Lighting for headshots

Hey.

Well my uncle is a plastic surgeon and he asked me to take a few headshots of him and his fellow doctors for a new business card they are making.

I was wondering what you think the best way to light the shots would be.

I have 2 Speedlights with umbrellas available, as well as a reflector.

I'm going to be shooting at their offices, so i think i'll just be using a wall as a background.

What do you suggest?

Thanks

I would say use a neutral colored wall as a back drop. Have them stand 6-10 ft. from it. Use one speedlight and umbrella as a main light a couple feet from the camera and use the other as a hair light diagonally opposite from the main light. Maybe use the reflector to bring up some light on the face opposite from what the main light illuminates.
Shoot at a large aperture(f/4, f/2.8).

Put away the lights and use window light.

zelseman wrote in post #8210442
I would say use a neutral colored wall as a back drop. Have them stand 6-10 ft. from it. Use one speedlight and umbrella as a main light a couple feet from the camera and use the other as a hair light diagonally opposite from the main light. Maybe use the reflector to bring up some light on the face opposite from what the main light illuminates.
Shoot at a large aperture(f/4, f/2.8).

+1 on this. Keep your umbrella reasonably close to the camera axis and get some broad lighting. If these are going to be reproduced business card sized you want something that doesnt get too cute with the shadows.

I won't go through all the possibilities, however, for headshots, you can get away with one speedlight bounced into an umbrella, as close as possible to your subjects, the reflector to the other side as close as possible to the subject, then for the background, if possible, move them closer, or further away from it to control the spill from the mainlight and lightness of the background. I would shoot on a background that is about middle gray to a tad darker so that your subjects pop. Black is not as professional and white is too bland.

The reason you want sources of light and reflectors just out of the camera frame is that makes the light a larger source to your subject and softer.

I bet you could by a used muslin background, a couple used lightstands and a background telescoping 10' pole (these are at BH for about $40 and straddle the two light stands so you can hang your background.

With your second speed light, you can light the background, or use as a kicker/hair light.

No matter what, try to keep the light on them soft and flattering. Men can take a bit harder light, but women need soft light, unless they are going for a special look for modeling/hollywood.

Aszental wrote in post #8209566
Hey.

Well my uncle is a plastic surgeon and he asked me to take a few headshots of him and his fellow doctors for a new business card they are making.

I was wondering what you think the best way to light the shots would be.

I have 2 Speedlights with umbrellas available, as well as a reflector.

I'm going to be shooting at their offices, so i think i'll just be using a wall as a background.

What do you suggest?

Thanks