You too can become one of the top photographers in the country, right here on-line at PortraNET!

Just a few of the unsolicited comments from our members!
(It's been said you can't please all the people all the time - but so far we haven't had one person who isn't thrilled.)

11-12-03 - public reply from Wendy ( Total Beginner to professional Portraiture)

Thank You! Thank You! I am so excited I could burst! I am so 100% honest with you Ron. I found Zuga around the time I picked up my 10D back in May. I have lurked there daily since - filtering through all the threads. Trying to figure out what it takes to make an awesome portrait - not just ok or good - but awesome! I always loved the portraits you posted. And with the reaction you caused from some - I knew right away that this guy knows what he is doing.

I wanted to know the inside scoop BEFORE I went out and purchased anything more then my Camera and Tripod. PortraNet was just the answer. So, yes, I am brand new to this. And what I have learned is - from the PortraNet threads and PortraNet videos. The videos in combination with the threads are just the very best. I made a laminated cheat sheet I can refer to with the basic poses. This should allow me to memorize them more quickly.

10-11-03
Well, I am impressed. But coming from a music background, I know when something is just ordinary and when something has hit that "sweet spot" target. I've liked your work since I first saw it and am similar to that guy that has just about stalked you. I didn't go that far, but I do have a "Ron Kramer" folder on my computer with over 120 pictures in it. I have studied them and gotten close, but no cigar. I believe you will put it all together for me and so far it looks very promising.

When someone is as talented as you Ron, after you reach where you want to be and have received tons of praise and can make money easily, if you are the least bit normal you reach a point where you want to teach others how to achieve and how to succeed. I knew that was in you by reading the posts you have made through the last few years. What I really have to hand to you is, just like your ability to make "wow" pictures, you found a vehicle that is typical "Ron Kramer" to share your knowledge. I am pleased you are teaching this and getting paid for what you know. But I think the whole concept of this forum is ground breaking and just as awesome and at the same level of uniqueness as your photography. I am just as tickled by this web site and it's content as I am with the photographic techniques I will be learning. I think you invented another wonder of the internet.

I am into the stock market, or some parts of it, and there are people who make a living going around selling seminars that they teach. If they ever got a hold of the uniqueness of this concept it would propel them into really ugly amounts of money - lol.

Anyway, here's a sound bite:

"I've been reading and soaking in a lot of information on your instructional web site. It's simply fantastic - the term "best thing since sliced bread" actually applies here. For the pro, a lot of the information is already in his head but never put together properly. Portranet can take what you know, add that extra pizazz and take your photography to levels that didn't seem possible. When the information & technology is put together in the right order the results rocket you from an ordinary city photographer who takes pictures, to a super photographer that is head and shoulders above what "the guy down the street" is offering. Worth 5 times the price! No wonder everyone is talking about this on so many forums around the internet. In fact, Ron, you made this place a whole new "wonder of the internet".

Warmest regards, and here's to me getting started. There's actually more to my story that I will tell you later.

~Pete Gregg

Message from Rob in reply to Paul's question about his recent portrait submissions:

Hi Paul, I use the same vignette as Ron uses on my 10D, loaded with ND material, and a squareish oval cut of the center just as Ron has described here on PortraNET.

If I crop a picture tighter later on then I planned when I took the shot I do what Ron has taught for PS vignetting, but only if I crop later. Normally all I do is crop in camera, levels, saturation, dodge (if needed but not usually, levels usually brings all that out), burn (again if needed) and of course along the way I remove acne. What’s really cool I have found is that sometimes I don't think the vignette is really doing much until I adjust the middle slider in levels, then it just burns in real nice. Anyway that's probably more info than you wanted, sorry, I just love talking about all this stuff Ron has taught me.

9-25-03

Chris and his wife are teachers by profession and are learning to get advance more in portraiture.

I wanted to give my images some extra "kick" and liked the "kick" Ron has been using. I am impressed with the online educational setup (realize the large investment of time) and am looking forward to learning from Ron.

Chris, Mr. Foto

One of Chris's portraits after a few months on PortraNet...

