I'm in the process of trying to catch up/make up for lost time and in doing so, I've spent some time watching various YouTube videos on a wide variety of subjects. Something I've noticed that makes me go "hmmmm" is this.....I see photographers working with models doing portrait work and the entire time they are "working", they never change the orientation of the camera. When it comes time to show the "best" sample images that have been created for the video, a vertical headshot type image is shown but the photographer never deviated from holding the camera in the landscape position during the entire video.
I'm sure the photographer shot many portraits in both vertical and horizontal orientations especially if the sample images from the shoot are showing both, but the way the video was cut probably only showed them working in one orientation.
And to be honest, I personally very rarely shoot portraits in horizontal orientation. It comes down to personal taste.
The image tells me if I want to shoot landscape or portrait. Studio portrait work involves a tripod, so I have a l-bracket and quick release on the camera. That makes it easy to switch.
"LB" she is beautiful, engaging and your composition is excellent!
I can only comment as a viewer..I tried portraits and I suck!!! Landscape versus portrait views?
If it is a single person and the focus is on just her/him..portrait.
Larry, to answer your question, it seems many headshot photographers, for example Peter Hurley, always shoot horizontal aspect (or he did in the videos I've seen of his method). But, with cropping you can change that look to a vertical aspect without too much trouble, depending on how you framed the original image. Really, just a matter of taste and what your client is happy with. I like your image above, good closeup.
t45119 wrote:
Larry, to answer your question, it seems many headshot photographers, for example Peter Hurley, always shoot horizontal aspect (or he did in the videos I've seen of his method). But, with cropping you can change that look to a vertical aspect without too much trouble, depending on how you framed the original image. Really, just a matter of taste and what your client is happy with. I like your image above, good closeup.
t45119,
I suppose that if the possible intention of the image is to add text or graphics or do something with the "extra" space that a horizontally composed headshot/portrait would provide, it makes sense.
However, being an old fossil from the "OK boomer" era , I was taught or perhaps it was suggested or perhaps it just made/makes sense to me to "get it in-camera" as opposed to leaving too much to be "fixed in post".
Just wanted to note that very high resolution images do allow us to crop in post later and choose our own aspect ratio and orientation with enough "headroom". So it depends on how one works and what the goal is. If you're shooting for 1x1 output it doesn't matter which way you turn the camera!
That said when I'm doing headshots I'm always visualizing the cropped images and orientation before I even click - and freely swap things around in improvisational form when doing creative shoots - but business headshots remain fixed at portrait orientation (default with a plan for 4:5) unless there is a specific plan to output landscape.
Even with high resolution I always prefer to optimize my frame. Sometimes it's neither horizontal or vertical - but I often pad things a tiny bit to help in post - Just me. Nothing worse than cropping off feet or something else that should have been there. Think ahead!
Very classy looking.
, I was taught or perhaps it was suggested or perhaps it just made/makes sense to me to "get it in-camera" as opposed to leaving too much to be "fixed in post".