Comments on: How to Take Perfect Headshots: Six Tips http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-take-the-perfect-headshot-six-tips Discover how to use your digital camera with our Digital Photography Tips. We are a community of photographers of all experience levels who come together to learn, share and grow in our understanding of photography. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:12:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: janet picotte http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-take-the-perfect-headshot-six-tips/comment-page-2#comment-254217 janet picotte Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:22:43 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=13414#comment-254217 Help me please. I did weddings using film for 18 yrs. Quitting just as digital cameras entered the business at only 3.5 megapixels. After 10 yrs I will do a head shot shoot for a model. I have a NIKON D80 and my medium format film cameras. What is best to use? ASAP please. Help me please. I did weddings using film for 18 yrs. Quitting just as digital cameras entered the business at only 3.5 megapixels. After 10 yrs I will do a head shot shoot for a model. I have a NIKON D80 and my medium format film cameras. What is best to use? ASAP please.

]]> By: Genesis http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-take-the-perfect-headshot-six-tips/comment-page-2#comment-252838 Genesis Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:18:10 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=13414#comment-252838 I was reading a lot of the comments above (no all them though ) I agree on the 70-200 f2.8 but also my favorite portrait/headshot lens is the 85mm f1.8 and f1.2, Besides the photo example the tips are very helpful. I was reading a lot of the comments above (no all them though ) I agree on the 70-200 f2.8 but also my favorite portrait/headshot lens is the 85mm f1.8 and f1.2, Besides the photo example the tips are very helpful.

]]> By: Al G. http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-take-the-perfect-headshot-six-tips/comment-page-2#comment-249901 Al G. Sat, 21 Jan 2012 18:46:21 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=13414#comment-249901 So I am doing a headshot session for a friend. Great tips, and reminders. It is very important to have that low/high angle for your subject to project the intended look. Thanks! Al G. So I am doing a headshot session for a friend. Great tips, and reminders. It is very important to have that low/high angle for your subject to project the intended look. Thanks! Al G.

]]> By: Lisa http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-take-the-perfect-headshot-six-tips/comment-page-2#comment-247971 Lisa Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:36:15 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=13414#comment-247971 That pic at the top might be a good portrait but E. Gadz, it's NOT a headshot. This would go right into the trash if submitted to a casting director or agent. That pic at the top might be a good portrait but E. Gadz, it’s NOT a headshot. This would go right into the trash if submitted to a casting director or agent.

]]> By: Vancouver Headshot Photographer http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-take-the-perfect-headshot-six-tips/comment-page-2#comment-218764 Vancouver Headshot Photographer Wed, 26 Oct 2011 21:02:15 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=13414#comment-218764 Thank you for posting this! simple and clear-cut approach. i typically use an 85 mm lens for my headshots, longer if i can get away with it. Thank you for posting this! simple and clear-cut approach. i typically use an 85 mm lens for my headshots, longer if i can get away with it.

]]> By: Actor Headshots http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-take-the-perfect-headshot-six-tips/comment-page-2#comment-187601 Actor Headshots Tue, 14 Jun 2011 13:47:52 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=13414#comment-187601 I like the techniques you have and actually, I've been in to photography for so many years I'm still having some difficulties on finding the right angles for my models to have a good shot. I like the techniques you have and actually, I’ve been in to photography for so many years I’m still having some difficulties on finding the right angles for my models to have a good shot.

]]> By: Cheap Headshots http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-take-the-perfect-headshot-six-tips/comment-page-2#comment-175736 Cheap Headshots Mon, 09 May 2011 20:07:44 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=13414#comment-175736 I actually have to disagree with your comment on lenses. I initially started shooting with a 50mm on a 1.5x crop sensor, which was fairly wide and did cause a bit of distortion. So I bought a 80-200mm 2.8 lens, which was amazing. But after about a year, I've since moved back to the 50mm. I feel using the distortion in a creative way can give much more dynamic and engaging shots. You should try it! It's really fun to shoot Headshots with a wide angle. I actually have to disagree with your comment on lenses. I initially started shooting with a 50mm on a 1.5x crop sensor, which was fairly wide and did cause a bit of distortion. So I bought a 80-200mm 2.8 lens, which was amazing. But after about a year, I’ve since moved back to the 50mm. I feel using the distortion in a creative way can give much more dynamic and engaging shots. You should try it! It’s really fun to shoot Headshots with a wide angle.

