Headshot Session Critique - DPChallenge Forums

Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM

04/04/2010 02:37:37 PM · #1

I had a new head shot session yesterday, I'd love to hear any critique, or ideas for better poses next time.

The link is here.

Those were my first picks. Note that in most cases, I shot broader, and cropped. A lesson I learned a while ago when I found that composing completely in camera made it very difficult to produce 8x10's which are needed for headshots!

My second favorite picks, perhaps not all cropped for headshots, are here.

Note that where we used a green screen, I will put in a background if she selects one of those.

Setup was an SB-600 through a white umbrella, and another SB-600 as a hair light, using a homemade snoot. I also had on very low power the popup flash (which was controlling the other flashes, and it was through a Gary Wong diffuser.

First time I've used the snoot as a hair light. Worked pretty well I think, but I think barn doors would work better (so I'd have to make some).

Also had pretty ample window light from behind me.

ETA: These are adjusted in LR only. I did use LR to fix her up a bit on many, but not all. Just so she would get the right idea on cosmetic corrections.

Please feel free to critique in this thread (not on the site, please.) Perhaps we can also use this thread to discuss techniques and poses that might work better in general!

Message edited by author 2010-04-04 14:48:17.

NathanWert

Canon EOS-90D

04/04/2010 03:32:27 PM · #2

I like them. You did good. I don't have any comments or critiques though. Sorry.

Kelli

Canon EOS-D60

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

04/04/2010 03:44:31 PM · #3

I think they're all pretty fantastic! Nothing to critique.

RayEthier

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

04/04/2010 03:50:09 PM · #4

Good afternoon my friend:

I don't have much time as I am on my way out, but will make a few comments:

- I am not a big fan of images where the top of one's head is cropped off;

- The lighting in a few of the images cast shadows on the subject's face;

- When wearing the yellow top, he subject's teeth seemed to have a yellowish tinge;

Overall I think you did a fantastic job and should be very proud of your collection.

Ray

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

04/04/2010 04:44:29 PM · #5

Thanks for looking and your comments Ray, Kelli, and Nathan.

RE the yellowish teeth, that's her color, I just fixed a number of shots in lightroom using the adjustment brush. But I didn't fix them all (that was part of my comments that I fixed some but not all images cosmetically).

Message edited by author 2010-04-04 16:44:59.

giantmike

Canon EOS R6

04/04/2010 04:54:37 PM · #6

Take this with a grain of salt, since I've never done portrait shooting before.

I would suggest making sure she is more straight up in many of the stops. In most of them, she is leaning forward a bit which does show off more of her very pretty hair, but it feels a bit unnatural. I think that's fine for a few, but more variety is good.

Speaking of variety, maybe some 3 quarters and full length shots, with some fun poses. Hands on hips, hands in the air with palms up, looking back over the shoulder, etc.

The lighting looks fantastic.

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

04/04/2010 05:17:15 PM · #7

Originally posted by giantmike:

Agreed. Fantastic portraits.

The ones in the blue shirt are STUNNING.

michaelmonn

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

04/04/2010 09:12:41 PM · #8

Great job. IMO the shots where she is leaning back look a bit unnatural. i do love the light on these shots though and great job with the eyes

Citadel

Nikon D7500

Olympus 50mm f/1.8 MF Normal Zuiko

04/04/2010 09:18:07 PM · #9

You did a great job on the lighting I think. I think you might want to bring her away from the background a bit to let the background naturally disappear and lose prominence. The muslin is fairly neutral but still...

emorgan49

Olympus E-5

04/04/2010 09:24:27 PM · #10

Wonderful - Interesting how you divided the two groups. In the first set, I think, are the shots that a high school kid would like but in the second set are a few that a mother will treasure - see if my prediction comes true.

04/06/2010 08:45:26 PM · #11

Thank you for all the comments...

Ellen, you were right! (I gave them two shots to pick, and they picked one from each)..

The final choices for printing are here.

Two questions:

1) For the color version, which background do you like? (One of her two choices was a green screen shot.)
2) How do the BW's look?

Note that the "assignment" we were after, as I was told, were head shots--hence all the closeup face shots. Not sure they picked the best of the bunch for headshots, but I think she just picked what she liked.

BTW - on the tilt, I take the guilt ;) (Now I'm talking about the original proof batch...I just think it adds a dynamic, so sometimes I add it in post/cropping.)

Message edited by author 2010-04-07 10:31:13.

Olympus 7-14mm f/4.0 Zuiko Digital Zoom

04/07/2010 10:30:38 AM · #12

Well lots of people apparently looked, but no one offered an opinion on the best BG or on my BW conversion.

Are people out of opinions here? (LOL)

The questions were:

Two questions:

1) For the color version, which background do you like? (One of her two choices was a green screen shot.)
2) How do the BW's look?

The link is here.

Message edited by author 2010-04-07 10:32:21.

one2one

Olympus E-5

04/07/2010 10:45:41 AM · #13

I commented on one image but I realized that maybe your customer is viewing them as well so I stopped and even tried to delete it but couldn't.

Overall I like them all. As for the B&W one, it looks a bit softer than the coloured one but that may be what you wanted or it may be because of the lighter tones in her face from the B&W conversion. I like the way her hands are placed in this photo rather than seeing all of her hands. I don't like seeing fingers in portraits as I find it distracts but that may be just me. I have a tendency to look at people's hands and fingers for some reason. As for the other B&W one it looks less soft than the first. When I say soft it isn't overly soft, just softer than the colour one.

As for backgrounds I prefer this one, 20100403 Macie D19796-Edit_8bitOMB01019, but I have to say I like them all except this one, 20100403 Macie D19796-Edit_8bitOMB01022, which is too close to her hair colour. The greener one contrasts too much with her dress I find.

These proofs look great Neil and I'm sure she'll be pleased with your work.

Message edited by author 2010-04-07 10:48:42.

pawdrix

Nikon D700

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF

04/07/2010 11:52:58 AM · #14

pm

Message edited by author 2010-04-07 13:34:18.