First Head Shot Experience

[CoordinatedKate]

Hello! This is my first time posting on here. I recently just shot my first head shot session with a woman that just self published a book and she needed a photo for the back cover. She came over to my apartment where I had some lighting equipment and a backdrop. It was really hard to get the pictures to look less like a school year book photo and more like a professional head shot. Anyway, this is what we ended up with and I'd love some feedback.





I believe she ended up going with the first image.

 

[Designer]

Light is sort of flat. Skin looks kind of yellowish. Cropped quite close. Necklace is OOF.

BTW: What kind of book? This shot makes it suitable for a humorous book or one about etiquette, but it wouldn't be my first choice for a more serious type of book.

 

[Braineack]

light on each side 45° to the subject?

 

[CoordinatedKate]

Light is sort of flat. Skin looks kind of yellowish. Cropped quite close. Necklace is OOF.

BTW: What kind of book? This shot makes it suitable for a humorous book or one about etiquette, but it wouldn't be my first choice for a more serious type of book.

I believe it is some kind of self help book.

How can I improve the lighting, for future photos? For all of these I was only using two umbrella lights with one almost in front of her and the other some what beside her.

 

[CoordinatedKate]

light on each side 45° to the subject?

Something like that, yes.

 

[Braineack]

light on each side 45° to the subject?

Something like that, yes.

How can I improve the lighting, for future photos? For all of these I was only using two umbrella lights with one almost in front of her and the other some what beside her.

Google two-light setups. Mainly key/fill setups. or key/rim. or even clamshell/butterfly.

 

[CoordinatedKate]

light on each side 45° to the subject?

Something like that, yes.

How can I improve the lighting, for future photos? For all of these I was only using two umbrella lights with one almost in front of her and the other some what beside her.

Google two-light setups. Mainly key/fill setups. or key/rim. or even clamshell/butterfly.

Great. I'll do that! Thanks a lot.

 

[tirediron]

...I believe it is some kind of self help book.

Ummm... this is fairly critical information. There's a LOT more to a 'headshot' than a picture of a person's head. The image(s) need(s) to be appropriate to the subject/topic/use. Inboth of these, you have shot down on the subject which puts her in an inferior position. For any sort of self-help book, I would shoot diretly at eye level implying neither supiority or inferiority.

...How can I improve the lighting, for future photos? For all of these I was only using two umbrella lights with one almost in front of her and the other some what beside her.

I generally shoot headshots with a keylight, background light, reflector and maybe a hair light - in this case, given the client's dark hair, I would have definitely used a hair light. Again, the nature of the book is important. If it were a mystery book, I'd probably grid a large beauty dish and come in high from the camera side for some dramatic lighting. For a text-book I'd go plain neutral background, and for 'some kind of self help book' I'd rather place her in a setting appropritate to the nature of the help, but if it had to be a plain background, then come short light with a single large SB from close in, background light in a complimentary pastel colour, and use just a touch of hair light to bring out some detail in her hair. I would have avoided dark colours and heavy clothes as well.

 

[tirediron]

....clamshell/butterfly.

Hmmm... that would NOT have been a choice that would have come to mind for this application.

 

[Designer]

How can I improve the lighting, for future photos? For all of these I was only using two umbrella lights with one almost in front of her and the other some what beside her.

The term you need to understand is: "modeling light". The light needs to reveal the contours of the subject's facial features. For women, there is also concealing of minor wrinkles and blemishes, which is nearly a science in itself.

There are many ways to set up lighting, and nearly all of them will have some variation of light and shade. You can read up on the topic nearly anywhere.

 

[Designer]

Maybe the lady will consent to a re-shoot. Watch your white balance, ask her to sit straighter, be pleasant but not such a wide smile.

 

[Gavjenks]

1) She looks like she is going to fall over in the second shot, and still an issue in the first shot too. Slantiness is annoying and distracting here. If you were shooting Sheryl Sandberg, then leaning in from the side of the frame might work =P Otherwise she should obey gravity.
2) The second one isn't a head shot. I dunno if that's actually what she paid you for specifically (versus just "a picture for my book jacket"), but if so, that might be an issue
3) Lighting is flat and context might be good for a self help book, as tirediron said, all his advice is great. Like if it's a cookbook, have her leaning against a wall of slightly OOF pots in her kitchen, or in a chef's uniform if relevant, etc. She desperately needs a hair light in these especially.
4) Second one is dim and drab. Needs more contrast and not a depressing gray background.
5) Expression and focus look good.
6) The catchlights in her eyes are weird looking. Photoshop one of them out. Or, if you don't use the 45 degrees on either side setup, it might not be an issue in the first place.
7) Whatever that little thin necklace she is wearing is distracting and odd. The one with the chain that trails off the image and you can't tell what it is in both shots. The shorter more pearly necklace in the first shot is good, but not the other one. Pay attention to stuff like this. It's similar to making sure collars are folded down and hair is in good shape, etc.

 

[CoordinatedKate]

Thanks so much everyone for all the advice. This wasn't a paying gig. She's a coworker that knows I'm into photography and I told her I'd do it for free if I could use it to promote myself, but after all of this I might have to take them down and try again. She was happy with the images but that doesn't mean they're any good. I'll definitely study up on all the information you guys gave me and put it to use next time.

Thanks again!

 

[Designer]

She was happy with the images but that doesn't mean they're any good.

Most people don't really know anything about photography or any other kind of art. We all have to learn. By your learning first, you can then help educate your friend(s).

I imagine that after you tell her you received some critique, you would like to do this over, and she might be very grateful, particularly if the second try turns out well.