My first headshots - Go hard

Hey guys... Got called for a last minute project by a friend of mine. His friend, a play-writer, needed to find a photographer to do some headshots for one of her upcoming plays. She had a photographer before, but apparently he/she backed out for whatever reason.

This was my very first headshot session but i'd like to know what you guys think and what you think I could do better next time. The shoot was fun, and I think I might venture more into it.

Ps. I'm a huge lover of natural light and opted to use it for this shoot.

Tech Specs:
Nikon D90
Nikkor 70-200 VRI
Natural light

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/qiWP​JT

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/pDAA​AT

It doesn't look like the play is "The Sound of Music"? So...
Re #1 "headshots for one of her upcoming plays.": He's the villian, right? Below the frame, he's got a big knife in his hand?
#2" This guy is the detective?

#1 looks a little too angry for my taste
#2 I like this, serious without looking angry. One detail: either include the hand or don't.

Nice bg, tones and exposure in both

Hahaha... Awesome way to word it!

Well, none of the above. These weren't the character shots though. They were for media releases and other formal print outlets. With regards to the "knife in hand", that's something I overlooked. Thanks for pointing that out. I was so focused on framing the head that I completely forgot about composing the shot with the hand in mind.

valdano wrote in post #17605392
Well, none of the above. These weren't the character shots though. They were for media releases and other formal print outlets.

In that case, a more formal framing would be best, IMO. And a little friendlier expression. Instead of looking ready to kill someone as in #1.

Are they supposed to be environmental headshots or for the playbill?

They look about 1/3-2/3 stop underexposed on the left side of both faces.(camera right)

Wish his hand want cut off in #2.

@PhotosGuy - Surely that will be in mind for he next shoot. So compositions like the ones above you would recommend for what type of look? Also, when you say a more formal framing do you mean like a head and bust type shot, with a more pleasant expression?

@Disrupt - No, not so much environmental. It was amlast minute thing. Just grabbed my 70-200 and D90 and hit the road. The shoot was actually on a veranda so we had some minor issues regarsing light (based on the time of day) and I forgot to bring my reflector. That would definitly have helped the underexposre issue you pointed out.

valdano wrote in post #17605475
So compositions like the ones above you would recommend for what type of look?

Maybe for a news release or playbill. There's room for type in the open areas. Generally though, if you don't crop tighter, some editor will hack your "creative framing" to bits! ; )

That's normal for a "headshot". Save the drama for the poster.

Why are you framing horizontal for media releases? Peter Hurley is a virus that needs an antidote.

PhotosGuy wrote in post #17605515
Maybe for a news release or playbill. There's room for type in the open areas. Generally though, if you don't crop tighter, some editor will hack your "creative framing" to bits! ; )

That's normal for a "headshot". Save the drama for the poster.

Aha. Thanks for the tip. I thought it was about personal choice regarsing framing and so on. Have no clue what they "paybill" is etc. would like to hear more about it. I'll Google

gonzogolf wrote in post #17605523
Why are you framing horizontal for media releases? Peter Hurley is a virus that needs an antidote.

Hahahaha this had me cracking up. Well, as I said, it was my first so i'm really a noob at Headshots. I will say though, that I watched many of his videos, so his technique has rubbed off a bit

His headshots are great for handing to a casting director. But they are horrible for news releases as most headshots are one column wide in print. Also, the tight crop looks odd when trimmed for newspaper space. Too many photographers are emulating his style, without his purpose. You see users here doing business headshots in that format which is totally inappropriate.

My biggest problem is that the eyes don't look real.

gonzogolf wrote in post #17605668
His headshots are great for handing to a casting director. But they are horrible for news releases as most headshots are one column wide in print. Also, the tight crop looks odd when trimmed for newspaper space. Too many photographers are emulating his style, without his purpose. You see users here doing business headshots in that format which is totally inappropriate.

Well I can't argue with you there. I just looked up headshots real quick before I left out. His videos were some of the first I saw and I tried to go after something similar. I will admit I never took into consideration the one column print and so on. Made a few notes in my notepad so it's surely work in progress.

I really appreciate the insightful feedback!

Dan Marchant wrote in post #17605753
My biggest problem is that the eyes don't look real.

And funny thing is, I never did much to the eyes . Earlier when I just started shooting, I had a tendency to 'over-do' the eyes... And then days after look back at the image(s) and go "what the heck did I do to his/her/their eye(s). So of late, I rearly do any extensive editing to the eyes.