headshot C&C

[AnnieHuley]

Took these headshots for a friend as practice... Advice would be GREAT, I was happy with them, but I know they could use improvement,
specifically his eyes are frequently underexposed I think. Not sure how to get the detail in the eyes better.


EDIT: Posted unedited versions.

 

[Rick58]

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These seem really dark to me. (except the last one)
How about something like this?
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[AnnieHuley]

These seem really dark to me. (except the last one)
How about something like this?

Oops, you're right, I actually posted the unlightened versions I am going to update the post now.

 

[Rebekah5280]

OK, so here are my thoughts... you might not like them.
These seem to be all underexposed, with the exception of the very last one.
The first one is cute, but you chopped off his hands and that just killed the entire picture for me.
The 2nd one with the boy looking straight into the camera on his tummy, looks like there is a lot of distortion, probably from focal length? And the sky is completely overexposed and the subject underexposed, its just not good.
The third is a cute capture, although, again, very underexposed. You needed to be taking pictures when your subject was facing toward the light, not away from it. You can add a reflector of course, but if you do not want to carry around or fuss with when, then you need to get your subjects lit properly with the light you have, while avoiding direct sunlight. I tried to fix the third one for you in post, its better, but could be so much better if there were a little more thought going into the taking of the picture.

The last one is the best. You've got a decent candid shot there. The far side of his face is overexposed, I don't like that the floor board is at a diagonal slant, and the picture needs to be warmed up a bit, but over all, not bad.

 

[Rick58]

@OP: Maybe it's just a personal preference, be they still seem too harsh and contrasty to me. Maybe others will vioce their opinions.
The one I didn't play with seems much better in the second post, but I think I would lighten it just a bit to bring out the green in his clothes.

 

[Rebekah5280]

All of my original comments stand, even with the new posts.. EXCEPT for the last one. The unedited version was MUCH better.

 

[The_Traveler]

Wither that child is naturally the color of an orange or these shots are way way oversaturated.

 

[Rick58]

You're right Lew.

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[AnnieHuley]

You needed to be taking pictures when your subject was facing toward the light, not away from it.
then you need to get your subjects lit properly with the light you have, while avoiding direct sunlight.
but could be so much better if there were a little more thought going into the taking of the picture.

I agree that they would be better if he was facing the other direction, but it really wasn't possible in this instance. The subject was adamant to not have his picture taken, so I was letting him play and getting what I could. For instance he's driving on a toy car in the third, he was moving and wouldn't have listened if I asked him to turn around.
I don't find it fair of you to assume no thought went into these

 

[AnnieHuley]

You're right Lew.

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No he isn't this color at all and his shirt is blue.

 

[Rick58]

Maybe I went too far...

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[AnnieHuley]

Wither that child is naturally the color of an orange or these shots are way way oversaturated.

I think they are a little off but he really has a really warm skin tone.
I never added saturation, did add, and maybe too much contrast though.

 

[AnnieHuley]

Maybe I went too far...

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LOL, this is much closer, yes. But he looks sickly and pale to me.
This is just to show his skin tone unedited. So you guys are right they are a little too orange... But he really has a pretty orange skin tone.

 

[Rebekah5280]

You needed to be taking pictures when your subject was facing toward the light, not away from it.
then you need to get your subjects lit properly with the light you have, while avoiding direct sunlight.
but could be so much better if there were a little more thought going into the taking of the picture.

I agree that they would be better if he was facing the other direction, but it really wasn't possible in this instance. The subject was adamant to not have his picture taken, so I was letting him play and getting what I could. For instance he's driving on a toy car in the third, he was moving and wouldn't have listened if I asked him to turn around.
I don't find it fair of you to assume no thought went into these

When I see "headshots" I'm thinking professional quality pictures. These are not. If I wanted "headshots" of my kids, and this is what I got, I would not be happy.
It is your job, as the photographer, to overcome these obstacles (i.e. children not wanting to cooperate). If he was really into playing with his toy car, you could have coaxed him into going under a shady tree and running the car up the trunk super fast and around and around the tree (not saying there was a tree, but I have yet to be unable to coax any child into a nicely lit area). You need to make them forget that they are being photographed if they don't wan to be. This is what I meant by putting more thought into the pictures. Photographing children is not just pushing a button. It takes time, patience and trust.
Perhaps my take on "headshots" was wrong. If these are not supposed to be of professional quality, then disregard. This is my opinion, take it or leave it.

 

[Rebekah5280]

And, that last shot you posted was better than all the ones before. The crop is great, the skin tones are nice and the light is good. I'd personally lighten up the dark areas a bit, but thats just personal preference.