Hi all,

I've been asking to do some headshots for some people interested in modeling/acting. I've never shot a headshot, per se, so I'm curious about the approach of all you pros out there. Any simple rules? Simple tips?

also, i did do a search and there's just sporadic information. i thought, what better way than to gather all the tips and techniques in one setting.

Kind regards!

Matt,

Since "Headshots" is such a common form of photo posted here, I imagine there are LOADs of tips and suggestions embedded in the many "headshots" threads posted here.

I know I have seen many over the last year. Try a search of "headshots" here in this forum (using the search field on main page) and also at Pro Digital and Lighting forums here on FM.

From your web site it looks like you prefer natural light. Do the headshot with doorway light or covered shade. I prefer a solid background but make sure it does not blend with the hair. My first choice is dark brown or medium gray. The eyes are the focal point so make sure you have enough light in the eyes...no dark eye sockets etc. Focus on the eye also. Guess I should say for acting headshots and also modeling I would use beauty light, smooth and even over the face with only enough light shadows for depth. Nothing dark or harsh. I prefer the client in a chair or on the floor, slight 30 degree angle from camera to subject. Tight crops and even cutting into the hair line is fine if not better most of the time.
Make sure to get the client relaxed. A stiff look is not good.Avoid posed looks, let them move then stop for the shot.For example if you have a client turn around and sit down you are guaranteed to have at least 1-3 seconds before they can begin to look stiff. Perfect time for a relaxed natural look no matter how nervous they are. Works every time. For actor shots make sure they show teeth. I had to refuse a model/actor because he did not have any headshots with teeth proving he could give a big smile on demand as the shoot called for. Everyone wants to see teeth in at least one photo.
Bright color clothes get noticed a lot more than basic black. The object is to be seen and stand out from the average when looking at dozens of headshot photos. Long sleeves are a must to make arms thinner and V neck also helps the face look thinner.
I will PM a site with you a few of my headshots for examples.
Good Luck

You should pm Chris Sorenson. (spelling on last name?) He is the king of this stuff.

Strobist had a pretty cool video of setting up a headshot. I don't have the link, but hunt around a little. It was well worth the watch...at least for a guy like me who still knows very little.

Braeden Rogers wrote:
You should pm Chris Sorenson. (spelling on last name?) He is the king of this stuff.

Thanks! Definitely will do!!

ok, i tried a member search on Chris Sorenson and nada, even the last name... Anyone have a link to one of his posts and from there I can PM him?

http://www.headshot-photography.com/portfolio.htm

here's the link.
Chris Sorenson Photography

thanks!!

Video worth watching:
http://peterhurley.com/news/2008/headshot-session-preparation-video/

louhand wrote:
Video worth watching:
http://peterhurley.com/news/2008/headshot-session-preparation-video/

Wonderful resource. Thank you for posting that. Peter's work is terrific, and he was very generous to share some of his philosophy.

stevemaller wrote:
louhand wrote:
Video worth watching:
http://peterhurley.com/news/2008/headshot-session-preparation-video/

Wonderful resource. Thank you for posting that. Peter's work is terrific, and he was very generous to share some of his philosophy.

Peter was featured a while back on the Donald Trump TV show, "The Apprentice"
My son, actually had a portfolio done by Peter, and they became good friends.

Good posts here, thanks for the info.

I learned a lot from this site. May help you and others here.

http://www.studiolighting.net/killer-headshots-the-cheap-way/

I think you can learn something from Peter Hurely, but would stay away from trying to replicate what he does. It's become so over done in the world of headshots. And he tends to make people look quite different from their usual selves. I've re-shot several of his clients because of this.

I hope the link helps.

Cheers,
Jeff

It's SorensEn.

Jefferies post and Jeff's link have some great info. Open shade is your friend. Shoot fairly wide open and longish (85-105 IMO, longer than that and you start to lose your connection with the actor.) But checking out your site, you know this already and have all the skill necessary to take good headshots. Definitely shoot natural light which you obviously have an affinity for. Besides Peter Hurley, pretty much every NYC headshot photographer shoots natural light and actors usually want it. (And +1 to Jeff's comments on Peter Hurley. I just shot a Peter client as well.)

