So, a friend of mine started working for a new salon and they all need headshots for their website...
I'm at a loss as to what to use... i think i've bought too many modifiers and just havent used them enough to know when to use what...
right now i've got...
D90, Tokina 12-24 f/4 and Nikon 28mm f/2.8, 50mm f/1.8 and a 80-200 f/2.8D
a pair of B400's, two small white PLM's... i have the silver/black backing and a diffuser for one so it would be like a Softlighter. and i have a 84" or whatever it is Extreme silver plm and diffuser. i also have a 22" silver beauty dish that i can boom.. i've also got white paper i could take with and put on my background stand...
I also have an Orbis Ring light that i can use with my SB600... i also have a Chimera 17x22 softbox for the sb600...
I'm thinking 80-200, ring light and use the my bee(s) to nuke the white... or small PLM softlighter at a safe 45* and elevated and 30* grid opposite at 90* and head level for fill? whatever i do i assume i'll need to use a hair light... since well.. thats kinda the thing lol
If you don't know how to use lights then less is more.
Use the 80-200 at F4-5.6 to get the eyes and 90% of the ear in focus before it softens. My go to for headshots is F5 with a long lens. Can't help much with light as that depends on too many things.
For example I shot for a commercial client today. Used a open door as fill and main light on the right, second fill left and one on the background to get it 95% white but not too bright.
Did the same shots in my studio using from 1 to 4 lights, depending on the window light and angles used and had exactly the same look to match what I did today at a different location.
I would suggest one light plus a reflector to reduce shadows. The worst thing is too much flat light making it look like a cheap snapshot. A bit of fall off on the background adds to the image unless you require bright white then use 1-2 lights on it. Too bright will also cause issues if it bleeds ( also bounce back) thru the hair by having subject too close to it.
Like I said one light and a reflector can give great results without knowing much about it's use. Just make sure the eyes are bright for head shots.
One of the girls sent me a link to their website... they've got some cool lighting and a nice old brick building... the ring is getting left at home... im kinda of screwed with ambient from a window. Thia will be done after I get off from my day job.
well, they were happy with the shots on the camera atleast... i was thrown a curve ball by showing up with everyone drinking... atleast everyone was loosened up but i'll get some of the images up this weekend if i can. I think im going to get an Eye-Fi card so it can do live previews for people on my tablet...
RoadconePhoto wrote:
well, they were happy with the shots on the camera atleast... i was thrown a curve ball by showing up with everyone drinking... atleast everyone was loosened up but i'll get some of the images up this weekend if i can. I think im going to get an Eye-Fi card so it can do live previews for people on my tablet...
