How can I improve these business head shots for next time?

[GregSteer]

Afternoon All,

I offered to shoot the head shots for work recently as the boss needed one for a newsletter - they've never had any done before for promo material etc. We're only a small company - 5 people - so not a massive task and I've got plenty of time / opportunity to reshoot etc if I muck up.

I did the bosses first as he needed one asap and it was the first time I've shot with a deliberate intention / idea of a setup.

First off all let me say that one thing I know I need to improve is communication to the subject, I kinda stop talking when I'm behind the camera, very odd considering my day job is mostly spent on the phone talking to and supporting people.

Just two pictures below that I'll describe and hope people can point out my mistakes and places to improve:

#1 - Indoors - Subject was approx 8 ft from the rear wall, waist level to ceiling window to subject left (looking at the subject) acting as, er keylight (that's the right term I think), OCF to camera right bouncing slightly off of foam ceiling boards and the built in bounce card, assistant with reflector filling in under the chin (too much I discovered) - I only have a tripod acting as a flash mount atm so couldn't raise it much above eye level, hence the bouncing.



#2 - Outdoors - Sun was behind the subject to the upper right hidden by the trees, reflecting of a almost white wall to camera left. Assistant to the right with a reflector filling in abit more from camera right.

[mike_311]

post processing.

stay out of the sun, he is squinting in #2.

[arich]

I didn't read any of your descriptions because I wanted to just give you my pure reactions to the shots, so I apologize if I point something out you already listed.

1) too much light from below, this isn't a glamor/beauty shot, you don't really need an under-chin reflector. Looks your light on camera left needs to be raised up more and aimed down, use whatever reflector you had under the chin to fill in on the opposite side. Maybe have him tilt the top of his head slightly towards your main light.

2) Shoulders turned too much, he's squinting, don't shoot him in direct sunlight. shoot in the shade and fill in with your flash.

[GregSteer]

Thanks both for the comments.

For reference he was standing in the shade, the sun was behind the trees that you can see behind him, must have sensitive eyes.

Noted on the too much light from below arich.

Originally Posted by mike_311

post processing.

Care to elaborate a bit more?

[mike_311]

Originally Posted by GregSteer

Care to elaborate a bit more?

you had image editing OK, so i took the liberty, hope you dont mind.

removed the blemish on his forehead and freckle on his chin, some very very slight skin smoothing and whitened the teeth, also burned the eyebrows. took me longer to import and export the image to lightroom.

the lighting is very, very good btw.

[GregSteer]

Thanks for replying Mike.

It's interesting how we shared similar thought processes.

I had removed that forehead blemish and whitened the teeth further but I returned it and dropped the whiteness slightly - my boss is more of "natural look" person - I agree that it does improve it though and I hadn't touched the chin mole for that reason.

I'll be a bit more aggressive next time

[j-mar]

I could be wrong and I'm a total newb, but isn't the traditional "masculine" pose opposite to how the subject is posed in both images? Ie masculine pose = head tilted towards far or lower shoulder? There's just something slightly off about the subject's pose, at least to my eye. Again I'm a total newb so could be wrong.

Lighting/photographically - Great job!

[GregSteer]

Originally Posted by j-mar

I could be wrong and I'm a total newb, but isn't the traditional "masculine" pose opposite to how the subject is posed in both images? Ie masculine pose = head tilted towards far or lower shoulder? There's just something slightly off about the subject's pose, at least to my eye. Again I'm a total newb so could be wrong.

Lighting/photographically - Great job!

I truly have no idea, my previous experience is candids and monkies/baboons at zoos

[mike_311]

you can get a natural look without going crazy. people need either makeup or photoshop to look their best in pictures, even if they say otherwise.

there is nothing wrong with removing serious flaws in a subject so long as it still looks like them. i always apply skin smoothing, just not nearly as heavy for males, it makes them look younger. I have even added a missing tooth to a client once!

i also be curious to hear your lighting setup.

[Wallace River]

Something I always have to say when taking such shots of men - "Forehead down, chin out..." It sounds hard but achieves a better head angle. I think your boss could have benefited from these instructions - But I garee, great light, etc. on this one.

[GregSteer]

Originally Posted by mike_311

i also be curious to hear your lighting setup.

Details are above the photos:

#1 - Indoors - Subject was approx 8 ft from the rear wall, waist level to ceiling window to subject left (looking at the subject) acting as, er, keylight (that's the right term I think), OCF to camera right bouncing slightly off of foam ceiling boards and the built in bounce card, assistant with reflector filling in under the chin (too much I discovered) - I only have a tripod acting as a flash mount atm so couldn't raise it much above eye level, hence the bouncing.

#2 - Outdoors - Sun was behind the subject to the upper right hidden by the trees, reflecting of a almost white wall to camera left. Assistant to the right with a reflector filling in abit more from camera right.

[AltgnJoey]

I think the touching up of his face is fine, you don't want to go to far with that because then he will end up looking plasticy and feminine. For the time given to you I personally think you did a better then average job.

My only advice is to crop down more at the top, too much space above the head.

[chokeslamcena]

Only thing I'd like to add is that, this is a photography forum and people will always point out the negative and try to expand on that (this is obviously good, as it helps everyone to learn).

So don't get too bogged down in the negatives. Those photos are better than a lot of professional's headshots that I've seen. They have got flaws, but overall they're very, very good and would far surpass any expectations for someone whose previous experience is 'monkeys at the zoo'.



On a more personal post-processing note, my rule of thumb is to never get rid of blemishes that are permanent, unless specifically asked to. For that mole, I'd give it a bit of cloning from the surrounding areas at a very low opacity. Just enough to lighten it a bit and make it not standout so much. Same with the forehead, but never, ever get rid of a blemish, unless it something that's not usually there (spots, for example, are fair game).

(That said, I don't find any of his imperfections to be that noticeable anyway, but that'd be my general rule of thumb, and it has been good to me).


Best of luck with the upcoming ones.


EDIT: Also, I'd agree with cropping in general, but don't crop these any further. Whoever's putting the newsletter together (assuming it's not yourselves) might want to crop it differently to fit it somewhere, so having a bit of extra space to play with will do them no harm.

[kawikao]

I agree with AltgnJoey. Get a more defined jawline and crop some off the top of the first. Otherwise, they're good enough for most companies. Communication is always a work in progress. Keep it up.

[tlzimmerman]

Posing....you want the photos to exude confidence and professionalism. Front shoulder down, chin out, sharper fall off for the lighting for men.