Head shots C&C

[socal82]

Here are a few head shots I did today. Tell me what you think. I know the bg doesnt look white, how can I get it white in post?


scoop by socal83, on Flickr


manda by socal83, on Flickr

 

[socal82]

88 views and no comments are they that bad?lol

 

[tirediron]

Patience little grasshopper; if you post it, they will comment... eventually.

These really aren't what I would call headshots; these are photographs of people's heads, but they're not headshots. First, turn your camera 90 degrees so that you're shooting portrait mode. what's the good of all the empty space image left? The "rule" of thirds rarely applies in images like this.

The lighting on the first images is nice, but the crop is awkward. Whose hand is that grasping her neck? Not sure what you used for lighting, but I'm NOT fond of the catchlights. For headshots, I like a single light just above the subjects head shooting into a medium SB, 30 degrees camera left and a BIG (I use a 72" lastolite) reflector close 90 degrees image right.

The eyes in #2 seem wayy over-processed and the skin appears about 1/3 - 1/2 stop too hot. If you are going to call these headshots, make sure you include the WHOLE head! Again, the disembodied arm...

Headshots are very contextual; that is, a model's headshot is going to be different from a corporate headshot. What is the purpose of these?

As for the background, I'd just composite the subject directly on to a pure white background if that's what you want, but I don't really think that will look all that great. I generally use a nice Thunder Grey for this sort of work.

Just my $00.02 worth - your mileage may vary.

~John

 

[socal82]

on the first image should I have zoomed closer in on her? I was only using one speed light in a 28 apollo soft box camera right and a small reflector camera left. I was going for the whole white bg but didnt turn out that way. I agree with number 2 a little over processed I since have corrected that image. I guess I was going for the whole peter hurley idea but ghetto verison.lol thanks for your input. This is the way I learn

 

[ClintBalsam]

To make the background white, you could use a levels adjustment layer. Apply the adjments to the background and mask out the subject. In the future just put more light on the background until it goes completely white or whatever level of white you prefer. The more light you put on the background the whiter is will become.

The shots are pretty good. Maybe the girl on the bottom doesn't need to also be holding her neck.

 

[Edsport]

If you have photoshop go to Select, Color range, choose the left eyedropper, click on the part you want white and adjust the slider till you get just the background and click ok. Now brighten the background. If some of the model was chosen with the color range just use the history button to erase the effects on her. There several ways to do it...