real" people to commercial angles; retouching; and composition manipulation. Plus, all-new sections feature such topics as using older models; mastering the technique of "lifestyle" photographs; digital capture; digital imaging; using natural light and much, much more. Whether you're an aspiring photographer or experienced veteran, How to Photograph Women Beautifully is your guide to creating glamour photographs that are stunning as well as memorable.
Customer Reviews:
Interesting yet frustrating.......2003-02-16
If you have tons of equipment, a great studio, and ready staff, you'll like this book because everything mentioned in it should be within your grasp. For a beginner, however, who is trying to make beautiful images with very little equipment, no studio, and few (if any) assistants (and none who are paid professionals), this book becomes 'boring' from repeatedly thinking "that's way beyond what I can do." It would be very easy to walk away from the book thinking that if you haven't made it already, you never will. There is some good information and ideas in it, else I'd have given it an even lower rating, but it was generally disappointing. It struck me as a litany of "here's how we did this as established photographers" versus "here's what you can do" and that's really not what I had hoped for.
Book Description
In Crowns and The Spirit of Harlem, journalist Craig Marberry took oral history to a new level. Here, in Cuttin’ Up, he presents more pitch-perfect portraits so good you’ll feel like you’re eavesdropping. Cuttin’ Up celebrates the laid-back fellowship of men in a barber shop, the place, as Marberry writes, “where we go to be among ourselves, to be ourselves, to unmask.”
Crisscrossing the country from Detroit to Orlando, Brooklyn to Houston, Marberry listened in on conversations that covered everything from reminiscences about the first haircut---a sometimes comic rite of passage---to spirited exchanges about women, to serious lessons in black history and current events. His collection of the wit and wisdom of patrons and barbers---including the small but scrappy subset of women barbers and the father of a very famous celebrity---brings together an irresistible and often touching chorus of voices.
Marberry has created a book that sings with the handsome beauty of the oral tradition that is the cornerstone of the black barber shop experience.
A portion of the proceeds from this book support the Maya Angelou Research Center on Minority Health at Wake Forest University.
Customer Reviews:
Rare, Real Look Into Real Black-Barbershop Culture.......2005-11-17
I truly loved this book. My heart leaped in my chest when I saw it on the book shelf. As a "kitchen-barber" for more than twenty-years I was ecstatic to see the subject matter bound with photographs and ready to read.
The barbershop has for men of African decent been a respite from women, life's pressures, etiquette, censorship and sometimes reality for many years. This highly valued institution often serves the community as an outreach center, political platform, advice booth, stand-up comedy tryout club and therapist's couch. Craig Maybery has struck gold again with an enjoyable foray into the subtleties of African American culture. Like his book, "Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats" Mayberry gives the reader a clear insight into the passion Blacks have for their turn at at an American tradition. It was so refreshing to see an accurate view of the black barbershop which isn't exaggerated as in the films, Barbershop I and II or butchered like the Showtime adaptation "Barbershop"; (What a MESS!)
Using 49 short biographical stories the author gives us an authentic look into the motivations, tragedies, humor and passions of the men and women who cut and style the afro-american hair shaft. The portraits of these barbers are as they presented themselves to the author. They are human: Flawed, Dedicated, Unique and Proud.
The only disappointment I had in reading this book was not being able to find present-day photos of all of the subjects interviewed. I intend to give several of these books as gifts. A beautiful tribute to the men (or women) everyone needs and uses and takes for granted and noone wants to lose. Your barber.
Black Hair.......2005-08-04
If I have heard it once, I have heard it a thousand times: black people have a special relationship with their hair. In CUTTIN' UP, Craig Marberry has put together a collection of interesting vignettes that highlight black barber shops around the nation. The stories introduce us to all kinds of people, some barbers, some patrons, some famous, and some lesser known. Each passage includes relevant photographs, usually of the narrator. The book covers a myriad of issues and topics including haircuts as a rite of passage, civil rights and the barber shop, barber shop camaraderie, funny stories and superstitions. Some stories are humorous, others are sad and all are educational.
Marberry has put together a well-organized collection that will remind readers that the ordinary things in life like going to the barber shop for a shape up can have a meaningful impact on one's life. This is a book you can pick up again and again and find at least one or two passages that will speak to you. By sharing stories told by an assortment of contributors, the author highlights our cultural diversity. The accompanying photographs make the stories even more personal and some of them are worth a second, more thoughtful look on the basis of their pure artistry alone. CUTTIN' UP didn't move emotional mountains for me, but the passages did make me smile and leave me with a sense of warmth. (RAW Rating: 3.5)
Reviewed by Stacey Seay
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers
tight Book.......2005-06-27
the Barber Shop is the true Black CNN. go there&no matter what the topic you gonna get a Answer. you are gonna hear some of the Best Jokes&story Tellers that will have you ribs hurting. the Barber Shop is a School all unto itself.I ain't even got into the styles the Barbers will hook your Dome up with.everybody has there Favorite Barber as well.Sports,Music,Politics,Society issues,Enviroment Issues,Relationships,etc.... you get it all there&More.