Curtis, a VERY good pro-portrait photographer, asked us if PortraNet can offer him anything. We said certainly! - but we want everyone to be thrilled, so we recommended he email a few of our members and ask them first. He emailed someone he knew from another forum (Allan) and Allan recommended us highly. A few days after Curtis joined, Allan checked with him - asking what he thought? The following is his reply to Allan, which he also forwarded to us.

9-17-03 from Curtis to Allan and Ron:

Allan asked me what I thought so far and I thought you would be interested as well:

"Love it! I think just being able to see Ron's work inspires me to try harder and do better knowing that it is attainable. I like the encyclopedia structure where I can dip into a subject I am interested in at the moment and come back to the other stuff later on. I have only seen the retouching video and will look at the others as time allows.

I knew it would be worthwhile but this is the first time where I have time to actually start browsing. Ron is an exceptional educator in my opinion and I think the fact that people here are serious students inspires him to teach all he knows. It's a win/win situation."

9-16-03

Hi Ron,
I have been wandering around the site, this is great. I am awed by the content, I just don't know were to start. I have been reading your posts on zuga for quite awhile and am very excited to be on portranet. Thank you for putting together a great learning resource.

Dee

Ron,

You have already saved me the money it cost to join PortraNet!

Becky Howrigon

9-15-03

Your business acumen speaks for itself and your prowess as a business
consultant is I think invaluable and is what would be the most value to me
from PortraNet. The lighting and posing is definitely a strong element in
the mix and it is unusual to find someone who can teach both.

Curtis Cleaves

9-10-03 (A new member comments after his first look around)

Ron,

WOW! I knew there would be a lot of good instructional info on Portra Net.. but WOW. I have browsed over a few threads from here at work and my head is still buzzing.

I have had more ideas run through my head after looking at some of your setup shots than any photography book I own.

I really believe that what you offer here is better than a two year Associate Degree course in photography that is offered at most community colleges.

I guess you could divide my many years of photography experience into two parts, before Portra Net and after Portra Net. And I know the latter part will be more rewarding.

Thank You,

Paul Lane
Smoky Mountain Studio

Angie's work before PortraNet...

8-26-03 Angie had signed up for a photography College class when she found PortraNet. She was able to drop the class and get her money back and joined us. 20 minutes later she sent us the following message below...

WOW!!! I have only gone into Outdoor lighting and I am so excited. I learned more in ten minutes then I have ever learned from any instructional book. I am so excited to dig deeper and try to take notes to retain all this. I will be shooting a session on Sunday some outdoors and some indoors - Thank you for doing this -it is such a small price to pay for where your going to take me professionally! - I thank you. Take care Angie

Angie's work improvement only 1 week of learning on PortraNet! - Great job Angie

Another of Angie's shots!

8-17-03

Ron,

Thanks a BUNCH for your last Painter lesson - "Painting in Painter, Best Kept Secret Revealed". This kind of stuff keeps me fired up about this forum. I am still amazed at the amount of work you put into these lessons.

Allan

8-13-03 (comment from a member)

I love your stuff and I'm hoping that you really enjoy teaching because I'm
already looking forward to the second year.

Montie Wren

(Comment to us from a member)

4/9/03
Ron,

It's only been about a week since this whole project got started and I must say it's the best thing that I've come across to date to help me advance my photography career. And, it can only get better as it develops. I've been following your posts on several forums over the last year or two, but the personal attention here can't be beat. Over the years I've bought into a whole bunch of seminars, books, videos, school, and even working for another pro -- none of which compare to the kind of education we're getting here. (The pro used me only as a "gopher" and had no intention of sharing his expertise with someone who may take business from him later.) It was all somewhat disillusioning and partially why I left photography and entered the corporate world. Now that I'm ready to return to what I really should have done a long time ago, I can't thank you enough for sharing your knowledge and helping us to minimize the mistakes that we undoubtedly would have made on our own -- even with the seminars and black/white/gray panel things.

I've never been more excited about my potential as a working pro photographer and if my work approaches the quality of yours even a little bit, I know I can be successful. I'm looking forward to all the good stuff that will come our way over the next 51 weeks.

