p.1 #1 · One Person, Two Radically Different Headshots
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I do a lot of headshots for business persons, esp realtors, and then of course dancers and actors and singers. In this dancer/actor's case, I really wanted to highlight his hair and his blue eyes.
Comments welcome.
In the first pic, I went for a more even lighting, washed out look so you're pulled right into his eyes, and you can't miss his hair.
In this second shot, I really wanted to get way out of the box and try something different. So I lit him with two lights, one above him and in front, and a second behind him camera left.
p.1 #2 · One Person, Two Radically Different Headshots
Ron, both shots do very different jobs.
I think the second shot is better since it looks much more natural with more personality. Just has a more dramatic light.
The first I’m not sure the high key look helps in any way. It’s a beauty shot but with more light.
To me a portrait is a form of journalism unless we’re creating art.
Both of the eyes are clones, which looks really bizarre! Has a kinda vampirish look with the non-round pupils and no catch-lights, to me.
You say the second one was the way different shot, to me it’s pretty normal compared to the first.
But they’re both nice shots, I’m just not in love with the first one!!
John
p.1 #3 · One Person, Two Radically Different Headshots
JohnSil wrote:
Ron, both shots do very different jobs.
I think the second shot is better since it looks much more natural with more personality. Just has a more dramatic light.
The first I’m not sure the high key look helps in any way. It’s a beauty shot but with more light.
To me a portrait is a form of journalism unless we’re creating art.
Both of the eyes are clones, which looks really bizarre! Has a kinda vampirish look with the non-round pupils and no catch-lights, to me.
You say the second one was the way different shot, to me it’s pretty normal compared to the first.
But they’re both nice shots, I’m just not in love with the first one!!
John
Your take on the first one is really interesting to me. In the world of dancers and actors, the first one is the one they want. The second one is way too crazy with the dramatic overhead lighting. To be honest, as much as I like the second one with the artistic lighting, it's the first one that I like the most.
p.1 #4 · One Person, Two Radically Different Headshots
I think the washed out look is too high key, too flat. +1 @ headshots for actors are not the same as headshots for RE / Business, etc. BUT, they still want to be able to see the shape, form, structure (i.e. modeling) of the persons face ... so they know what they've got to work with (naturally). The PP (eyes & hair) on this one shows them more about what you were able to do with the image ... that's NOT what they are looking to know (they'll have their own ability to PP).
Headshots for actors / models / etc. should be very neutral, imo. Frequently done in mono, too. Imo, these might be something he puts in his port, but these are not what I would consider to be a "headshot" ... for the purpose of providing to an agent or AD.
+1 the dramatic lighting in #2 is not a good headshot for an actor. Again, it might make an interesting shot for the port, but not a headshot.
NOTE: The semantic definition of professional actor "headshot" is different than what most folks consider to be a headshot. It's been a long time since I did headshots for models, so things may have changed in the industry .... ... OTOH, they may still be the same. Have you asked (lately) multiple agent(s) or AD(s) what they expect from a headshot?
p.1 #5 · One Person, Two Radically Different Headshots
Thanks, Rusty. The headshots that I do for my actors and singers and dancers have been working pretty well. They keep coming back to me, and they're getting professional jobs. I think I mentioned that the second shot was purely experimental lighting fun for me. That was not intended to be a shot they used for gigs. He really liked it, though, and that usually means I've done pretty well.
By the way, in terms of headshots, or any portraits for that matter, I don't do a cookiecutter approach. I don't say this is the way it's done so I'm going to do it this way even if it doesn't present in the best light. For example, there are girls and women who want to be seen as tan, and I'm certainly not going to present them in this way.
Each subject is different for me, and I light them and pose them in a way that shows off their features the best. I'm doing pretty well by using this strategy.
p.1 #6 · One Person, Two Radically Different Headshots
Hi Ron. I also think #1 is a bit hot. I took the image into Lightroom and cut the exposure about 2/3 stop. To me it looked more natural, but his eyes still drew you in. I shouldn't be giving advice, however, I just got back from shooting with a cinematic photographer and we went crazy with colors on the face.
p.1 #7 · One Person, Two Radically Different Headshots
I appreciate the feedback. The lightness of his face is not accidental. It's intentional. I always think about the comments made about my photos posted here, and after Rusty commented on it, I actually went to Peter Hurley's page and compared that look to some of his. He does his headshots with the same sort of purpose that I do, with different backgrounds and different lighting, really all driven by the subject. He had pictures on his website a lot like both of mine -- different, of course, but somewhat similar in our approaches. I don't actually follow him or try to copy his style, but I know he's one of the top headshot photographers in the country, so it's a pretty good barometer for me.
p.1 #9 · One Person, Two Radically Different Headshots
I think the thing that is always lost in translation is that there is a norm in shooting photography, whatever genre you shoot. And there is safety in shooting within that norm. When you shoot outside the norm, then you open yourself up to criticism because you're not shooting the way that is expected. It's different. And when you shoot different, not everyone is going to like what you're doing. And then you can choose to go back to the norm and be more accepted, or continue to blaze your own trail. I just choose to do my own thing. There's always going to be people who don't like what I do, and I understand that. But I have to not care if I'm going to continue down my own trail.
