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DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> actress headshot session coming up
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Showing posts 26 - 50 of 61, (reverse)
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 01/13/2005 01:50:42 PM · #26
Originally posted by GeneralE:
...snip...
Remember that the primary use will be for an 8x10 print, and that it will have to be cropped differently than these examples. For example, this can make a difference if she wears a necklace; a pendant will probably be cropped out while a semi-choker may be visible throughout its arc.

I'd do some both on and off the tripod. As mentioned, getting her to feel relaxed (and snapping the shutter at that moment) are key. Let her know that we all think you'll both do fine.


I was completely amazed by your comment! Something so simple, and yet that would not have occurred to me, (at least not until I saw the shots on the computer!) I guess I'm surprised that a man would see this kind of detail. (And ashamed that I am so unobservant!)

Linda
 01/13/2005 02:20:45 PM · #27
my sister acts and got here head shot done here in chicago by 1 of 3 theater recomeded photogs. (its $$$$)

but the point is as u might amagen lighting wise NO back or front lighting depending on to which side the subjects face is angled(specking of theater head shot in protic.) the lighting should flod that side from the bottom, the other sind should be lit so as not to be thrown into darkness but it should be lit with half the intencity as the side to which they are looking.

this works well for the top 3 studio guys but play around off of that they have mega$$$ to work with and spend on equipment.

another trick if u don't have a backround use a sheet and put a couple of rinkels in it then give it a gaussian blur in PS it winds up looking kind like a baught backround.(refreance my shot "Resolve to play through the blues" i used that tech. to creat the backround.

GL have fun _brando_
 01/13/2005 02:22:41 PM · #28
one tip about post processing:

Make new layer and blurr it with gaussian blurr (ca. 5-8), make it a luminosity layer with opacity 25-40%. Then use the eraser tool at the eyes and maybe the hair, moth, jeweleries and other parts that have to be sharp.
 01/13/2005 05:48:28 PM · #29
Originally posted by garlic:
one tip about post processing:

Make new layer and blurr it with gaussian blurr (ca. 5-8), make it a luminosity layer with opacity 25-40%. Then use the eraser tool at the eyes and maybe the hair, moth, jeweleries and other parts that have to be sharp.


Yup, that is in effect the tip I gave earlier, except I also apply selictive sharpening to the eyes and mouth.
 01/14/2005 12:09:17 PM · #30
I am indeed blown away by that! I did notice, however, a couple weird things. Are there any traditional full head 8x10 cropped black and white headshot style images on his site? From what I was there were not- but then his site also seemed to do something weird to my browser. It slowed things down considerably so I didn't look around much.

Also, I noticed what GoldBerry mentioned about seeing him in the subjects eyes- not to mention the garage door, bushes, etc! That's a little weird but at least in my case probably not much of an issue.

I noticed he was using his garage door to provide open shade- I'll ask my subject if she has a similar area that we can use. In that case would it matter whether the garage door faced N, S, W or E so long as the sun was out?

Andi

Originally posted by crabappl3:
View this:

Head Shot Photography

Then look at these:

Portfolio

If you aren't blown away by his simple setup, then you need to reassess what you think you need for great headshots.

-danny

01/14/2005 12:17:53 PM · #31
I think the black and white shot looks a bit flat...other than that it's okay. I'm not big on older women wearing turtle necks but if she doesn't want to change it there's nothing you can do.

I do suggest lightening the circles under her eyes...you don't have to take away any wrinkles or other lines which are apart of her, but lightening that area will take about 10 years off her.
 01/14/2005 10:04:18 PM · #32
One good reason to actually use a tripod, you can come out from behind the camera and actually talk/ relate to her - rather than being this large glass eye looking at her. A cable release and tripod are great for more natural, more connected portraits, just for this reason.
 01/14/2005 10:08:26 PM · #33
Originally posted by Gordon:
One good reason to actually use a tripod, you can come out from behind the camera and actually talk/ relate to her - rather than being this large glass eye looking at her. A cable release and tripod are great for more natural, more connected portraits, just for this reason.

And for those of us without a cable release/remote, you can use the timer in a somewhat similar fashion ... frame the shot, trigger the timer, and get out from behind the camera before the shutter fires.
 01/21/2005 06:03:12 PM · #34
Okay, tomorrow morning at 10:30 I'm doing this shoot. I'm planning on shooting with my 70-210 at about 105mm. We're doing it at her friends house, friend apparently has a garage and a covered patio, both which could lend some promising open shade. I'll take a piece of white posterboard for her to hold to reflect some light up into her face. She's planning on wearing a white blouse (not turtleneck) with a black jacket and possibly a scarf- she's self conscious about her "wattle". I plan to do at least a few shots from slightly above her so that her neck won't be an issue. I'll take my tripod and remote but may also shoot some handheld. Should be interesting since ATL weather looks pretty unsettled tomorrow- possible showers and definite cold temps. This will definitely be a test of my ability to improvise :D

After watching the video mentioned previously, I'm debating about the necessity of taking a backdrop of any kind or any lights (all I have is basic household lightbulbs in clamping desklamps anyway). I may take them just in case. I do have the SB800, which I will use for at least some shots. I think I'll be shooting a lot of pics ;)