Thank You!
Bob

(comment to us from a member)

4/17/03

Ron,
I have already seen that this will be the most valuable learning experience I have ever encountered in my quest to become a better photographer and businessman. I have read many books on topics ranging from lighting to posing, but I have yet to read anyone's publications that make the art of portraiture as clear as you do. Your ability to clearly convey thoughts and ideas concerning photography in plain English far exceeds my expectations.
Living in a small town, I do not have access to a formal education in photography. Additionally, there are only three successful photographers in this area so competition is very stiff. Therefore, it is all but impossible to gain knowledge from them as they are very cautious about sharing proprietary information. Thank you for being so forthcoming with all the knowledge you have gained over your career. I have no doubt that with your help, my career as a photographer is going to be an immense success.

P. Hutchinson

(comment to us from a member)

Ron,
You are a great communicator!
Tom

(A member replies to another person in another forum)

I am a member and can tell you the information Ron has shared with us in the first week has far exceeded what I learned over a year on public forums. Well worth the money!

(A member replies to another person in another forum)

Jimmy,
I have been a member of Ron's forum since a few days after it started. Just as he said, the PS instructions he has shared so far includes a detailed step by step guide for enhancing one of his pics. He posted the original image and gave detailed instructions with screen shots of the PS windows as he worked the image over. I downloaded the image to my computer and followed along with the instructions without any problems. This is only one of the PS processes he laid out for us so far. There is more and more being added everyday and everything we have asked for he has shared and more! You wouldn't believe all the other stuff that he has in there (videos of sessions, trade secrets in the form of marketing strategies, etc.) That forum is a gold mine! I am not an accomplished portrait photographer yet as I have mostly done event/volume work up to this point, but I can guarantee you that within a year I will be posting shots on here that will make you think I have been doing portraits for years. The personal interaction and advice is worth the price of admission in my opinion.

Cheers,
Patrick

Above: Patrick's shot 1 week after joining in April.

09-21-03

Left: A shot of Patricks work now... Only five months after working with Ron on PortraNet!.

Ron:

I find nothing more rewarding and gratifying then seeing the advancement and progression of my PortraNet students. I find their fast improvement nothing short of astounding.

(A clip from a post of a member.)

I love to hear when someone really likes a picture of themselves. And I am obsessed with producing the best I can. I am self-taught, meaning I attended no formal photo school. I have attended many seminars and belong to the local chapter of the PPA. I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed and have trouble learning something until I have actually done it myself, at least three or four times. Then it becomes mine. But I first must know if what I do is the best way to achieve the image I have in mind. Having Ron here for coaching and feedback I find is invaluable in this respect. This venture has already paid for itself in my eyes.

Tommy

(A clip from a post of a member.)

I have a studio in the large front room of my house. I would love to improve and get the wow factor which is the reason I'm here. I would also like to do more portraits and grow my business. I've absorbed so much here, It's just great.

Julie G.

(A member post to another forum)

As an addition to the above post. I have joined Ron's PortraNet forum and all I can say is......it a great big "Oh Boy Good" for what he is sharing on this new forum. He has really pulled the plug on his teaching techniques. His videos are really outstanding, because instead of just reading his teaching techniques, we are able to actually see how he sets up for each image. Very educational.....Very, very, very educational!! Well worth the price of admission. The only problem is the guy never sleeps or he is doing all this while he sleeps. I don't see how he gets anything else done, as there is always new stuff every time I log on.

Allan Sicks

Those who say they can't afford it, or it's to steep are the ones that need it the most!

Ron, on the folks that think it's is too expensive - they're 100% wrong! In fact, when PortraNET first started someone on Jon's forum wished you luck but indicated that it was "too steep" for him. My thought at that time was that anyone who was really serious about expanding their photography career could not afford to pass it up. The "entrance fee" is a fraction of the potential return. This has been just great and can only get better. Everyone I've talked to about it thinks it's a wonderful idea. What better way to have a personal mentor at such an affordable cost. And that's exactly how I look at it. Your individual attention to our needs can't be beat. No video or book can hold a candle to this method of learning.

Bob Simons

A comment to us a day after he joined and viewed what PortraNet offers...

5/23/03

Hi Ron,

Greatly enjoying my new membership. I can honestly say I've learned more here about lighting and posing (haven't gotten to the other stuff yet) in the last 24 hours then I thought was possible.

