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DPChallenge Forums >> Individual Photograph Discussion >> First time trying "headshots"...
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 11/28/2004 07:46:46 PM · #1
Some of you gave me some great suggestions for my first ever "photo shoot" today. I tried doing some headshots for a friend's son who is in college and can't afford to pay someone who actually knows what they're doing! ; )

Here's a few that I liked. Levels and/or curves, tiny bit of USM, that's about it. I was not entirely happy with the lighting, (shot outside in open shade with a white board reflector), but wouldn't know what to do different unless it would be to have lights to "boost" the lighting.

Comments appreciated so that I can actually improve at this, be brutal if you need to, but tell me what I can do different/better.
Thanks!






I appreciate your time!
Thanks, Linda

Message edited by author 2004-11-28 19:48:07.
 11/28/2004 07:51:53 PM · #2
I like the second one best the eyes are great there
I dont like the first one too overexposed
The third one is good too but not as good as the second one :)
Good job
 11/28/2004 07:55:05 PM · #3
You forgot this one, which I really like:



The first one: There are some overexposed areas on the face. The focus is maybe just a tiny bit off, i'm not sure though, maybe its my eyes, lol, or maybe it needs a little more sharpening.

I like the second one more than the third one, but I really like the one with the dog :)

Message edited by author 2004-11-28 19:56:35.
 11/28/2004 07:56:30 PM · #4
Thank you for taking the time to comment heida.

The second one is my favorite. The first one, he wanted the contrast boosted for a more high-key look. I do think that looking at it on here, it looks overprocessed.
 11/28/2004 07:58:06 PM · #5
Originally posted by tyt2000:
You forgot this one, which I really like:



The first one: There are some overexposed areas on the face. The focus is maybe just a tiny bit off, i'm not sure though, maybe its my eyes, lol, or maybe it needs a little more sharpening.

I like the second one more than the third one, but I really like the one with the dog :)


How funny that you would pick that one! I decided not to put it in the post since it wasn't "technically" a headshot, he happened to have his dog with him and we thought that shot would be great for his Mom. I do love that one!

Thanks!
 11/28/2004 08:10:48 PM · #6
If it's a headshot for theatre, you'll need to make it black and white. I agree with heida - go with the second one, but make it b&w. Eyes like his will still look good.
 11/28/2004 08:15:54 PM · #7
This thread Apeture for Headshots had a lot of good advice in it.
 11/28/2004 08:18:34 PM · #8
I like the second one the most of the three, but I think the eyes are a little low in the frame. The composition of the third is a little better, but the lighting in the eyes just isn't as good as the second. Great results for the first attempt, I look forward to seeing more of your work.
 11/28/2004 08:29:28 PM · #9
@BikeRacer: thanks for the link to the thread; there is so much information in there that I had to bookmark all of it to read later. Thanks so much, I already see stuff that will help me out!

@Nusbaum: You are SO RIGHT!! I don't know why I didn't see that the composition is off on the second one. I think I was just so happy to get one some that looked good at all! LOL! Will try some crops on that one and see what I get. Thanks!
 11/28/2004 08:35:19 PM · #10
Hey Linda! The poses look good. I really think you nailed the DOF, especially on the second one. I told you that you would do fine. :)

One area I see for improvement is in post-processing. The 2nd is my favorite too, it just looks a little flat to me. I took the liberty of doing a quick re-edit. I have a color and B&W version.

Original
Color re-edit
B&W re-edit

If you like to know what I did on either, PM me and I will let you know.

Message edited by author 2004-11-28 20:36:00.
 11/28/2004 08:37:08 PM · #11
Those are awesome! First time? I don't have anything bad to say about these shots.
 11/28/2004 08:38:49 PM · #12
Originally posted by cbeller:
Hey Linda! The poses look good. I really think you nailed the DOF, especially on the second one. I told you that you would do fine. :)

One area I see for improvement is in post-processing. The 2nd is my favorite too, it just looks a little flat to me. I took the liberty of doing a quick re-edit. I have a color and B&W version.

Original
Color re-edit
B&W re-edit

If you like to know what I did on either, PM me and I will let you know.


