On location corporate headshots for website - keep it simple?

I'll be going on location to a small finance company to do head shots for their company website. I'll have one lighting setup, and I'll move people through. I'm debating how fancy to get with the lighting. I was initially planning to just do a main light with a fill light and neutral gray background (or the fireplace with white mantle background they're currently using). I'm wondering if I should bring a third light for hair/accent. I'm thinking that some of these people might not have a decent head shot of themselves and might decide to order prints for themselves. Thus the debate about whether to use a hair light or not. Thoughts? It might also look ridiculous if I'm hauling 3 lightstands, strobes, modifiers, etc. with me for this. Thanks.

Make it as good as you can without really trying new things. Try the new things before hand and know exactly what you are going to do when you show up. I would definitely have the hair light.

Well, none of this would be new to me. It was more a matter of how much gear to bring to a shoot like this without going overboard (which I tend to do). It's a small company. I'll be shooting like a half dozen people for their website. Pretty much anything would be an improvement over what they have now! However, I have my own standards of quality that go well beyond their expectations. I just spoke to him on the phone, and now he's thinking he wants a group shot (same half dozen people) out in front of the building, and he wants head shots against a neutral background as well as standing shots by the fireplace (leaning on the mantle - like they have on their website now). I started piling on the gear in my head, as far as stuff I could use for each of these, but a little voice keeps telling me to back off and keep it simple.

But as an example of how my mind works, I was thinking it might be fun to use the ABR800 ring light with 30" moon unit for the shots against the fireplace, big octa outside for the group shot, baby DO for key light and 53" octa for fill on the head shots against the neutral background, and a small softbox or strip box for hair/accent....when I know I could get away with a lot less stuff.

you could do a single light headshot with a nice 53" octo.

I say you bring your best to the job, whether it's a small or large company or the president of the united states. They hired you for a service. I don't think the mindset of "I'm going to keep it simple because it's easier for me" flies in this situation. Even though a one light setup is probably better than the pictures they have now on their website (judging from what you've described), I think you as their photographer have an obligation to produce the best images to your capabilities.

HiepBuiPhotography wrote in post #15548998
I say you bring your best to the job, whether it's a small or large company or the president of the united states. They hired you for a service. I don't think the mindset of "I'm going to keep it simple because it's easier for me" flies in this situation. Even though a one light setup is probably better than the pictures they have now on their website (judging from what you've described), I think you as their photographer have an obligation to produce the best images to your capabilities.

This.

RInglights for a business portrait? Not sure the funky catchlight works there.

I would ask them to send you shots they like. Managing/meeting client expectations is more important than how many lights you use. Once you see the shots they like, you can work backwards to figure out how to create that look. I recently did a shoot similar to what you are describing using four lights: key, fill, hair light and a background light. But that was for the company staff. A few weeks earlier when I shot the company executives, I got more creative. Partly because I needed to deal with floor to ceiling windows on three sides of his office, but also to full-fill the exec's desire/expectations for someone different.

sdipirro wrote in post #15548373
It might also look ridiculous if I'm hauling 3 lightstands, strobes, modifiers, etc. with me for this. Thanks.

I think what you should be most concerned with is how much space you take up, for how long.

If you tie up their conference room for half a day to take a few headshots, they might get a little irritated. "Isn't he done yet? I've got a client coming in!"

But it probably takes you all of two minutes to unpack a light, get it on a stand, plugged in an aimed. Another 30 seconds for metering. So the hair light option seems reasonable enough.

One thing I have done on location, if the room is suitable, is bounce the fill light off the ceiling rather than use a big umbrella. This also helps if space is limited.

Just for the record, I always try to do the best job I possibly can. So I'm not considering options just because they're easier. I'm worried about going overboard and dragging too much gear in there. I'm pretty quick with the setup, and we've talked about the time required to do this shoot. I'm OK there, but the space issue is a good one. I think I assumed the room with the large fireplace would be a big enough room to setup a few lights, but I could be wrong about that. I should ask the dimensions of that room so I know for sure before going in there. The consensus seems to be that the hairlight is a good idea. I think I'll go with a 3-light setup. Oh, and the reason for using the ringlight (that I probably won't use) isn't for the catchlights, that you probably wouldn't even see in the web images, but for shadow control with the subject standing next to the fireplace with an arm on the mantle. He said he likes those pictures and would like them re-done with better lighting and quality. I can use 2-3 lights with the fireplace shots to control shadows too. It was just a thought that popped into my head, but I'll be bringing enough stuff without the ringlight.

Yea, I think you should come to the shoot with two setups in mind: a 3 light setup and a more simplified one. Then, make a decision based on what kind of conditions you'll be in. That way, if it's too cramp and you can only use one light, then you can just leave the other stuff still packed up. Better to overpack then underpack

For a moment think from the customers POV. I tend to disagree with few points mentioned above.

You will be clicking pictures for corporates not fashion magazine / casual photography. If you visit most of the corporate website, you would realise that the pictures are faily 'lit flat', without any rim light etc. Although I'm not aware about the expectation setting between you and your customer, but typically the requirement is 'clean well lit, formal pictures'

Another question to ask is, will you have the creative freedom to play around with these lighting options. Not in terms of time / gear, but in terms of acceptability of final image. You should definately carry the best of your gear, but do not force them on your customer. 'Quality is what the customer wants, not what is produced'.

I do not intend to disrespect anyone with my strong opinion

Pupu wrote in post #15551369
If you visit most of the corporate website, you would realise that the pictures are faily 'lit flat', without any rim light

Browse a few hundred corporate headshots:
http://www.google.com …bo=d&source=lnm​s&tbm=isch

IMHO, a rim light is what separates the "meh" photos from the "yeah" photos.

clarence wrote in post #15551425
IMHO, a rim light is what separates the "meh" photos from the "yeah" photos.

Often that's true. But one thing about hair and rim lights is they don't work for everyone. You need to at least turn them off for the guys with receding hairlines. Otherwise you get this:
http://www.akphoto.com …on-location-photographer/

clarence wrote in post #15551425
Browse a few hundred corporate headshots:
http://www.google.com …bo=d&source=lnm​s&tbm=isch

IMHO, a rim light is what separates the "meh" photos from the "yeah" photos.

A separation light perhaps, it doesnt necessarily need to be a rim light. But I do think most corporate headshots tend to be a bit flat in the front lighting and for a good reason. You never know how those things will be used.