First attempt at Headshots

[lusodoll]

So here is one of the shots from my first time out doing headshots would love your comments.

Although this is one that I was most happy with but I'm sure can use some adjustments. For example, the light on the right side of his face? What could I have done to fix that during the shoot, a reflector? And where? How is the framing? His mother really wanted a LOT of close of pics but is there something I could have done better there? I have done a little bit of work in post for this pic, and am noticing some redness under his lips that I should remove, but any other thoughts on what I can do to make this a usable headshot..if it can even be considered a usable headshot?

I appreciate your time and critiques



Camera Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture f/8.0
Focal Length 50 mm
ISO Speed 200
Flash off, did not fire

[commongrackle]

There is some distortion that comes from shooting him like this. I would have backed up and tried zooming in, but that is just me and I am sure there is a more correct way to do it.

[zona5101]

Nice capture, looks like you got the exposure right, eyes are sharp w/ adaquate dof. For me the framing/crop is too close... the very short camera to subject distance has added some perspective distortion and makes this shot look whimsical/comical. If you were intending that, then rock on.

[commongrackle]

Huh. Or maybe it's just the kid. Do you have a link to the other shots? Also, try not clipping the top of his head?

[lusodoll]

Thanks for the comments. I did take some with another lens that are on a different computer that I would need to upload to Flicker. However here is a link to some of the ones I have up so far. I'm upon to comments on any of these too! Flickr: lusodoll's Photostream

[lusodoll]

Originally Posted by commongrackle

Huh. Or maybe it's just the kid. Do you have a link to the other shots? Also, try not clipping the top of his head?

I think you guys may be right about the distortion though. Perhaps I should have gone with a longer focal length.

His Mom kept asking me to take closer and closer shots, hence the hairline crop...but I may have gone a bit overboard.

[FlyingKiwiGirl]

I'm no expert but Photos 11 & 7 do it for me although #7 has his hair chopped off. Much more natural shots and I like the slight angle which shows the subject off in a better light. For me the others are much too close.

[lusodoll]

Originally Posted by FlyingKiwiGirl

I'm no expert but Photos 11 & 7 do it for me although #7 has his hair chopped off. Much more natural shots and I like the slight angle which shows the subject off in a better light. For me the others are much too close.

Thanks for the tips!

I do have a question regarding the framing. Since these are headshots and not necessarily portraits I thought that they are suppose to be pretty close (at least when you are going for a close - up headshot as opposed to a partial body one)? I could be completely mistaken but it was just something I gathered from my research prior to the shoot.

Although, that could be the case but I was still probably TOO close.

[FlyingKiwiGirl]

I'm a newbie to both the forum and photography so don't ask me! If I asked for a head shot I'd want it more candid rather than a full on bright face but I suppose if that's what the client wants then that's what they get. I sure wouldn't like one of those head shots if it was my kid.

[Rentham]

Originally Posted by lusodoll

I do have a question regarding the framing. Since these are headshots and not necessarily portraits I thought that they are suppose to be pretty close (at least when you are going for a close - up headshot as opposed to a partial body one)? I could be completely mistaken but it was just something I gathered from my research prior to the shoot. Although, that could be the case but I was still probably TOO close.

Most of the tradition theater headshots I've seen are from the top of the head to the collar bone. More modern headshots seem to be less consistent about cropping. I rarely mind cropping the top of the head. You see it quite often in high end magazines and headshots.

The main problem with these shots, as the others have said, is the perceived distortion at 50mm. I'm not a big fan of ironclad rules like "You must shoot X type shots at Y millimeters", but in this particular case something in the range of 85mm to 200mm might have worked better. I would have also moved him into even shade adjacent to the sunlight and used a reflector held under his chin at about the chest line to fill in the eyes.