Jefferies comment on the eyes and a relaxed natural pose being key to a good headshot are 100% correct. Add personality to those and you have a great headshot. I disagree that a long sleeve shirt is required. Most of the time you don't even see much of the arms, and if you do, all the fabric and color of a long sleeve can make a the bottom of the frame seem 'heavy' for lack of a better term. IMO. Form-fitting (though not tight) is almost always better than loose which makes people look big. And bright colors can work, but be careful that it doesn't cross over into distracting. And black can work great depending on the skin tone and hair color. White and busy patterns are two things that rarely work. But have them bring multiple options so that you can be confident of finding something that works well on camera, and so you can shoot a few looks so they have options.

Also, the sitting in a chair or on the floor thing is not for every actor and I wouldn't try to pigeonhole every actor into those poses. While some people can be natural in any pose, some people are more relaxed standing, some leaning against a wall, some sitting, some on the ground. Try different things to a) to see which ones work best, and b) give your actor variety. And personally, I don't like solid backgrounds, looks too plain and studio-esque. I like them in an environment, though an environment with a non-distracting OOF background.

Jefferies is right about cropping into the hair. It's not popular here, but pretty much every good headshot photogrpaher I know crops into the hair. The focus is on the actor and the eyes, and leaving headroom in a pic is a waste of space. As long as you can see the hair color, style and general length, you have enough hair info in the pic. Never crop right on the hairline though, always in the hair.

On the smiling issue, you do want some smiling, but not all. Headshots come in two varieties, commercial and legit (NYC)/theatrical (LA). Commercial is typically smiling or at least lighter in tone than the legit/theatrical shot. Legit shots don't have to be all dramatic and serious though, it depends on the actor's type. Some are serious, but a girl-next-door's might be sweet, the nerdy guy's could be quirky, the sexpot's flirtatious, etc. The important thing is that their personality comes through.

You can check out examples of New York headshot photographers' work at the link below. (Reproduction is the largest headshot printer in NY and LA.) Some of the better known and popular ones on the link are Deborah Lopez, Chia Messina, Jeremy Folmer, Hoeberman Studio, Leslie Hassler.

www.reproductions.com/NYC/2008/

Great info Chris. I hadn't checked out the photographers listed on reproduction's site in a while. I see Aja shot with Hoeberman. Does Hoeberman use a mix of Tungsten and Flash or is that a gel? I noticed this same lighting in a friends headshots and I believe he shot with her as well. I do find it somewhat distracting, but don't remember it being quite so extreme on my friends shots.

Cheers,
Jeff

Yeah, he shot Aja's old shots. Not sure how he shoots, didn't ask Aja when I shot her. Probably a warming gel on the backlight. He's not one of my faves, but listed him cuz he's popular.

Steady Hand wrote:
Since "Headshots" is such a common form of photo posted here, I imagine there are LOADs of tips and suggestions embedded in the many "headshots" threads posted here.

The problem with using Search here, I think, is that there is a general usage and a more technical usage of the term. Actor headshots are a definite sub-set of close-ups.

Chris Sorensen wrote:
Yeah, he shot Aja's old shots. Not sure how he shoots, didn't ask Aja when I shot her. Probably a warming gel on the backlight. He's not one of my faves, but listed him cuz he's popular.

Gotcha! Not a huge fan either. It doesn't look very natural to me, almost more like a glamor shot.

Cheers,
Jeff

jfinite wrote:
Good posts here, thanks for the info.


+1, thanks !

Also, one thing that can ruin an otherwise great headshot is pursed lips and tension in the mouth and jaw. You want 'soft mouth'. Sometimes telling the actor 'lips together, teeth apart' can help them since it's harder to have jaw tension without grinding the teeth together. But it's something to be watch for and tell the actor to relax the mouth.

Also, with smiles, there tends to be a moment in a smile that tends to be the best and most real, with the moments before and after that diminishing to something less real and more forced. To help ensure capturing that, I often shoot bursts on smiles. I don't shoot bursts most of the shoot since you often end up with redundant shots that are basically exactly the same, but on smiles, those miniscule differences can make or break the shot.

Right, I have noticed that about smiles as well. Good advice about the jaw tension.

Excellent advice about jaw tension Chris. I will also have them stretch their mouths when they seem to be tensing more frequently. Just a "shake it out" thing.

Cheers,
Jeff

You know, it took me many years of doing it professionally to figure out how to do the best possible headshots. The internet and these forums are wonderful, but why don't you try doing it the old fashioned way. Shoot, then analyze and ask your self how may this be improved? Do this over and over aagain until you get there. The results will be better, more personal and more meaningful than if you are just handed the information. Not to mention more satisfying. Which is preferable? To follow a recipe or to create one?