hickmanportraitphotography Loc: Boston MA

Good Morning photographers,

I am doing my best to start a portrait company to help musicians in my area have a few more dynamic headshots, as a recent competition I was in demonstrated a need. Below are a few of my first clients and my favorite shots from the shoots. I would love general feedback as to ideas of what I can work on moving forward as I book more clients. I am currently locked into using constant light over flash, and I don't have specific studio space so I utilize the space that my clients provide and build a small studio there.

Any advice is appreciated, and thank you!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Welcome to the forum.

hickmanportraitphotography Loc: Boston MA

Thank you!

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Welcome to the HOG! This is not my genre, so I can't help with advice, but the ones you have shown look pretty good to me!

tcthome Loc: NJ

Welcome. Nice photos.

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

Welcome to UHH, glad you joined us. Portrait photography is not my genre but these look pretty good. You might also post these in the "People" section of the forum to get additional feed back.

Don

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Welcome to the forum. I made many portraits years ago when I was using film, I learned many tricks from a professional photographer but I am not doing portraits now. My advise; if your clients are happy do not change anything. If they are not then I have a few advices to give you hoping they will improve your photography and your business.

Your first portrait is your best in this series. You have the right posing but a red cast is prominent, easy to resolve in post. I rarely used the landscape format for portraits, like you did in your second shot except for groups. In your third shot there is a strong yellow cast that needs correction. Similar to No. 4 it is not precisely the best portrait that which posing is straight to the camera. Compare them to your first shot and the difference from a visual design standpoint is totally different. If there is a professional in your area ask him for help, especially posing. There should be plenty of help also online.

I prefer flash to straight light but that is me. Flash will control most of the color cast and is more pleasant to the model. You will have to learn flash ratios if you go that way and obviously, you will need light modifiers like umbrellas or softboxes. A "kicker" on the head will separate the hair from the background and the same with a light partially illuminating the background but those are more advanced techniques. Fill-in flash outside when flash is not on camera works very nicely also.

I wish you a very successful future as a portrait photographer.

Bubbee Loc: Aventura, Florida

I like the black and white #4. They're musicians...when possible, I would incorporate their instruments. I'm strictly amateur, but I think your lighting needs improvement.

FredCM Loc: Central Illinois

check out neilvn.com. More there than you probably want to know. From posing, indoors and out, to lighting, all sorts of stuff in between.

srg

The B&W are for they passports right?
Otherwise, just to show the superiority of color?
Or just to be trendy, like facial and neck tattoos.

rcarol

You have a great start. Consider using a hairlight to separate the subject from the background.

Earnest Botello Loc: Hockley, Texas

Welcome to the Forum, Hickman, enjoy.

jacotla

I suggest using a gray card for white balancing. This can be done in camera or in post There are many short videos on this topic on the Web. I like the B&W the most.

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

There's a Portrait section in our forum. (See link below.) You should be able to get much better feedback and critique from the experts there.

https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-127-1.html

Vince68 Loc: Wappingers Falls, NY

Welcome to UHH. I don't do portraits very much, so I am not really qualified to give advice on that genre. I would say check out the Portrait section on UHH. There are many members in that section that can give you advice there.