Wish me luck...
 01/23/2005 01:37:40 PM · #35
Well, that was certainly a test of my improvisation skills!! We did the shoot at her friends house, where there is both a carport and a screened back patio offering open shade. Unfortunately it was cold and rainy all day and our natural light wasn't as strong as I would've liked. We threw a blanket over a plant stand in the lightest part of screened porch area and turned on an overhead light (to her left), bounced the SB-800 off the white ceiling, and I had one other light I was able to aim at her- plus I had a silver reflector on the table in front of her. I didn't have the ability to light the background, so I didn't get as much separation as I'd have liked. Each time I rearranged the setup she'd run in the house to get warm. We had a good time though, and I think it was great experience. I took about 120 shots and got 11 that I think are really strong, one that I'm not crazy about but could be workable, and one that I just think is realy cute in the "hat" series (throwing the hat in the air).

//www.titoi.com/BSS/

My favorite is the 1st of the hat shots, though I also like the leopard print background shots even though I wasn't able to light the background.

In addition to all that I also made the following link to show her the kind of editing I did to the shots:

//titoi.com/BSS/editing.html

Mousing over will show you the "before".

I've sent her the links- I think she'll be happy!

Message edited by author 2005-01-23 13:38:34.
 01/23/2005 01:48:40 PM · #36
I think the first one and the third from the last one show her at her best. Good job for having to improvise the lighting. Her face has good structure. She's a pretty lady.
 01/23/2005 02:00:35 PM · #37
Originally posted by pcody:
I think the first one and the third from the last one show her at her best. Good job for having to improvise the lighting. Her face has good structure. She's a pretty lady.


Those are the two I like the best, as well. I think if you would have been able to light the background, the first of the leopard print background would be terrific. You did well, for what you had to work with.
 01/23/2005 02:34:58 PM · #38
#6, #7, #9, #11, #13 are my favorites. excellent work.

I suggest you try to bring out some of the details in the hats shots. There are some great textures that I originally didn't perceive when viewing on my laptop, but when I changed the screen angle I saw the hat detail better. Make sure that shows up in the prints.

Great job!

Dave
 01/23/2005 02:41:36 PM · #39
Well Done, all came out really well, non were too staged.

I liked the hat series best, your sitter seemed more relaxed...all hat ones great, but last two seemed most natural and flattering.

Great Work!

Steve
 01/23/2005 02:44:55 PM · #40
#6, 9, and 13 are my favorites too -- great job. You might want to consider "warming" them a little with a subtle duotone effect -- no one else needs to know how cold you were.
 01/23/2005 02:59:13 PM · #41
Very nicely done! I like so many of them, and #6,9,13 are probably my favs. She must be so pleased with the results of the "shoot".
 01/23/2005 03:07:16 PM · #42
I am not half as good as alot of people here on DPC, but I always do my best portrait work outside. The light is much better and becuase it's natural... I think they come out much nicer. :)
 01/23/2005 03:19:41 PM · #43
Awesome job -- like a couple others have mentioned, I liked the last and third to last best. I also like 5th to last, so long as she enjoys her look in that hat =) I certainly wouldn't have believed this was your first headshot session, so well done!!

Message edited by author 2005-01-23 15:21:41.
 01/23/2005 05:18:25 PM · #44
Thank you all for your replies!! I'm glad everyone else thinks they look good, I was expecting to hear a lot more criticism of things I didn't see. GeneralE, I would love to duotone them, the only problem is I have next to no experience with duotones. And judging from the reception my New Years Resolutions duotone got, I'd be hesitant to try it again ;)
 01/23/2005 05:40:05 PM · #45
Originally posted by ahaze:
Thank you all for your replies!! I'm glad everyone else thinks they look good, I was expecting to hear a lot more criticism of things I didn't see. GeneralE, I would love to duotone them, the only problem is I have next to no experience with duotones. And judging from the reception my New Years Resolutions duotone got, I'd be hesitant to try it again ;)

I have to go out for a while, but I'll download one of these later and see if I can deliver an example. If you like it, I can email you the Photoshop file with the settings; you can transfer them to the high-resolution files.
 01/23/2005 06:16:44 PM · #46
I did a quick redit on one of them. If you like, just shoot me a PM and I'll give you the steps I used.

Your original
Re-edit in B&W. Adjusted the exposure.
Re-edit sepia quadtone.
 01/23/2005 09:03:16 PM · #47
That looks good -- maybe I won't bother!
 01/23/2005 09:04:29 PM · #48
Originally posted by GeneralE:
That looks good -- maybe I won't bother!


Sorry, I was bored, waiting for the game to start. :-)
 01/23/2005 09:17:44 PM · #49
Originally posted by cbeller:
Originally posted by GeneralE:
That looks good -- maybe I won't bother!


Sorry, I was bored, waiting for the game to start. :-)

I have plenty of other things I'm supposed to be doing! Did you use a quadtone preset or make that up? It really does look about like what I'd have tried for myself, but not the way I'd have done it.
 01/23/2005 11:30:55 PM · #50
Originally posted by cbeller:
I did a quick redit on one of them. If you like, just shoot me a PM and I'll give you the steps I used.


Please do!! It looks great- I'd even be happy just with your exposure adjustment, but I'd love to know the quadtone too. Thanks!!
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