]]> By: sam-j. http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-take-the-perfect-headshot-six-tips/comment-page-2#comment-167786 sam-j. Thu, 07 Apr 2011 23:44:05 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=13414#comment-167786 p.s. Theres a reason 85mm are the standard headshot lenses. Why do you think they use 85mm for close-ups in films? sam-j p.s.

Theres a reason 85mm are the standard headshot lenses.

Why do you think they use 85mm for close-ups in films?

sam-j

]]> By: sam-j. http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-take-the-perfect-headshot-six-tips/comment-page-1#comment-167785 sam-j. Thu, 07 Apr 2011 23:42:44 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=13414#comment-167785 Ed V; I completely agree with you about not "softening" or blurring any images in post. If any one of you has worked professionally shooting "head-shots" you would never do this, unless it REALLY called for it, and I mean.. you better have a good reason. Casting Directors don't care about how pretty this person looks, what they want is a REAL face. Nothing more, nothing less. If they are looking for nothing more then beauty, then obviously the person will stand out, whether or not they have blemishes. Now, Ed V. I completely disagree with you about this picture, its completely unprofessional, even if it did have potential, the casting director would advice the actor to round up half a grand or more and get some real shots. sam-j. Ed V;
I completely agree with you about not “softening” or blurring any images in post.

If any one of you has worked professionally shooting “head-shots” you would never do this, unless it REALLY called for it, and I mean.. you better have a good reason.

Casting Directors don’t care about how pretty this person looks, what they want is a REAL face. Nothing more, nothing less.

If they are looking for nothing more then beauty, then obviously the person will stand out, whether or not they have blemishes.

Now, Ed V.

I completely disagree with you about this picture, its completely unprofessional, even if it did have potential, the casting director would advice the actor to round up half a grand or more and get some real shots.

sam-j.

]]> By: Nikisha http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-take-the-perfect-headshot-six-tips/comment-page-1#comment-165072 Nikisha Thu, 24 Mar 2011 02:09:41 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=13414#comment-165072 I am a freelance photographer, but also an actress, so I know what to look for when shooting headshots. If the headshot is for acting and not a personal comission, accessories are a bog no-no as an actor is meant to be a blank canvas until given their character part. Smallish accessories such as a necklace/chain the actor wears all the time, possibly even a piercing or earrings are acceptable because the actor will turn up to an audition with these things on. So this definately breaks the rule of an acting headshot. For lense, i use my 18-55mm and I have taken headshots that have helped people get work and into drama school. I think lense and light setup is usually the photographers own preference to what they feel comfortable with. However, the stuff about the eyes is true. Eyes can show a persons personality, and make others feel all sorts of emotions. This is a factor what a casting director would be looking for. Also, a smile and a serious face are required as this helps with the casting of age range. Many older actors can play younger characters, and this is genuinely down to good lighting and no OTT posing. I would say maybe give the client a 5-15 minute trial so you have the lighting, backdrop, and lens suited to them. hoe this has helped :) I am a freelance photographer, but also an actress, so I know what to look for when shooting headshots. If the headshot is for acting and not a personal comission, accessories are a bog no-no as an actor is meant to be a blank canvas until given their character part. Smallish accessories such as a necklace/chain the actor wears all the time, possibly even a piercing or earrings are acceptable because the actor will turn up to an audition with these things on. So this definately breaks the rule of an acting headshot. For lense, i use my 18-55mm and I have taken headshots that have helped people get work and into drama school. I think lense and light setup is usually the photographers own preference to what they feel comfortable with. However, the stuff about the eyes is true. Eyes can show a persons personality, and make others feel all sorts of emotions. This is a factor what a casting director would be looking for. Also, a smile and a serious face are required as this helps with the casting of age range. Many older actors can play younger characters, and this is genuinely down to good lighting and no OTT posing. I would say maybe give the client a 5-15 minute trial so you have the lighting, backdrop, and lens suited to them. hoe this has helped :)

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