PH222 - Problems & Solutions - Week 2 - W2A2 - Preparation for Headshots
Hi Class,
For your W2A2, you'll be photographing a traditional head-shot. Typically head-shots are used for business related purposes. A company may require each employee to have a professional head-shot to put on their website. Or perhaps an actor/actress, dancer, or artist is asked for a head-shot to apply for a particular position. It's also quite popular to have a professional head-shot for one's LinkedIn Profile Page, as this is often looked at for potential employers. Below are a few examples of head-shots found in a simple Google Search:
Similar to most of the images above, you'll be shooting a head-shot for your W2A2 in the studio. As you can see, this generally consists of taking a photo of your subject from the chest up. By looking at the images above closely, you may be able to point out what type of lighting schemes were used. Many of the images above use two strobes, which is also what you'll be doing for your assignment.
To help you prepare for your assignment, I wanted to share an article below from Tuts+. The article goes over many different elements for you to prepare including topics on hair, make-up, stylizing, backdrops, lighting, and composition.
http://photography.tutsplus.com/tutorials/step-by-step-shooting-the-perfect-model-head-shot--photo-5529
As you'll see in the article above, the photographer is using two different strobe lights. This photographer has their model positioned directly against a wall, which he is using as a backdrop. Notice the shadow that is formed behind the model because of this. Ensure that your model is positioned at least 5-6 feet in front of the backdrop to avoid your shadows on the background and to push the idea behind light separation. In other words, the light falling on your subject should be brighter than the light falling on the backdrop.
1. Knight, Cameron. "Step By Step: Shooting the Perfect Model Head Shot - Envato Tuts+ Photo & Video Tutorial." Photo & Video Envato Tuts+. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2016.
2. "Head-shot - Google Search." Head-shot - Google Search. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2016.
For your W2A2, you'll be photographing a traditional head-shot. Typically head-shots are used for business related purposes. A company may require each employee to have a professional head-shot to put on their website. Or perhaps an actor/actress, dancer, or artist is asked for a head-shot to apply for a particular position. It's also quite popular to have a professional head-shot for one's LinkedIn Profile Page, as this is often looked at for potential employers. Below are a few examples of head-shots found in a simple Google Search:
Similar to most of the images above, you'll be shooting a head-shot for your W2A2 in the studio. As you can see, this generally consists of taking a photo of your subject from the chest up. By looking at the images above closely, you may be able to point out what type of lighting schemes were used. Many of the images above use two strobes, which is also what you'll be doing for your assignment.
To help you prepare for your assignment, I wanted to share an article below from Tuts+. The article goes over many different elements for you to prepare including topics on hair, make-up, stylizing, backdrops, lighting, and composition.
http://photography.tutsplus.com/tutorials/step-by-step-shooting-the-perfect-model-head-shot--photo-5529
As you'll see in the article above, the photographer is using two different strobe lights. This photographer has their model positioned directly against a wall, which he is using as a backdrop. Notice the shadow that is formed behind the model because of this. Ensure that your model is positioned at least 5-6 feet in front of the backdrop to avoid your shadows on the background and to push the idea behind light separation. In other words, the light falling on your subject should be brighter than the light falling on the backdrop.
1. Knight, Cameron. "Step By Step: Shooting the Perfect Model Head Shot - Envato Tuts+ Photo & Video Tutorial." Photo & Video Envato Tuts+. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2016.
2. "Head-shot - Google Search." Head-shot - Google Search. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2016.