Rising Interest.......2005-06-07
I'm excited to meet this author and hopefully get my book signed at the Printer's Row. I find men to so entertaining, and I always wanted to hang with them when I was little. I never could talk my father/brother/grandfather into letting me follow them to the barbershop and even when I got my tattoo, I was in the back. I was crazy about the first "Barbershop" movie (the 2nd one was cool too) and when I saw this book, I couldn't get my hands on it fast enough. I loved reading the stories about the male barbers facing bad haircuts, capping, crime, discrimination, the younger generation, fatherhood, manners and women. There was even some eye candy: Marcques Tatum, Jabreel Ali, Kola Olosunde, and Lennie Bosley. The beginning stories were a little dry, but it picked up tremendously towards the middle.
"The easy hum of men among men".......2005-05-11
Thanks to the popularity of a recent movie, Barbershop, the public's attention has focused on the central gathering place for black men, the local barbershop. In an oral history that covers every aspect of community life, Marberry gathers stories from across the country, from "Detroit to Orlando, Brooklyn to Houston". This small gem, complete with black and white photographs, captures the wit and wisdom of barbers and their patrons, including a very select few women barbers who wield their scissors on this sacred turf.
Albert Ghee, Jr., a customer, talks about Shorty, a midget with a shoe shine stand, who worked in the back of his uncle's barbershop in Farmville, Virginia. If you gave Shorty an extra dollar, he'd thump out tunes with his rag as he polished your shoes, "The Star Spangled Banner" or "Amazing Grace." But Albert never enjoyed Shorty's unique rhythms until he was thirteen-years old; boys had to be teenagers before they were allowed to partake of the barbershop ambiance.
Wheeler Parker, a barbershop owner, has a cautionary tale to share, a hard lesson forced upon young men in his day, white men terrorizing in the middle of the night. Parker wants more for the younger generation after all the suffering, all the lost opportunities of his youth. He wants them to remember his cousin's name, Emmett Till. "He had a short life. Fourteen years. But if we remember, then it wasn't a wasted life."
Betty Reece was the only other woman besides Clara Poke and forty men in barber school. Betty was so painfully shy that one of her instructors said she was "so slow, she would miss the boat and the bus". Betty never did overcome her shyness and sat all day waiting for customers, lacking the effusiveness to gather regular clients. Sometimes she never had a single customer: "Felt like I was watching hair grow." She quit the business but still has her license and may go back to barbering one day.
Omar Rasul is a barber who enjoys the camaraderie of the shop, always up for a few laughs, which he considers good therapy. He favors "cut down" sessions, where "you target a person's flaw and roll with it. It's all about making people bust out laughing." On the other hand, the Reverend John C. McClurkin, a customer, likens the barbershop to the dinner table, a forum for family members to share stories and fellowship. The shop enjoys a similar dynamic, "except nobody's trying to hide their vegetables".
There are a few barbershop rules: "comments must both entertain and enlighten, proverbs need punch lines and comedy needs a dose of the profound". This thoughtful and humorous collection offers a peek into the rarified world of the black barbershop, still as popular today as when it first began. There's a sound you can hear above the clip and buzz of scissors and clippers: "It's the easy hum of men among men." Luan Gaines/2005.
Books:
- The Bicycling Guide to Complete Bicycle Maintenance and Repair: For Road and Mountain Bikes(Expanded and Revised 5th Edition)
- The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World
- The Boy on Fairfield Street
- The Client (Limited Edition)
- The Ducati Story 4th Edition: Racing and Production models from 1945 to present day
- The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom
- The God of Small Things
- The Joke's Over: Bruised Memories: Gonzo, Hunter S. Thompson, and Me
- The Perfect Paragon (Agatha Raisin Mysteries)
- The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
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- Law of Attraction: The Science of Attracting More of What You Want and Less of What You Don't
- Little People And a Lost World: An Anthropological Mystery
- Living Time: Faith and Facts to Transform Your Cancer Journey
- The Florida Water Story: From Raindrops to the Sea
- Invisible Giants: The Empires of Cleveland's Van Sweringen Brothers
- What's It All About, Alfie
General
| Photography
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Portrait Photographer's Handbook
Master Lighting Guide for Portrait Photographers
Digital Wedding Photography: Capturing Beautiful Memories
The Portrait Photographer's Guide to Posing
Professional Posing Techniques for Wedding and Portrait Photographers
