Headshot critique

Hi All.. I've been playing with the lights again, and would love some C&C on everything from lighting/posing to processing. I'm at a pretty basic level for all of it, but have given myself a year to improve to a point where i can start charging.. A long way to go, so be as brutal as you feel necessary!

1.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/oXEE​ov

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/oXFD​jT

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/pd8U​Qf

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/peTY​SV

#2 is too blown out for me
go to home depot and but a 4x8 sheet of foil backed insolation makes a great reflector for about $20

I can get a good sized reflector from eBay for not much more than that, and will be soon. I can see what you're saying about #2. According to Lightroom, the skin isn't clipping, but now that I look at it again, it does seem to burn my retinas a little lol!

Thanks for taking the time to comment

Lighting wise I like #3 the best but the crop of the head looks a little weird to me (shaving off the top and leaving some of the shoulders makes it feel like you had the camera too low to me, others might think it is fine.)

I like #3 for a couple of reasons. The lighting ratio is what I go for and you have more in focus. IMO the DOF is too thin for this type of headshot as you have it in #1 and #2.

I don't mind the chopped head in #3 either but I would like to see more shoulders.

Thanks guys. 3 is my fav too.. Steve, would you say that the nose needs to be in focus (that's what bugs me with these shots)? Or, the whole head?

Hi Scott.
For most studio stuff I tend to have everything in focus. I normally shoot at f/8 because there's not usually anything distracting in the background. Even with a mottled background at f/8 and 6ft or so from the background it gives it just enough "blur."

Sorry I should have said when I shoot with strobes I shoot normally at around f/8. Sometimes I'll shoot with a seamless background and natural light then I'll be anywhere from f/2 to f/8.

Thanks for the tips Steve, much appreciated

pupils are too large, get a continuous light source somewhere in front of the subject.

I know you are going for the Hurley crop but its not working here.

windpig wrote in post #17162155
pupils are too large, get a continuous light source somewhere in front of the subject.

good call either he is trippin balls or its a really dark room

He's partially blind in his right eye, but I'll try the continuous light source next time for sure..

Gonzo, you got me hehe! Do you not think it works on the 3rd shot? If not, can you say why?

beano wrote in post #17162589
He's partially blind in his right eye, but I'll try the continuous light source next time for sure..

Gonzo, you got me hehe! Do you not think it works on the 3rd shot? If not, can you say why?

Its the best of the bunch, at least you dont have the chin cropped awkwardly. I think the problem with doing the Hurley crop is that most photographers dont bother to do the other Hurley tricks including the chin/jawline pose and drawing out the subject's personality. Hurley tends to shoot actors/celebrities people who are comfortable mugging for the camera and projecting themselves. When you dont have that all you are left with is an awkward crop.

In addition to some of the other comments....Just scrolling through the shots, the biggest thing that sticks out to me is that they are all very soft. I'm not sure if its the depth of field or maybe camera shake. Also the 4th shot is a little confusing. The lighting/shadows would almost suggest a more serious looking shot, but then there's the smile. I would also brighten the teeth.