" Portrait photographers are powerful people. For a given period they own their subject and that fact carries great responsibility whether the subjects are VIPs or just regular humans. Brian Smith takes us through the subtleties and on past the hard-core practicalities of portrait photography of the famous and infamous. His observations and instructions in this fine book define and serve the art of the photo portrait. Any photographer who has digested The Secrets of Great Portrait Photography will be sure to wield his or her power with knowledge and judgment.” – Elliott Erwitt, Magnum Photographer and Legend “ The same humor and enthusiasm that has made Brian Smith a popular speaker can be found here in his insider anecdotes about photographing celebrities on assignment. He gives clear explanations of all the techniques, from the elegantly simple to the technically sophisticated, that have helped him solve the problems every pro encounters:  Shy or busy subjects, not so gorgeous locations, less than perfect lighting conditions, the need to tell a big story in a single frame.  Alongside each assignment, he provides the definition of each professional tool he uses, and thanks to the book’s handy design, these informative details never interrupt the flow of a good story. ” – Holly Stuart Hughes, Editor in Chief, Photo District News " Brian Smith demonstrates on every page of this terrific book that the real secrets of great portrait