Corporate Headshots

I had the opportunity recently to practice my portrait and lighting work with some company headshots. I had never done any formal portraits, and thought this would be a good time to jump in and learn some of my new lighting equipment at the same time.

These are all my co-workers, so I knew they would be pretty easy on me, and most of them mentioned that anything would be better than last year's shots (very flat, unflattering photos - not shot by me ).

I've had to do this lighting setup about 3 times already, and will have to do a 4th soon with some of the new hires. I've been a bit hit or miss with the hair light, but I'm getting the hang of it finally.

Lighting setup is a socked beauty dish up front, 430EXII in a cardboard grid for hair light, and a 430EXII fired at the background. Reflector in lap.

C&C welcome, but I already know about the blown highlights and poor placement of the hair light in several shots.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/elistack/869145​9838/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/elistack/869145​9532/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/elistack/869145​9292/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/elistack/869033​9755/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/elistack/869034​0283/

Nicely done!

Excellently done, especially for someone who has never done formal portraits. Some non-lighting related notes. Try to line the subjects eyes up with their nose if you can, it reduces that whole 'eyes pointing different directions' effect that lens distortion gives you. Also in the photo of the man his head is tilted slightly towards his inside shoulder giving a feminine appearance. Judging by the composite image you only did it to the one guy.

Seriously though, these are minor details that just come with practice. You did an outstanding job.

Nicely shot! Simple but that's not to say it's bad, it's looking good .

MLau wrote in post #16047192
Nicely done!

Thanks.

BryanM wrote in post #16047821
Excellently done, especially for someone who has never done formal portraits. Some non-lighting related notes. Try to line the subjects eyes up with their nose if you can, it reduces that whole 'eyes pointing different directions' effect that lens distortion gives you. Also in the photo of the man his head is tilted slightly towards his inside shoulder giving a feminine appearance. Judging by the composite image you only did it to the one guy.

Seriously though, these are minor details that just come with practice. You did an outstanding job.

Thank you. Can you please explain a bit more about lining the eyes up with the nose? Do you mean horizontally, or in relation to the front lens element? I shot these using an 85mm so I thought I'd avoid distortion.

I was trying to be conscious of the feminine shoulder/head tilt while shooting. Are you referring to the guy I posted here, or the one in the white shirt? I did have a harder time directing the guys.

Thanks again for the compliment and helpful critique.

Stompert wrote in post #16047936
Nicely shot! Simple but that's not to say it's bad, it's looking good .

Thank you. Simple but clean is the look I was going for.

Of course, as a general rule the eyes should point the same direction as the nose. It's most noticeable in the third photo where the subjects eyes appear to be pointing in different directions. As I am directing the subject I generally move my directing hand as I hit the shutter with the other so that the subjects eyes are where I want them.

As for the head tilt with men, i was referring to the one posted here, try using the word "straighten" to correct head tilt when shooting. I make an L with my index finger and thumb and tilt it in the direction I want them to go while saying something to the effect of "Straighten your head up for me". You can change the script to suit you but that's the way I do it.