Attempted Headshot

1bwana1
Online
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Attempted Headshot

This one of our Nephews who will be in his Senior year at University next year. He is doing a double Business/Finance major. Dang they grow up fast.

This Summer, and next year he will be interning at a variety of family owned business to see which industry he wants to start his career in. He asked me to do a headshot for him.

I am not experienced in this area at all nor do I have much experience in lighting. I wanted to keep it simple so I used simple one light, one reflector setup. I used my 7' parabolic silver umbrella with no diffuser, and a silver reflector. Obviously set up in the classic Rembrandt position. I used a constant light rather than a strobe because it is easier for me to shape the shadows that way. I mounted my A1 on a tripod because of the slow shutter speed.

Anyway, this is the image he chose from the shoot.

ILCE-1 FE 85mm F1.8 lens 85mm f/5.6 1/60s 500 ISO 0.0 EV

Jul 29, 2023 at 02:56 PM

dmacmillan
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Attempted Headshot

He made a good choice. I have a couple of observations. I'd smooth out his chin stubble. I also find his skin tone slightly yellow and should be adjusted in colors since the white balance looks about right. There's a white thread on his collar.

For future reference, based on his head shape, I think short lighting would be the better choice instead of this broad lit shot.

Jul 29, 2023 at 04:40 PM

1bwana1
Online
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Attempted Headshot

Thanks for taking the time to look at the image and make constructive comments. Such effort is always appreciated.

I told that darn kid to take a minute and go in my bathroom and shave. He said he didn't care about the stubble. I have no idea how to edit that out. I would be willing to try if you can point me in the right direction.

[Edit] I went back used a brush a lowered the texture, clarity, and sharpness on the stubble and that helped to a point. It looks better, but not perfect. Next time I will sit on him and shave him myself.

I did go back and take some the yellow out. You were ring, it does look better. I used a grey card to set the wb, I think it looks right. I removed the thread as well.

-Steve-

Jul 29, 2023 at 05:47 PM

story_teller
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Attempted Headshot

It's a nice headshot and dmacmillan provided some great comments. Many of the headshots, as opposed to portraits, go on business cards and website and are usually small in size. This means that the stubble would not be an issue, but in a printed portrait it would show.

I'm wondering if the yellow tint to the skin was caused by other lights in the room. You might consider setting a custom WB in your camera for that room and constant light setup.

Jul 30, 2023 at 08:50 AM

1bwana1
Online
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Attempted Headshot

story_teller wrote:
It's a nice headshot and dmacmillan provided some great comments. Many of the headshots, as opposed to portraits, go on business cards and website and are usually small in size. This means that the stubble would not be an issue, but in a printed portrait it would show.

I'm wondering if the yellow tint to the skin was caused by other lights in the room. You might consider setting a custom WB in your camera for that room and constant light setup.

Thanks for posting story_teller. I did manage to clean up the stubble to a point that it shouldn't matter for the intended use and size. I would re-shoot if I were printing it large.

The room had some windows that let some daylight in, but the lights were also supposed to be daylight balanced. I set the white balance by grey card so it was close. I'm guessing the yellow was an editing artifact since fixed.

I appreciate you constructive comments. I have much to learn about this kind of photography that is for sure.

-Steve-

Jul 30, 2023 at 12:07 PM

Danpbphoto
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Attempted Headshot

Steve, I agree with Larry and "dmac". But I am a terrible portrait shooter. He does look like a business man and your bg is super!
Well done!
Dan

Jul 31, 2023 at 10:44 AM

1bwana1
Online
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Attempted Headshot

Danpbphoto wrote:
Steve, I agree with Larry and "dmac". But I am a terrible portrait shooter. He does look like a business man and your bg is super!
Well done!
Dan

Thanks for the supportive comment Dan, I am glad you liked the image.
-Steve-

Jul 31, 2023 at 11:57 AM


FM Forums \| People Photography \| Join Upload & Sell

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.