Headshot photography is one of the fastest growing segments in the industry, and for good reason. With more people working from home and using technology to collaborate, our online personality is more important than ever. Many people have started new careers and businesses due to the pandemic and need to update their brand image. This creates a great opportunity for photographers with close-ups, and in this article, I give you five tips that will completely improve your game.
1. Avoid extreme poses
One of the most common mistakes I see headshot photographers make is what I call “extreme posing.” That’s when, for example, the photographer turns a client, directs one shoulder almost directly toward the camera, and then turns the head similarly, creating an uncomfortable and awkward pose, or when the photographer lets the client leans over to the camera where they are in danger of falling and proceeds to photograph them from an angle so high that they are probably shooting from the International Space Station! In general, we should avoid these extreme moves.
I’ve found that the best head shots are often those with simple poses and clear lines. So I recommend starting your session with the client’s head and shoulders pointed straight at the camera and taking some front-facing shots first. When you start moving them, follow them in small steps. I would say to my clients, such as “bring your right shoulder 5 degrees towards me” or “turn your nose slightly to the right”, always making sure to remind them that small movements are most effective. This will result in poses that look much more natural and avoid images that resemble glamor shots from a 1990s mall. Also, when you move the client’s nose left or right In small steps, you can start to see which angle suits their face best, which will help you find the best pose for their unique face. Remember that in many cases, direct shots will be best, so make sure to get a good amount of shots when they’re directly facing your camera.
2. Get that function outline
I would be remiss if I did not credit this wonderful move to my mentor, Peter Hurley. This one move will completely improve any face in your photo, and it has little to do with the person’s size or shape. This is when you have the client push their forehead outward while keeping their head as high as possible and then slightly tilt their chin down. Some call this “head turning”, as it resembles the head of a turtle coming out of its shell. However, whatever you call it, letting your client do this creates space between their jawline and neck and instantly improves their jawline.
Some people believe that this technique is only necessary to eliminate the appearance of a double chin, but the truth is that everyone, even those with very strong jawbones, will benefit from this procedure. Not only does it have a slimming effect, but even for top model clients, it enhances the jawline and creates a stronger image. Once their jawline is exposed, you can guide them to move their nose or slightly tilt their head one way or another, discovering the best angle for them.
3. Never say, “Say Cheese!”
Most people are very self-conscious about being photographed, and as soon as they stare down at your lens, they start to feel insecure. The worst thing you can do is tell them to smile, or say “cheese”, or just stare at them quietly playing with your camera while the tension in the room rises! If you do these things, you are guaranteed to get results when the client looks uncomfortable or has a forced, fake smile.
Remember that the best close-up photographers are not those who are just experts in lighting, but those who can get their clients to create an attractive, natural expression that draws people in. look at the picture. Your job as a photographer is to make them forget that there is a camera in front of them to get a realistic expression.
There are different ways to do this, but in my studio it starts as soon as the client walks in the door. Immediately, I made them feel welcome and started chatting with them to create a rapport and a comfortable space. I also remember to remind them of how my process works, so they know they are collaborating well and working with an expert who can get the job done. When they were behind my lights, I also said whatever I needed to distract them from the fact that I was photographing them. I would tell jokes to them, ask them to face me, or maybe joke about their profession in good faith (even lawyers love a good lawyer joke). One of the best ways to get clients to relax and express themselves naturally is to ask them about their children or pets. These two themes often bring out the best in people.
While there’s no magic bullet as everyone’s personalities vary widely, the trick is to connect with your customers as early as possible and tailor your interactions with them to suit their personalities. their. For example, if your client is very shy and quiet, a melodramatic approach may not be the best approach. Or, if your client seems very stressed, you may want to keep your jokes on the more reserved side. However, these situations are rare and most people are kind and want to have a pleasant experience at your studio.
4. Take pictures connected and collaborate with your customers
Connecting to your laptop, or better yet, a larger, calibrated display, is the fastest way to completely improve your work. If you’re not tethering in 2022, I’m not sure what you’re waiting for. It’s inexpensive to do and your customers will love you for it. I use one Cable Tether Tools Prohas a bright orange color and is easy to see, and connect it to Tether block onto my camera, preventing it from being pulled out or damaged. Most cameras also come with tethering software; Canon’s Digital Photo Professional, for example, is a great option to go with your camera.
There is no better way to ensure that your client is not satisfied with the end result than to rely on a three-inch LCD monitor to review their images with them. This is because most things will look good on the small screen, but when you submit the final result to be viewed on their computer, the details will be easy to see and scrutinize. Tethering allows you to fix lost hairs, move necklaces, adjust necklaces, and give your customers precise information on what they will be getting.
But there’s another important reason to stay connected: it allows you to collaborate with your customers. In my studio, I often have clients come out from behind the lights and we review the images together to make sure they get the right shots. As part of this process, I’m talking to them about expressions, angles, hair, clothes, and whatever else we see together. Plus, having been doing this for a while, I know immediately if the client likes the photo, and I can ask them to tell me specifically what changes they want to make. Most people are polite and don’t want to say outright that they don’t like a photo, but they will give nonverbal cues or react in a way that I know they’re not happy with. At this point, I reminded them that I wouldn’t be upset and wanted them to be more honest so we could work together and get the perfect picture.
Usually, clients will say things like “I don’t like my hair” or “I am sensitive to wrinkles around my eyes” or something like that. These are all easy fixes that can be done in camera or in post. Sometimes, clients will say, “I don’t like the shape of my face from this angle,” and this type of information is crucial to the success of the shoot. I had a client tell me this recently, and it was super easy to put them behind the lights and shoot from a slightly different angle. After a few minutes, I asked them to come back to review the new images and their faces lit up, and they immediately fell in love with the photos.
Besides collaborating, sharing is an important way to help you empathize with your customers. Each of us takes our faces much more severely than the others, and we tend to exaggerate the flaws in our minds. Many times the way we see ourselves physically is tied to a trauma that occurred early in our lives, so it’s kind and compassionate to review the image with your client and Helping them create images they love can be a rewarding and energizing experience for them.
5. Use simple background and light, flattering
If you’re new to headshots and check out some of the YouTube tutorials, you’ll find a dizzying number of lighting setups, from a simple one-light rig to a setup that requires a variety of lights and reflectors to be arranged. position around your subject. My suggestion to you is to start with a simple, even and beautiful light that everyone will love.
One of the best simple setups is parallel lighting. This is when you capture two lights and place one to the left and one to the right of the subject, with each light having feathers slightly pointing towards their opposite shoulders. The lights are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the floor. In other words, the lights should not be pointed directly at the customer’s face. Parallel lighting is relatively easy to do, and since there are no shadows on the face, the light is flattering and helps fill in fine lines and other imperfections. Plus, you can create a variety of looks with this setup simply by shining the light toward or away from your client’s face. The more feathered light there is, the greater the radioactivity on both sides of the face, so there’s room for some drama with this setup. However, in most cases, pleasant lighting will leave your clients extremely happy, especially if used in conjunction with the other tips presented in this article.
Some final thoughts
Headshot photography can be an extremely rewarding profession, both financially and artistically, for those who are willing to put in the time and energy to be the best in their market. Much of the credit for this, in my opinion, must go to Peter Hurley. Peter not only single-handedly redefines hand-shot and makes it fun, but through First Team Photographers, he’s also created a recipe for success that has helped countless photographers, myself included, turning a hobby into a viable career is both rewarding and enjoyable. For me, there is no greater feeling than seeing a client’s face light up, sometimes for the first time in his life, when he sees their photo.
