Olivier Ciappa
Portrait and documentary picture-making
Patient light, and the people standing in it
Guides on lighting, editing and gear for photographs of people — written for portrait and documentary shooters, and for anyone who likes looking at a picture closely.
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Latest guides
How to Use Zebras and Focus Peaking for Portraits (2026)
Learn how to use zebras and focus peaking for portraits to judge focus, protect facial highlights, and shoot sharper, more consistent images…
How to Check a Lens for Back Focus at Home (October 2026)
Learn how to check a lens for back focus in using a slanted test target, magnified Live View and autofocus, plus how…
How to Calibrate Autofocus on Your Camera (2026) Guide
How to calibrate autofocus on your camera in six practical steps: set up a focus target, shoot a test bracket, read the…
How to Clean a Camera Sensor at Home (October 2026)
How to clean a camera sensor at home safely in : the right tools, swab sizes by sensor format, a careful step-by-step…
Depth of Field Explained for Portrait Photographers (2026)
Learn depth of field explained for portrait photographers: aperture, focal length, distance, and focus techniques for sharper, more natural portraits.
How to Use Lens Compression in Portraits: Pro Tips (2026)
Learn how to use lens compression in portraits in : pick the right focal length, work out your shooting distance, keep the…
What Aperture to Use for Group Photos (2026) Guide
What aperture to use for group photos? Get practical f-stop ranges for group sizes, lighting conditions, and priorities like sharpness or background…
Why Do Portraits Look Better at 85mm? (2026 Portrait Tips)
Photography guide: why do portraits look better at 85mm? Distance, perspective, compression and depth of field, plus working distances and settings in…
2026: How to Use a Wide Angle Lens for Portraits Without Distortion
How to use a wide angle lens for portraits without distortion in : choose the focal length, keep the camera at eye…
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Before the shutter opens
Consent, light and honest editing
The sitter is a collaborator
Every guide here assumes the person in the frame knows what the picture is for and can say no to it.
Light you can actually find
Setups are described with windows, one lamp and a bounce card first, so the method survives a room without a studio in it.
Editing that keeps the face
Retouching advice stops where a likeness starts to change, because a smoother picture is not a truer one.
About
What this site is for
This is a reading room for people-focused photography: lighting, editing, gear and project notes, written plainly and starting with portrait and documentary work. It is meant to be useful on a shoot day, which is why the guides stay specific and the pictures stay the point.