I'm very pleased I decided to join. It's clear that you are just as committed to delivering a great product in this forum as you are in your photography. Thanks very much for sharing. It is greatly appreciated.

Ralph Cruz

The following shot was submitted 1 week later!
This is how fast our members learn on PortraNet! Outstanding Ralph!

A message to all members in reply to a recent retouching tutorial by Ron...

5/29/2003

AWESOME!!!!
This is it folks. We are very very lucky to be getting this information the way were getting it. This is the stuff that turns ho hum into ..wow... I really like this instruction, this is the stuff that will separate us from the rest of the pack. The post of the business portrait was excellent too. I am trying to soak up as much of this as I can and practice, practice, with it.

Thanks!!
Joel Poston - http://www.joelpostonphotography.com

A message to all members in reply to a recent retouching tutorial by Ron...

I second all the other opinions about this lesson, AWESOME. I have had exchanges with people about PortraNet and all they ever care about is, "How much?" I try to tell them, you can't learn these practical ways to use the tools you have from a book. The only way to really understand it is to see it done. Well, unless you have a top-notch photographer in your town willing to share knowledge with the competition, then this is the absolute best thing going. I look at it like this...I am going to start a Master of Science degree program early next year and the classes will cost me about $1000 each not including books. These classes will be about 2.5 months long. That equates to $13.33 per day to learn some things that I will probably not use very often. PortraNet is only $2.07 per day for the opportunity to pick Ron's brain for an entire year! Plus the return on my money will surely be much higher through PortraNet. I have almost given up trying to explain this to people. Anyway, keep up the good work Ron. I am really looking forward to senior season.

Patrick

A message to all on PortraNet 6/2/03... 3 days after joining.

I read an article in a Disney magazine by one of their photographers on how to take better pictures of your family. With that article, I discovered my passion, and ever since that time, almost all of my free time has been spent in studying photography, (I think I own the entire Amherst Media library). Honestly though, I've been exposed to more useful information in the last 3 days looking at this site than in all of those books combined.

Mike Stiles

Ron,

I have been using photoshop almost every day for the last year. I thought I knew how to do most things, but watching your video showed me how do what I wanted to do in a fraction of the time. After seeing how you took the yellow cast out of teeth, I felt like an idiot over how I have been doing this. I went back to a shot that I probably spent 10 min on last year, and fixed it with your method in about 10 seconds. Your way also produced better results.

Your other retouching also showed me a ton of stuff that I'll use from now on. Just keep bombarding us with information. If we are quiet, it's just because were processing what you have given us.

Mike

A message posted in a members project folder with some images.... only ONE WEEK after he joined and used PortraNet!

Ron,
I can't tell you how excited I am with this forum. I truly feel my photography has advanced more in the last week than in the previous six months. Here are 3 images from a session I did today. I know I still have a long ways to go but, thanks to you, these images are a dramatic improvement over what I was doing just a short while ago. Any and all feedback and suggested improvements are greatly appreciated.

Ralph

This is just a couple of Ralph's images! - You're learning quickly! - Great job Ralph!

June 15th 03

My head is buzzing with all this great information. The individual attention in PortraNet looks like much more than I expected and I have just scratched the surface!

David Hay

June 16th 03

Ron,
Thanks for the welcome...
I need help in all areas, but I want to concentrate mainly on senior portraiture. I have been looking at your posing posts and videos and I'm learning so much already!
I'm very excited about being involved in PortraNET and I want to learn everything I can. In my opinion, you're the best -
and I want to learn from the best.
Thanks for your time, Ron.

Debbie

7-27-03

Thanks for the info on screen adjustment, but I ended up driving to the studio (about 2 miles) to use my Dell PC, and DSL. Its much faster...
Anyway, I have just been looking around and wanted to let you know that:

WOW!!!! I am impressed. I already got my moneys worth in the first hour!!! The lighting instruction so far is the best for me!! And Senior set ups gave me some fresh ideas to try out. There is sooooo much, that I can't look at it all tonight, but I did want to let you know my first hour impression.... and it ROCKS!!!