What method did you use to do the b/w conversion? It looks really good.
 11/28/2004 08:40:53 PM · #13
Originally posted by cbeller:
Hey Linda! The poses look good. I really think you nailed the DOF, especially on the second one. I told you that you would do fine. :)

One area I see for improvement is in post-processing. The 2nd is my favorite too, it just looks a little flat to me. I took the liberty of doing a quick re-edit. I have a color and B&W version.

Original
Color re-edit
B&W re-edit

If you like to know what I did on either, PM me and I will let you know.


I don't know what you did, but they look GREAT! Thanks!
 11/28/2004 08:44:38 PM · #14
Originally posted by Sonifo:
Those are awesome! First time? I don't have anything bad to say about these shots.


I take this as quite a compliment, coming from you. I have long admired your portraits of children, and often check in at your website to see what you're up to.

Thank you.

Message edited by author 2004-11-28 20:44:54.
 11/28/2004 08:47:41 PM · #15
Originally posted by BikeRacer:

What method did you use to do the b/w conversion? It looks really good.


- Slight levels and contrast adjustment to darken it a bit
- Dodged the dark spots under his eyes and mustache shadow a little.
- Made duplicate layer and ran through NI and set opacity to 75%.
- Flattened Layers
- Convert to Lab Mode
- Select Lightness Layer
- Convert to Grayscale
- Convert to Duotone
- Applied a B&W Quadtone (I believe it is one of Setz's - Just Black, dark grey, grey, light grey)
- Slight levels adjustment
- Convert to RGB
- Applied USM 90%,1.0,1
- Save For Web

Edit: Added first two steps (levels/contrast and dodging). The color version was the same edits, minus the conversion to B&W steps.

Message edited by author 2004-11-28 20:52:36.
 11/28/2004 09:01:09 PM · #16
OK, I see you ran it through NeatImage. I have seen, here at dpc, that a lot of peeps use this, is this something that I need to invest in?? My husband and I were just discussing this today, so if I need it, I already have the "go ahead" to get it! What does it do that PS does not??
 11/28/2004 09:08:22 PM · #17
Originally posted by lhall:
OK, I see you ran it through NeatImage. I have seen, here at dpc, that a lot of peeps use this, is this something that I need to invest in?? My husband and I were just discussing this today, so if I need it, I already have the "go ahead" to get it! What does it do that PS does not??


Some people like it, and some don't. I like it when doing portraits because when you apply USM it really brings out the pores in the face. I normally soften/smooth the skin up a little before applying USM. NI can be a handy tool once you perfect it's use. I'm still working on that part.

If you get it, I highly suggest getting the Pro version, so you have more control. Download the free version to try, but if you are going to keep using it, I highly suggested paying for it.

Another thing to learn to use the Healing Brush in PS. If I was editing this for a client, I would go through with the Healing & Clone brush and clear up any skin imperfections.
 11/28/2004 09:15:00 PM · #18
Originally posted by lhall:
OK, I see you ran it through NeatImage. I have seen, here at dpc, that a lot of peeps use this, is this something that I need to invest in?? My husband and I were just discussing this today, so if I need it, I already have the "go ahead" to get it! What does it do that PS does not??

It doesn't do anything that PS is not capable of doing -- but it does make doing some things easier. The primary purpose of NI is to remove sensor noise from long exposures or high ISO, but it can also be used to smooth the image as well. The biggest problem with using it to smooth an image is it will happily remove detail as well as noise, leaving an image that looks more plastic than anything else.

Like the images -- very good for any try, especially the first.

David
 01/12/2005 02:50:21 PM · #19
Originally posted by cbeller:

- Made duplicate layer and ran through NI and set opacity to 75%.
- Flattened Layers


Sorry for resurrecting an old thread, but I just got asked to do some headshots for a friend for theatre. I didn't realize it was possible to run a PSD file through NI and effect only one layer? Or am I not getting it?

Thanks in advance. I'm going to go surf the forums for more headshot info now.
 01/12/2005 03:16:15 PM · #20
Nice shots.

Raise the reflector. The highlights in the eyes look unnatural because the are level with the pupils. Natural highlights are higher in the eye.

This subject would probably thank you if you could make his face look thinner. In the first pose, have the light come from the subjects left, rather than his right. Light the left side of his face, and leave the right (which shows the most face) darker. This will narrow the face. Lighting as you have (in that pose) makes the face look fatter.

Just some thoughts.
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