Common Mistakes in Headshot Photography
Headshot Photography is one of the most in demand
types of photography since the old times. May it be for corporate,
entertainment or modeling industry; you can never go wrong with a good
headshot. Sure some can say that a simple headshot can be easy because
you won’t need to worry about background, climate or other factors for
full body or scenic photographs but that’s not true. In fact, since
you’re working on a more specific canvas, you’ll need to be more
meticulous. Here are common mistakes in headshot photography:
Lenses
One
of the most frequent mistakes is picking up the wrong lenses. Make sure
that you are using the correct lens for your headshot. You don’t want
to sacrifice the quality of your image, may it be for business or for
your hobby. Invest on good lenses , as long as you know what you’re
using them for. Anything 85 mm or above will do for headshot photography
because this is equivalent to using a 50 mm lens on a 1.6x crop body.
One of the recommended lenses is the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM, the
built in Image Stabilization (IS) adds to its appeal for a more focus
shot. Before choosing the best lens, make sure to visit threads and
forums. Ask experts for their opinion and select carefully.
Focus
Don’t
just focus on the face as is. That’ll be a dull headshot. Some may
think that the only focus of headshot photography is the head itself but
there’s more to that. For great headshots, make sure to get the focus
on the eyes because that’s one of the most important aspects of
headshots. This type of photography is more direct since the photograph
targets the face of the person; you’ll need to be able to capture the
intensity, emotion, depth and beauty of the eyes so it can stand out.
Lighting
Some photographers focus on brighter lights to be able to get that
clear shot but for headshot photography, it’s advisable to use diffused
lighting because you want show the natural skin tone of the face as well
as the balance light and reflection. Also make sure that you have the
correct hair light because the wrong one can damage your shot.
Angle
Be careful on choosing your angle because it can make a huge
difference on your photos. Some angels can make your face look bigger,
longer or even unproportional. Choose the correct angle by accentuating
the eyes, lips and smile. For men, capture the masculinity of the face
but the depth in the eyes.
Expression
It’s important for the photographer to know how to bring out the
emotion or the expression that he wants to see. Don’t use too much
technical terms as to why your subject needs to do this or that, you
don’t want to get a confused reaction do you? Try different techniques
to be able to bring out the best natural look possible or any emotion
that you want. Give examples or ask questions.
Rapport
Most
of us tend to forget how important it is to build your connection with
your subject. To get the best photographs, your subject must feel at
ease with you. If not, the picture will look stiff and unnatural. If
your subject becomes too conscious, you won’t get that perfect picture.
As a photographer, you’ll also need great communication skills to
immediately connect with your subject.
Headshot Photography is not easy, rather it’s much
more complicated and will still need scrupulous methods. These common
mistakes are also the most important factors that one can consider in
headshot photography. Patience is also needed especially if you’re just
starting. With these pointers, you’ll be able to make it happen.
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