Like I said, I want to take my senior photography business to the next level, and now I know that I have found the right person to coach me there!!!
Thanks for sharing your gifts with us.....
more later,
Kathy Kellebrew

8-7-03

I am probably repeating other students questions, but I also feel that my grasp of lighting is improving by just reading all the posts. This is way more 'real world' than other sites. I can see my next purchases are going to be reflectors and reflector panels.

Craig Murphy

8-10-03

"Montie Wren" submits this self portrait test after reading PortraNet's info on how to pose and light a traditional basic portrait. WAY TO GO MONTIE! This was shot in his GARAGE! We have a special topic on "garage portraiture" ;-)

8-10-03

Bob Simons has read the posing and light of traditional basic female posing... he has been practicing in his living room by posing and lighting a doll. (seriously! - and it has worked great). This is his first real female attempt. What you do think? A little room for improvement, but these folks are becoming the CREAM OF THE CROP of pro photographers! Awesome Job Bob!

Newbie Rob Lewis of Jackson MI. submits his first (but poor) portrait attempt a few days after joining.
He has the basic setup completed, but needs improvement...

Five months later - WOW Rob - you've come a long way in only a few weeks!

Rob has gone from house painter to used car salesmen to Professional photographer in only a few months on PortraNet! We create TOP PORTRAIT ARTISTS online!

We have members of all levels. David joined us after reading about PortraNet on PhotoSIG. He said he's a total amateur, but obviously is serious about learning portraiture. He's starting with the very basics... lighting and the basic head and shoulder poses. Here are two of his after only a few weeks on PortraNet. Congratulations Dave!

8-24-03 from R. Simons

Ron,

It must make you feel great to see how your "students" are beginning to put the "stuff" we're learning here to good use. The latest posts by David Hay and Rob Lewis are a clear indication that this method of coaching works.

Rob should be very pleased with his latest results. He's been so frustrated with his past attempts, but seems to be on the right track now. I sent him a PM congratulating him and he said that he was amazed that someone looking at these shots has cancelled a portrait session with someone else because they thought his were so much better.

8-25-03

Hey Ron I just wanted to say Thank You.
Thank You for the wonderful teaching you've done here on PortraNET. Thank You for so selflessly giving us so much of your time and energy. Even though you are getting paid to do this site, you are giving us something that no price of any amount could ever really pay for. You have lived a life that has brought you to the level of expertise you have in portrait photography and none of us could ever duplicate it, at ANY price. What I have learned from you and the results of the life you've lived have has given me more then my own abilities could have ever given me. Sometimes I think you're crazy for sharing what you share with us here on PortraNET, and I am convinced you could never give as you have simply for the right amount of money, you are sharing your life's ambition with us.

So even though it is not near the words needed to express my gratitude! THANK YOU for bringing me further than I could have ever gotten on my own!

Rob Lewis

ANOTHER New member comment a couple days after joining

8-28-03

Hi Ron- I've been looking over the site the last few days and I think it is great. Posing is what I am most uncomfortable with, so I have been reading and rereading those sections alot. Your explanations are very clear and make things very easy to understand. I'm excited about trying out what I have learned and getting some photos to you to critique.

Micheal

A comment about possibly adding other top photographers to PortraNet instructors list.

Ron,
Your level of instruction with both your "still" images and your videos would be hard to beat. Your commitment to this site and to teaching your style of photography has been top notch, and well worth the price of admission. For me, it has been the most worthwhile photographic learning experience I have ever had, and I've been doing this over 40 years.

A. Sicks

Ron, Thank you so much. I have saved $810.00 on your recommendation, over using window film!

Chang Hong

9-20-03
A recent portrait done by Kent, after learning on PortraNet for a few months. Fabulous Kent!

9-20-03 excerpt from a private msg from Allan Sicks to Ron:

... My problem is.......you have totally corrupted me with all your great videos, lessons, etc and I am more excited about this thing we call a business than ever before.

I told Montie of an experience last fall when you were doing the Professional Portrait Exchange and you were telling and showing about the use of the reflectors. Telling us not to use a second light for fill, and telling us to use the reflectors for fill, and how hard it was for me to give up the second light. Now I don't use that 2nd light anymore.......except maybe for a large family group. I look at what we are now getting and what we used to get and .....WOW I just want to say thanks again. You have given so much, and it is appreciated.

Close this window to return to menu