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Head shots
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Aug 18, 2017 12:15:35   #
wayne-03 Loc: Minnesota
 
I want to start doing head shots and this is the setup I have designed based on the equipment I have.

Layout and equipment schedule for my head shoot setup.

Exposure: ISO 200, Shutter speed 1/200, Aperture f/8
Main light, Godox AD360 at f/8
Background light, Godox V850 at f/5.6
Hair light, Godox V850 at f/5.6
Two 40" and one 30" reflectors adjusted to f/5.6

What are your thoughts?


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Aug 18, 2017 12:23:01   #
jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ
 

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Aug 18, 2017 12:53:11   #
Reinaldokool Loc: San Rafael, CA
 
wayne-03 wrote:
I want to start doing head shots and this is the setup I have designed based on the equipment I have.

Layout and equipment schedule for my head shoot setup.

Exposure: ISO 200, Shutter speed 1/200, Aperture f/8
Main light, Godox AD360 at f/8
Background light, Godox V850 at f/5.6
Hair light, Godox V850 at f/5.6
Two 40" and one 30" reflectors adjusted to f/5.6

What are your thoughts?


Proof is in the pudding. Excellent results. That said, I would probably shoot the blond with short-lighting because she has a wide and rounder face. It might be more flattering. But altogether, very well done.

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Aug 18, 2017 13:53:03   #
Dolanimus
 
Your setup looks good, I did have a question concerning the back light, when i was in college, they had said to never place the back light directly behind the head, but to place to the side. This tends to create a slight shadow on the top edge of the head and create more depth in the subject, as well ans placing it slightly down to put the depth toward the top. Do you feel you are getting a better quality photo with your setup, or had you tried the off centered lower back light yet?
Dolanimus

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Aug 18, 2017 14:05:03   #
bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana
 
Wayne, I hope you are wanting an honest answer, and not just thumbs up. First of all, one of my "specialties" has been corporate headshots and I also do seniors (on top of weddings, etc.)

My first thought when I opened up the thread was "why?" For corporate headshots, I do have a fairly standard set up for consistency, but even then, people are different, and set ups change. I did headshots for a company based here with 150 employees, all in one day. 6 shots of each person, they wanted everyone to look "uniform" even with that, I kept lighting ratios the same, but I was moving lights all day to make sure I flattered each person. So, a "starting point" is OK, but don't think that you should do a set up and just use it for everyone. If you do, you'll get bored, all your photos will look exactly the same, and people won't come to you if you aren't sizing every individual up, and posing/lighting them to get the absolute best image of them.

Secondly, it's a common sight here and on other forums. Please don't take this the wrong way, but your models are lovely, and the skin treatment looks like overdone "portrait professional" A little skin smoothing is OK, but overdoing it is about as outdated as spot color. (Especially with the public outcry lately about all the photoshopping of models in magazines) Girls now want to look like they aren't photoshopped, even if they are.

This isn't meant as an insult. Just my opinion from years of seeing things come and go.... I do a LOT of senior girl portraits, and I can tell you that if you flat out ask them if they want that "magazine, perfect skin look, or natural look with blemishes fixed" 99% of the time, they will tell you that they want the latter. If they do want the plastic look, I actually refer them to someone else. Not that I'm conceited, but I figure they would be better off with someone who wants to do that style....and I'm busy enough that I'd rather work with people who want to work with me.

Great start, and keep those models around. It's great to have people who will let you practice your craft. In my early days, I had a mentor that made me shoot rolls and rolls of black and white film of a stupid...ugly... manikin that was thrown away at a local beauty college, so you know it was a wreck. I would have loved to have breathing subjects that didn't look like they had lost a fight with a lawnmower.

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Aug 18, 2017 19:10:29   #
photojet Loc: TX/CO
 
You don't have to try for professional photographs. You did a great job!

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Aug 19, 2017 06:55:58   #
berchman Loc: South Central PA
 
I took a headshot course with Peter Hurley which included one "free" headshot of oneself, which otherwise would cost $1600. I do not smile on command and I usually have an off-putting expression on my face. Hurley got me to genuinely smile. The most important thing I learned in that course about photographing people is to interact with them and get them to liven up, no matter how crazy you have to act to accomplish that. Expression!
https://peterhurley.com/

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Aug 19, 2017 08:10:02   #
nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL
 
Looks to me like you've got the lighting perfect!

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Aug 19, 2017 09:08:53   #
wayne-03 Loc: Minnesota
 
Dolanimus wrote:
Your setup looks good, I did have a question concerning the back light, when i was in college, they had said to never place the back light directly behind the head, but to place to the side. This tends to create a slight shadow on the top edge of the head and create more depth in the subject, as well ans placing it slightly down to put the depth toward the top. Do you feel you are getting a better quality photo with your setup, or had you tried the off centered lower back light yet?
Dolanimus
Your setup looks good, I did have a question conce... (show quote)


Your correct, my drawing is not accurate with respect to the back light. The back light was actually down closer to their waist line. Sorry I missed that detail.

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Aug 19, 2017 09:10:32   #
hankm1 Loc: Mount Prospect IL
 
Great shots! Keep it up!

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Aug 19, 2017 10:13:14   #
camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.
 
The set-up looks good to me and my only suggestion would be to experiment with light ratios. Those shots you posted show even lighting which for women portraits is very pleasing. Be ready for more dramatic portraits using lighting ratios, especially with men.
Have fun!

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Aug 19, 2017 11:11:14   #
olddog Loc: louisville ky
 
wayne-03 wrote:
I want to start doing head shots and this is the setup I have designed based on the equipment I have.

Layout and equipment schedule for my head shoot setup.

Exposure: ISO 200, Shutter speed 1/200, Aperture f/8
Main light, Godox AD360 at f/8
Background light, Godox V850 at f/5.6
Hair light, Godox V850 at f/5.6
Two 40" and one 30" reflectors adjusted to f/5.6

What are your thoughts?

Wayne, my only thought is that I think I see a little distortion. You didn't say what focal length lens you are using. A longer lens with more distance between camera and model would help. The lighting looks fine. Just my two cents worth.

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Aug 19, 2017 13:29:56   #
divergeorge
 
Change nothing! Great shots!

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Aug 19, 2017 16:10:26   #
Flyerace Loc: Mt Pleasant, WI
 
I notice that the dark haired girl's shots have a single reflection of light in their eyes, where the blond's have a double. I'm sure it is the set up, but I prefer the single light reflections. They are lovely real people. Good job.

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Aug 19, 2017 19:31:35   #
PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place
 
Looks like you nailed it

Don

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