It's like there's a guy here on FM that occasionally posts these abstract black and white shots with slow shutter speeds. He's way out there. I don't usually get what he's doing, but I love that he's doing something different. I love that he's doing something that maybe only he understands.
p.1 #10 · One Person, Two Radically Different Headshots
Danpbphoto wrote:
After your explanation on the lighting in #1, it is great! It works as you planned Ron.
#2 is more traditional i speculate. Both great!
Dan
Thanks, Dan. I think my most recent comment really explains my way of thinking.
p.1 #11 · One Person, Two Radically Different Headshots
I understood that Ron. When photographers explain the composition of their images, then that explains what others may like or suggest constructive comments. I understood that hence my response.
Thanks!
Dan
p.1 #12 · One Person, Two Radically Different Headshots
friscoron wrote:
Thanks, Rusty. The headshots that I do for my actors and singers and dancers have been working pretty well. They keep coming back to me, and they're getting professional jobs. I think I mentioned that the second shot was purely experimental lighting fun for me. That was not intended to be a shot they used for gigs. He really liked it, though, and that usually means I've done pretty well.
By the way, in terms of headshots, or any portraits for that matter, I don't do a cookiecutter approach. I don't say this is the way it's done so I'm going to do it this way even if it doesn't present in the best light. For example, there are girls and women who want to be seen as tan, and I'm certainly not going to present them in this way.
Each subject is different for me, and I light them and pose them in a way that shows off their features the best. I'm doing pretty well by using this strategy....Show more →
Fair enough ... if it's working for ya ... keep it goin'.
FYI, I wasn't suggesting cookie cutter, just that the first one had essentially no facial structure modeling to it. Like I said ... I'm far removed, these days, so take it for what the .02 is worth (or not).
p.1 #13 · One Person, Two Radically Different Headshots
Rusty, I'm not sure if you saw the post that I wrote after responding to you, but I thought I should elaborate. The bottom line is that I don't ever want to be the guy who people say: "Ron's great! He shoots just like everyone else!" I'd rather lose a few people here and there and blaze my own trail and be different.
p.1 #14 · One Person, Two Radically Different Headshots
friscoron wrote:
Rusty, I'm not sure if you saw the post that I wrote after responding to you, but I thought I should elaborate. The bottom line is that I don't ever want to be the guy who people say: "Ron's great! He shoots just like everyone else!" I'd rather lose a few people here and there and blaze my own trail and be different.
I get you blazing your own thing ... and taking the $$$ in doing so. Hopefully your work is effectively helping to land work / calls for your client. Imo, headshots are about marketing your client ... which presents a fine line between marketing you vs. marketing them.
Anyway, carry on ... I'm sure you're doing just fine.
p.1 #15 · One Person, Two Radically Different Headshots
Okay, I'm getting your sarcasm now. If you have current headshot clients and can show me what works for you, I'd be happy to see what you're doing. There's not even a link to your website. On your Top 15, I'm not even sure if there's a portrait on it, so I'm not really sure where you're coming from.
My photography studio is doing really well, and headshots are a part of that. We're going to have to agree to disagree about what you think about that headshot. Why don't you head over to Peter Hurley's website and compare my shots to his. You'll see one that is almost exactly the same skin tone on his page for women, third row down, center. But that's not the point. The point is that I"m just sharing what I'm doing. There's a lot of photographers on this People forum that like to see what we're doing. They're going to like some of it, and they're not going to like others. But you can't just sit there and, with your undertone, suggest that I'm doing a disservice to my clients because I"m marketing myself -- my style -- over what is best for them.
If you shoot 40 headshots every month, and you have actors and musicians and dancers and businessmen and women lined up to get their headshots taken by you, then I'd really like to see what you're doing. But even if so, it's not going to change what I do and my style. Because I'm doing my thing, and my clients dig it. Some people probably don't dig it, and they rightfully don't hire me. There's another photographer with a studio a block and a half from me, and they can go to him for boring headshots if they want. He's not nearly as busy as me, so I know he can take them.
So enlighten me, Rusty. I'd love to see what you're doing.
RustyBug wrote:
I get you blazing your own thing ... and taking the $$$ in doing so. Hopefully your work is effectively helping to land work / calls for your client. Imo, headshots are about marketing your client ... which presents a fine line between marketing you vs. marketing them.
Anyway, carry on ... I'm sure you're doing just fine.
p.1 #16 · One Person, Two Radically Different Headshots
RustyBug wrote:
FYI, I wasn't suggesting cookie cutter, just that the first one had essentially no facial structure modeling to it.
Have you looked on it with a bad monitor, possibly ? Because I've seen it on a good and a bad monitor and on a good monitor it looks just fine, no lack of facial structure there.
Still remarkably flawless skin, but for example you can see two birthmarks there.
Only on the bad monitor it was basically floating eyes, eyebrows and mouth in a sea of white.
p.1 #17 · One Person, Two Radically Different Headshots
Thanks. Maybe that's the issue. I have a pretty high-end monitor, and I see the facial structure. It is bright and contrasty and colorful, and that's one of my styles. I appreciate your mentioning that as that's what it could be.
I once had wedding clients complain that the pictures looked bad. They brought the flash drive back to me, we popped them up on my monitor and they looked amazing. Turns out he was using a TV to look at them, and they just didn't come across well on his TV.
... OTOH, they may still be the same. 
Have you asked (lately) multiple agent(s) or AD(s) what they expect from a headshot?