HELP! Headshot to do on friday I need pointers!

Alright well seems like JACOBthePHOTOGRAPHER is going corporate.. I shot a baby shower as a gift for a friend and her mother called me up and wants me to do a headshot of her because she is going to be published in the newspaper or have an article written about her... shoot is THIS friday.. ugh 2 days away and Im not the headshot master SOO i throw myself on the mercy of the Headshot Gods here on POTN and asking for pointers on my setup. She is going to do her own makeup. She said she has pink, black, grey, beige sports coats and asked me what color blouse to wear ( no clue and no clue which color blazer for her to wear )

Quick setup strobes.
I have a 580EX speedlite and a 430ex speedlite i can slave off with an umbrella (reflective), FONG lightshphere II for the 580 ex or the stoffen or the lumiquest mini softbox.

Big studio setup:
2 Alien bees B800's and an ABR800, octabox for ring flash, big softbox for alien bee and barn doors.

Shot location: in her office, do i just use the office wall? or go buy some mulsim background that will prolly cost me an arm and a leg. or stick a sheet up there or photoshop a background in. So prolly not muc room in her office to set up huge lights... also i was going to shoot with my 50mm 1.8 I figured thats good enough for a head shot.

Any thoughts on lighting positions and things would def be very helpful right now, and should i just use my small speedlites or bring in the big guns ( well big for me but small for most ) thanks

Here are two shots of her to give you an idea of what her hair color and look is to work with.

LADY on the LEFT is the person wanting a headshot

hmm no love?

If it is just a headshot, I wouldn't bother buying a backdrop. What little background that will show, can be blurred. I'm trying to learn what I can from the existing shot you provided. Did you tell her to tilt her head or did she instinctively know to do that? She seems somewhat comfortable in front of the camera, so half the battle is won right there. Are you good at PP, cuz those bags under her eyes will need to be taken care of if she is going to happy with the shots. Her bangs are kind of long, make sure you brush them out of her eyes. On a long shot, it doesn't matter. On a tight head shot, you will see every stray hair and will hate yourself in the morning if you have to photoshop them out.

When I photograph women, I get them into their pose and the very last thing I do before I get ready to snap is hold a mirror up to them, in their pose. (Bangs can fall away once you tilt their heads etc.) As I hold the mirror, I say, "now is everything ok? No spinach in your teeth, no bra straps showing, your jewelry is straight, necklace clasps are hidden...." She will LOVE you for that cuz there is always something last minute or they just want the assurance of a final glance. It also takes the pressure off you for when she says, my hair was supposed to be tucked behind my ear... or untucked, or whatever. Again, in such a close up, those little details are everything. Avoid too big of a smile on her, fine lines will show. Give her feedback as you shoot and make her feel pretty. Don't say "your smile is too wide" say "that is a great smile, that is a ten. Show me an eight now...."

Have fun. s.

Oh yeah, and watch her posture. Don't let her slouch!!!!!!!!!!!!! s.

for a headshot, I'd shoot outdoors in the shade with nothing more than a reflector. I'd use a 24-70mm f2.8 lens and crop it in close making sure to include the shoulders. I like to be about 16 inches or so higher than the subject so if she is tall you might want a small ladder or have her sit on something. also, nothing behind her within 5 or so feet so you get a blurred background. a fence or something dark in the back is best.

Jacob,

I'd recommend the rules of portraiture on Photo camel. There is some good information on there. Helped me out a lot!

http://www.photocamel.​com …les-good-portraiture.html

hey thank you so much... I was going to brush off this shot but after reading it shouldnt too bad ( yea right im sure it will be a nightmare ) but what the heck ill give it a shot, no pun intended :P

suecassidy wrote in post #3532526
If it is just a headshot, I wouldn't bother buying a backdrop. What little background that will show, can be blurred. I'm trying to learn what I can from the existing shot you provided. Did you tell her to tilt her head or did she instinctively know to do that? She seems somewhat comfortable in front of the camera, so half the battle is won right there. Are you good at PP, cuz those bags under her eyes will need to be taken care of if she is going to happy with the shots. Her bangs are kind of long, make sure you brush them out of her eyes. On a long shot, it doesn't matter. On a tight head shot, you will see every stray hair and will hate yourself in the morning if you have to photoshop them out.

When I photograph women, I get them into their pose and the very last thing I do before I get ready to snap is hold a mirror up to them, in their pose. (Bangs can fall away once you tilt their heads etc.) As I hold the mirror, I say, "now is everything ok? No spinach in your teeth, no bra straps showing, your jewelry is straight, necklace clasps are hidden...." She will LOVE you for that cuz there is always something last minute or they just want the assurance of a final glance. It also takes the pressure off you for when she says, my hair was supposed to be tucked behind my ear... or untucked, or whatever. Again, in such a close up, those little details are everything. Avoid too big of a smile on her, fine lines will show. Give her feedback as you shoot and make her feel pretty. Don't say "your smile is too wide" say "that is a great smile, that is a ten. Show me an eight now...."

Have fun. s.

One final thing, make sure to remind her to bring a powder compact. People tend to perspire if they are nervous (or outside in the heat) and the powder is a MUST on a head shot. Keep applying it liberally so her face will have a nice matte finish. I always have translucent powder and put it on women (who forgot to bring some) and on men as well. Bald guys especially. You don't want to draw attention to a shiny head. If they balk at putting on the powder, make them blot their nose and forehead often. If you have ever tried to Photoshop out a shiny nose or forehead, you will understand why I can't stress that enough. Make up for photography is an entirely different "Oprah", but at the very least, POWDER is a must.

I'm glad you are going to do the shot. Once you get going, you'll wonder why you ever stressed about it. Leap and a net will appear, dude. sue

yup tell her to put on extra make-up and light her from one side against a wall and use the other light as fill...

Cheers,

Wow, that's a great little set of rules he gives .

Kagemaru wrote in post #3533336
Jacob,

I'd recommend the rules of portraiture on Photo camel. There is some good information on there. Helped me out a lot!

http://www.photocamel.​com …les-good-portraiture.html

hmm ok so this is what i was thinking for a light setup, im prolly WAY off so please correct it for me i am by no means a master of portraits

if you have that backdrop than it works...otherwise I would use the back light to blow out the wall...other than that it looks pretty good...

Cheers,