Corporate portrait lighting questions

[Seanzky]

Last time I asked for advice on which background to buy for a corporate portrait shoot and you guys helped me out so much! Thanks!!!

I finished the shoot today and I think it was pretty successful. The people I shot were happy and they had fun and it didn't take longer than it had to.

I'm sharing the results since I feel like your suggestions helped me pull this off but also at the same time, I would like you guys to critique my work so I can improve in the future shoot. (I have another shoot scheduled for early next year.)

Here they are:
http://seanzky.com/misc/corp_portraits/Elvis.jpg

http://seanzky.com/misc/corp_portraits/Jaggayra.jpg

http://seanzky.com/misc/corp_portraits/Chi-Yu.jpg

http://seanzky.com/misc/corp_portraits/Jason.jpg

http://seanzky.com/misc/corp_portraits/Gabriela.jpg

Please don't hold back on your comments. I'm not the type who gets angry if you say my work sucks. I'm all about improving my skills. Seriously. :)

[Seanzky]

Also, I shot these at 1/250 and f/6.3, I believe. I'm wondering why I see the shutter to the right. And another thing, the quality of the pictures look crappy here and on my website but not on the computer. I'm looking at both side by side and there's a huge difference in quality and color.

[dmward]

The shutter shadow is because you overran the sync speed a bit. The camera may have a 1/250 sync speed but there is a bit of lag introduced by the radio protocol conversion process. Even though the RF 602 claims to be capable of 1/250 it appears to be a bit slower than that.

As for the poor quality for web viewing that has everything to do with sizing and sharpening.
What are you using to get the images ready for export to web? If its CS3/4 you need to size, convert to a web "safe" color space and then also do output sharpening for screen viewing at that size.

If you're using Lightroom its an easier process but still requires attention to detail for the final use.

As for the images, the lighting looks rather featureless. (flat). Looks like you may have had two lights, each about the same angle relative to the lens axis. I would like it better if one light were used as a key light say 45 degrees off axis and up maybe 45 degrees, with the second light right next to the lens axis to provide a nice 1:3 ratio. Also, the hightlights imply that the lights are kind of far from the subject. Closer is better, nice wrap around the face without the "bright" highlights on ckeeks, forehead and bridge of nose.

[Heap64]

Did you shoot these in ETTL or manual mode? They look pretty good, but you will find if you are shoot a lot of images in the same setting that if you use manual mode, you can save yourself a lot of post processing time later. Since every image would most likely be exposed the same.

I would probably touch up the second catch-light in the eyes if it was me, but others may not care.

If you can add a hair light or background flash it might help a little bit with separation from the background.

I would agree with David on his suggestion on setting up the flash locations for this type of shot.

Good start Sean, each time will get easier!

[Seanzky]

The shutter shadow is because you overran the sync speed a bit. The camera may have a 1/250 sync speed but there is a bit of lag introduced by the radio protocol conversion process. Even though the RF 602 claims to be capable of 1/250 it appears to be a bit slower than that.

Excellent point! I hadn't thought of that. Thank you.

As for the poor quality for web viewing that has everything to do with sizing and sharpening.
What are you using to get the images ready for export to web? If its CS3/4 you need to size, convert to a web "safe" color space and then also do output sharpening for screen viewing at that size.

If you're using Lightroom its an easier process but still requires attention to detail for the final use.

I use LR and I always export the same way I've always done with all my photos. Any reason why these look odd? A theory I thought of too late (after I've left the office) is that my monitors aren't calibrated! Could that be a factor, too?

As for the images, the lighting looks rather featureless. (flat). Looks like you may have had two lights, each about the same angle relative to the lens axis. I would like it better if one light were used as a key light say 45 degrees off axis and up maybe 45 degrees, with the second light right next to the lens axis to provide a nice 1:3 ratio. Also, the hightlights imply that the lights are kind of far from the subject. Closer is better, nice wrap around the face without the "bright" highlights on ckeeks, forehead and bridge of nose.

My jaw just dropped. You've nailed it right on the head. Lol. I did use two lights, far from the subject, and with similar angles relative to the lens axis. Thanks so much for bringing this to my attention. I will play with the set up you're suggesting so that I can be ready for the next portrait session.

[Seanzky]

Did you shoot these in ETTL or manual mode? They look pretty good, but you will find if you are shoot a lot of images in the same setting that if you use manual mode, you can save yourself a lot of post processing time later. Since every image would most likely be exposed the same.

I would probably touch up the second catch-light in the eyes if it was me, but others may not care.

If you can add a hair light or background flash it might help a little bit with separation from the background.

I would agree with David on his suggestion on setting up the flash locations for this type of shot.

Good start Sean, each time will get easier!

I shot these in manual with two AB B800s. I also worried that the catch light in the eyes would be "crowded." I figured it would be irrelevant once resized to 135px x 203px for web use. As for the hair light and background light, I totally agree with what you're saying. I don't want the hair of my subjects to look like it's part of the background. I have one problem, though. I will be shooting a few who are bald. Any idea what I can do without making their head shiny?

Thanks so much for your input, James & David!!!

[Seanzky]

Also, I'll pay attention to the shutter shadow and probably try 1/200th. It shouldn't make a difference if the conference room I'm shooting at is relatively dark, right?

[40Dude6aedyk]

I don't like the double catch-lights in the eyes.

I don't like the catch-lights in the teeth and would post-process them away

I don't care that the lighting is "flat". I've seen too many ridiculously "unflat" portraits which don't do the subject any good at all. After all, a web portrait is not meant to be artsy. It's meant to let folks at the web site connect a face to a voice or to help make them seem familiar when you meet them the first time.

If one shoulder is in the portrait, then the other one should be as well. Or in other words, if you slice off a bit of the shoulder, you should try to do it symmetrically on both sides.

All these folks have dark hair and your background is darkest at the top, so there is not as much separation as I would like to see.

[Seanzky]

I don't like the double catch-lights in the eyes.

I don't like the catch-lights in the teeth and would post-process them away

I don't care that the lighting is "flat". I've seen too many ridiculously "unflat" portraits which don't do the subject any good at all. After all, a web portrait is not meant to be artsy. It's meant to let folks at the web site connect a face to a voice or to help make them seem familiar when you meet them the first time.

If one shoulder is in the portrait, then the other one should be as well. Or in other words, if you slice off a bit of the shoulder, you should try to do it symmetrically on both sides.

All these folks have dark hair and your background is darkest at the top, so there is not as much separation as I would like to see.

Gotcha. So I should at least light the background to create that separation and not necessarily put a hair light on my subjects. Also, the symmetry thing, I caught that too late. I think you're talking about the third picture. Thanks! Very helpful pointers.

[TMR Design]

For this type of corporate shot I wouldn't use a hair light. Use a background light to create the separation. The shots are pretty good considering this was your first attempt.

Regarding the people being happy and having a good time.... er.. umm, the first guy doesn't look happy or like he's having a good time. :confused:

[Seanzky]

For this type of corporate shot I wouldn't use a hair light. Use a background light to create the separation. The shots are pretty good considering this was your first attempt.

Regarding the people being happy and having a good time.... er.. umm, the first guy doesn't look happy or like he's having a good time. :confused:

Haha. The first two are my friends at work. They were my guinea pigs. I took those after I set everything up so I knew where I would stand the attorneys.

Speaking of the first guy, his name here on POTN is "elvizle". He really wanted me to take down that picture. Hahaha.

And thanks, Rob. You really helped me out preparing for this.