Self 8x10 "Head Shot": tips?

[Arctic Fox]

I've a Canon PowerShot Pro1. I'm in need of professional looking head shots done for a talent agency. I can not afford to have someone do this, so I'll have to "shoot myself".

Can you fine people here share your opinions and experience with things like this and tell me what I can do to make this photo the best it can be? I really have no options but to do this myself with the camera I have - I'm a starving artist, you see.

BTW, I'm no where close to winning a beauty pageant, so I may also need those special (airbrushing) tips. :D

Thank you.

[newbie_photog]

Check out Model Mayhem it is a website that helps put models and photographers together. Some of the photogs do TFCD/TFP (Trade for CD, Trade for Print) Work. This would get you both your headshots and some experience working with a photographer. The photographer is likely to be inexperieced also but it would be better than trying to do self portraits which are extremely difficult even for experienced photographers.

Hope this helps
Jared

[Longwatcher]

I end up taking quite a few self-portraits for a class I took because it was the busy season for models and I was having trouble finding any for a couple of the assignments.

Granted I have higher-end equipment, but as long as your camera has a 10 second timer or a remote control ability and the ability to manually focus you can do it.

I usually set up a chair and dummy prop (doesn't have to be anything more then a point to focus on). The trick is figuring out where your head will be and then pointing and focusing the camera there.

Then press delay button and take the place of the prop, smile, viola!

For remote control it is easier because then you just have to point the camera, sit down, press release and viola!.

For more advanced self portraits add lighting to taste.

Just a simplified version of what I do.

BTW: I can also recommend Model Mayhem or One Model Place as sources for TFCD photographers, but you have to ask.

[Arctic Fox]

Thank you both for your help.

I just went to two talent agencies today and both said for me to get professional head shots done - of course they have their usual photographers. One quoted me at $290, the other at $600 ($300 down, 300 later, makeup/wardrobe changes included), both agencies wanted me to get photos turned in to them by the end of the week.

I have $32 in my bank account and I'm unemployed. :o

This sounds like they're trying to pull one over on me. Or should I consider pawning my car for this "Hollywood" opportunity?

[PhotosGuy]

quoted me at $290, the other at $600 For that amount of money, you can take a LOT of shots?
Unless you have a tripod & can put the lens on manual focus, you may have trouble getting your eyes sharp. I'd find a good spot right next to a window to use as side lighting & try some at f/11, see what you get, & work from there.
If/when you get one you really like, find someone in "RAW & PP" to help with the post processing.

[Arctic Fox]

How about something like these:

http://www.basestationzero.com/canon/HS1.jpg
.
http://www.basestationzero.com/canon/HS2.jpg
..
http://www.basestationzero.com/canon/HS3.jpg

[PhotosGuy]

How about something like these: "How about" what? They look OK, but I might go with a bit more contrast for a portfolio.
If you didn't take them & you want to show something that you haven't personally shot, you can just post a link to it. (C) issues?
IMAGE POSTING RULES (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=74718)

[Arctic Fox]

I'm not sure if I understand - I've PaintShop Pro for image editing, I did raise the brightness on these and changed the contrast a little, but not up to the point of it looking 'harsh'. Are you talking about that contrast or one one shot in a car the other in a dress? :D

These are my photos, I took them myself. © 25 February '07 - Yours Truly. Feel free to copy, edit, change, or make fun of... just don't try to make money off them (that's what I'm trying too do).

Legal enough? :cool:

[Longwatcher]

Thank you both for your help.

I just went to two talent agencies today and both said for me to get professional head shots done - of course they have their usual photographers. One quoted me at $290, the other at $600 ($300 down, 300 later, makeup/wardrobe changes included), both agencies wanted me to get photos turned in to them by the end of the week.

I have $32 in my bank account and I'm unemployed. :o

This sounds like they're trying to pull one over on me. Or should I consider pawning my car for this "Hollywood" opportunity?

The $260 is in the ball park for a professionally produced portfolio along with a couple of prints, the $600 seems a bit high, but depends on where. I am presuming large city in which case could be about right given a MUA (makeup artist) costs about $50 to $100 a look if they actually know what they are doing.

The price is based on reliability at producing those sets. For model portfolios at their convienence I charge $125/hour minimum 2 hours (which makes $250 ) and all they get from me is a guaruntee of 12 edited shots on a CD or DVD. (I have a cheaper rate for models that I want to shoot )

Remember we have to pay for the camera and lens (think about how much an 85/1.2 costs for starters ).

[PhotosGuy]

I did raise the brightness on these and changed the contrast a little, but not up to the point of it looking 'harsh'. Have you calibrated your monitor? I'm not seeing a much black in those &, for a portfolio shot, I'd expect something with more "grit"? These have a full range of tones, which is good, but not what I'd expect to see in a 16X20" print.

How do you calibrate your monitor?
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=196318
Monitor Calibration
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=158158

[Arctic Fox]

Are you using Arctic Fox2 _HS2.jpg (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=150891&d=1172607118) as an example of what it should look like, because that's what it looked like before I brightened it up in PSP. LOL! Those three I had saved at 300dpi and printed as 8x10's as I wanted something to give to the agent when I stopped by today...

Could you explain what "grit" is?

I don't have a calibration thing - I've seen the tests: does "0" look the same as "10"... I've a ViewSonic 19" and all the colors/shades are seperate when compared in those tests.

[PhotosGuy]

I wanted something to give to the agent when I stopped by today... In that case, don't listen to us, listen to him. ;)

[Arctic Fox]

She was in a different meeting. :confused:

[PhotosGuy]

She was... Him, her, them... ;)

Model Confessions: How I was Scammed by a Model Agency!!! (http://www.bobpardue.com/articles/model-scams.htm)
Copyrighted & Presented by Bob Pardue

[Arctic Fox]

:)

It's interesting that you would post that link... I'm looking at a "Model and Talent" site right now that is showing pictures that look like a bad cut-n-paste job, and one showing Anna Nicole, but somehow I'm not getting a good feeling about this. Scammer?