My First Head Shot Attempt

[16bitsystems]

I have had my DSLR for a while and have been toying with the idea of doing head shots for people, as I know a lot of actors. This is my first attempt at doing so. I think that the light came out fairly even. It was about 2 pm when I shot these and the sun was pretty harsh. I kept getting hard shadows on the face, especially under the eyes, so I had to much under a tree. I didn't do anything to them in post other than crop them a little tighter. I tried to focus on the eyes, but they're not as prominent as I would have liked them to be. Maybe this is because I was too far back when shooting? Anyway, something about them just doesn't feel right, and I can't figure out what it is. They look more like school portraits than headshots. Any critiques/criticism/ideas would be helpful. Thanks

 

[Designer]

Find a less-distracting background, and give your model something dark to look toward. That should help with the squinting.

The flat light that you were trying for is actually not the most ideal light anyway. Have a look at some other photographer's work, and you will see some shadowing (not really dark shadows) which helps to define the contours of the human face.

Outdoor photography is usually better in morning or afternoon, not in the middle of the day.

Also, if your model is in sunlight, use your flash to fill and cut the shadows. Move the flash off camera or bounce it off a nearby surface.

 

[tirediron]

The reason the eyes are dark and lacking interest is because you didn't use any sort of fill light. A strobe or reflector is almost essential to this sort of work. Try this formula (if you're going to shoot outside in harsh light). Set your speedlight/strobe about 15-20 degrees off lens axis with a medium-size SB, and just a bit above the subject's eye level and meter it for one half - 2/3 stop over ambient. Place or have the client hold a silver reflector at chest level.

 

[16bitsystems]

thanks so much for the responses. after i read your comment i looked at comparison pictures that were taken outside with and without the speedlight, and i can't believe what a difference it makes. i would've thought that it would make things look overexposed like the on-board flash does, but it actually makes things a bit darker and gives a better definition. i'm coming from a filmmaking background. i'm by no means an expert, but i have knowledge/experience with lighting. but the flash is entirely new to me. i'm definitely going to invest in one soon.

thanks again for the responses!