How to Capture the Perfect Headshot | FisheyeConnect
Like many forms of art, taking headshots is easy to begin but difficult to master. We’ve gathered some of our most informative information to boost your confidence when it comes to taking professional headshots.
Before you Begin:
Make sure to assess your client’s goals. What does your client need headshots for? Is it for their Linkedin profile or website? Or maybe they need images to show what they’re up to. Depending on your client’s answer to these questions, elements of the photograph will change like location, makeup, style, etc.
Depending on the client’s goal and occupation, you may want to do something a little more creative than formal. It all varies, and that’s why it’s important to get to know your client before the shoot!
Some Examples:
In the image above, we used a strip light softbox 45 degrees on the camera’s right side for a more moody look. By using a hair light in the background, we defined her hair from the dark background. Overall the goal is to have the background 2 stops darker than the subject. It’s important that your images are crisp and clear, or else your client won’t feel that they’re professional headshots.
In this specific image, we shot the client outdoors with the sun behind her. Then, we used a reflector to bounce light back to her face. To achieve a shallow depth of field, we used a 200 mm at f/2.8. This gently blurs the background and makes the image stand out.
One of our favorite and most simple tricks is using a window to light a client. This image has a relaxed yet professional feel that is enhanced by the natural light from the window. If you don’t have professional lighting available, good headshots can still be taken using natural light. Experiment before your shoot so you know what ISO to use. Typically we like to use a lower ISO for an image that isn’t too grainy. For a nice shallow depth of field, we shot this with a 200mm at f/2.8.
Studio Headshots:
This headshot was for a professional company studio image. We positioned a softbox on the left with a reflector on the right to light her face in a balanced yet brilliant way. We had two lights positioned towards it to solidify it as that stark white we see for the background. Many professional headshots will be done in this format, and it’s easy to overlook some steps! To maintain detail in your studio headshots under controlled lighting, we shoot at f/8.0. Since there isn’t a background that can be distracting, we don’t have to worry about it being way less focused than the subject. We recommend that you experiment with other textures of backgrounds and colors. Typically it’s best to stick to white, black, or in the more natural tone range (grays, dark blues, tans), but it’s not impossible to capture a professional headshot with “a little bit more of color” in it.
All in all, the most important thing to do is get to know your client’s preferences before you shoot. Remember, the “before work” makes the “during and after” work a lot easier, so take some notes and research ways to make your next Professional Shot clean and appropriately reflective of the subject.
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