TFCD Shoot - Headshots

First time doing a TFCD shoot with a makeup artist, here are the headshots she wanted for her portfolio. I have other shots that are waiting on PP but wanted some C&C on these before I send them off to her.

Lighting was a single Vivitar 285HV using a a reflective umbrella. Would have liked a hair light for #4. I probably should have had the light less off-centered in #5.

Don't have a calibrated monitor (hopefully soon!) so not sure how colours look.

#1

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They look to be good crisp shots with great color.

Agree that #4 could use a hair light but all of them could use a reflector to reduce the shadow under the chin - it's quite pronounced.

With the exception of #5 I would call this 'safe lighting'. There is little drama in it (may be what she wants for her portfolio). I can't help but imagine they are all holding cards with numbers on them just out of camera range.

I would suggest you find a reflector and move your flash further off camera axis.

Thanks Dave, I will definitely keep the reflector in mind for the next shoot. I did try to keep the lighting "safe" for these because the MUA wanted them specifically to highlight the makeup.

There are another five images in this set that has the models' eyes down to show the eye makeup and lashes better.

My first impression....mug shots. The lighting and the facial expressions look like there should be a height scale for a backdrop. You did your part, but the models seem totally disengaged.

As Woolburr said I also saw "Mug Shots" at first. But they are nice mug shots. I'd do some skin work in #3 & #4.

I am by no means an expert but i would agree about the mugshot comments, if you would like to get into head shot photography i would recommend checking out Peter Hurley. He is an amazing head shot photographer, I just got done watching his four hour long "The Art Behind The Head Shot" DVD and it is extremely informative. Here is a preview of it:

http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=vgt9I_kpaHM


Just a few quick tips he gives in his DVD that apply to these pictures. To avoid the eyes wide open, deer in the headlights look, he has all his models give a little squint as if they are reading the bottom lines of an eye chart. Most of the models you have pictured are pursing their lips which looks uncomfortable and unnatural, have them open their mouths the slightest bit, just putting some air between their lips. Also in regards to the mouth, he is a big believer in the slightest smile as it evokes confidence and approachability at the same time. Also 95% of people end up having one eye smaller than the other when taking their portrait (not very prominent is these pictures but, left eye #2, right eye #3, left eye #5) you can even this out by turning the head so the smaller eye is in the back or front, one of the two will work although it is not always the same one. I'm not sure if this one will apply because it is a photo shoot for a MUA but he is strongly against eye shadow and believes more natural looking makeup is best for portraits. Finally try some angles, i think you'll find they will look much better than straight on shots.

Woolburr wrote in post #14129750
My first impression....mug shots. The lighting and the facial expressions look like there should be a height scale for a backdrop. You did your part, but the models seem totally disengaged.

Qbx wrote in post #14131041
As Woolburr said I also saw "Mug Shots" at first. But they are nice mug shots. I'd do some skin work in #3 & #4.

EngineerWithACamera wrote in post #14131471
I am by no means an expert but i would agree about the mugshot comments

In fairness to the models, they were just helping out the MUA - they were not doing this for their own portfolio.

I can see where the mug shot comments are coming from, but to be honest I had no intention of taking anything like these. I had almost wrapped up with the first model when the MUA told me she wanted shots like these to showcase her work (we had a lengthy back and forth exchange prior to doing this and these shots never came up). So it did throw me for a loop, and I will admit my posing skills are non-existent as well.

As far as skin work goes, I'm unsure what is appropriate in this case. These are supposed to be showcasing the MUA's work, not mine. So I tried to leave them as untouched as possible. I did set clarity to -25 (in LR4) just to smooth things a little overall. So I'm clueless here... has anyone seen a MUA's portfolio?

I should probably get to the other shots and post them, this is not indicative of how the entire shoot went..!

Other pics posted here:
https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1164323

joeblack2022 wrote in post #14148507
Other pics posted here:
https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1164323

One hell of a difference between these and the ones you posted above. Much better lighting and posing.

Thanks Woolburr, so lesson learned is don't let the MUA tell you what shots to take?

joeblack2022 wrote in post #14152165
Thanks Woolburr, so lesson learned is don't let the MUA tell you what shots to take?

Oh you can take the shots she wants.....just don't put them in the Critique Corner.....

Yes I have to agree with you, Dave!

Yes the last set are much better photos, but in several cases don't shot the make-up. Hence I can understand why the MUA wants the ones she does.

I think that if the issue arises again you might try to come up with some more interesting poses that focus on the face. Maybe something with interesting DOF so the face is in focus but nothing else. That way you get interesting images and she gets shots that really show off the make-up.

Thanks Dan, I will definitely keep those suggestions in mind for next time.