'Problem' portrait...

I have been asked to shoot a friend - a classical musician - who would like an image to go in programmes, on websites, etc.
She's never been keen on having her photo taken and so doesn't have any suitable images for publicty, and here's why: She is a 'larger' lady and also has a very large nose, about which she's quite self-conscious.

I'm happy to try and make her look the best I can, but I'm not the world's most accomplished portrait shooter, and I'm thinking that shooting face-on to disguise the nose may make her face look wider, and shooting at 3/4 angle to slim her face may accentuate the nose.

So, and advice on posing and lighting for this tricky subject would be very much appreciated! Oh, and I expect she'll want me to include her violin in the picture as well...

Thanks in advance,
BB.

Soft, soft diffused lighting. Minimize the deep shadows that might be cast by some of the problem areas you're describing. I would consider either some portable studio lights, or at the very minimum a flash unit.

As far as poses, you can try some very different creative angles with her actually playing the instrument. I'm not terribly familiar with musical portraits, so I don't know if that's something one would do or not. I'm also thinking the 3/4s shot might work if it's shot in such a way that her nose wouldn't show up in a B&W silhouette.

I'd be interested in seeing how this turns out. Maybe post results?

I'd actually try the opposite. I'd use stronger light (not too harsh) so that I have deep shadows in which I could hide those problem areas. Having her wear black or dark colors would help. Use her instrument as well...let her hold it in her lap or pretend she's playing it with it aimed at the floor (it makes her lean forward but it also makes the violin cover her stomach and hips. Use a longer lens to minimize the nose. Light the side that's away from the camera so that the side facing the camera is in shadow.

Cheers for the advice, guys; two very contrasting routes!
I'll be taking a couple of brollies, a small-ish softbox and a reflector or two anyway, which gives me a choice of hard light to create deeper shadows and accentuate figure (where necessary) or softer light to help deal with any complexion probems that may arise (you can't be too careful, eh?)
Jason, I'm tending towards a 3/4 short-lit, maybe from slightly above to keep the nose short, and almost certainly will go high-key initially, although a wall full of books and manuscripts as a background may work well too.
CDI, I was certainly planning to try a few shots with her playing the instrument, as it would make a good H+S portrait in contrast to the half body (seated) shots often used in concert programmes.

Yes, I'll post here when it's done. I'm hoping she likes it enough to persuade the whole orchestra to use me!

Everybody has complexion problems. That's what makeup and retouching are for.

Here is a great link for lighting.

Lookey here

Here's a little reading. Same concept applies. One thing you don't want to do is have her hold her violin under her chin and be at the same height as her. That will cause her neck to look larger. If you want to get a good shot of her playing her violin, get higher than her and have her "look up" a bit to stretch out her neck. This will help thin it out a bit. Hope this helps a bit. Good luck w/ the shoot.

cdifoto wrote in post #9405728
I'd actually try the opposite. I'd use stronger light (not too harsh) so that I have deep shadows in which I could hide those problem areas. Having her wear black or dark colors would help. Use her instrument as well...let her hold it in her lap or pretend she's playing it with it aimed at the floor (it makes her lean forward but it also makes the violin cover her stomach and hips. Use a longer lens to minimize the nose. Light the side that's away from the camera so that the side facing the camera is in shadow.

I agree with this. If she looks big, try split or sidelighting (or close) as this shaves pounds off into the shadows.

Use short low key lighting. Dark clothing blending body with background. Raise camera position and shoot face in 3/4 view. If she has a double chin: tilt chin upward and stretch neck toward camera.

You might just pose her with her holding the violin (not in playing position) making the instrument in front of her prominent in the portrait and the face secondary.