BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: Studio, Still, & Personal Portraiture Photography

Will Wohler

Shooting Headshots

A friend of mine who is pursuing a musical theatre career asked me to take her head shots. I am a college student, and photography is a hobby and a passion of mine; but time and money are limited. I have a Nikon N65 with a 28-80 Sigma lens and a 70-300 Sigma lens. I also have a small tripod and two metal lamps that I got at the hardware store with Reveal light bulbs.
My question is: Is there any inexpensive lighting, poses, backgrounds, or advice that I would need before I begin this project? I would really like to broaden my techniques, and I haven't done anything like this before.
Thanks

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July 01, 2005

John P. Sandstedt

Go to the library and check out the Kodak Series book on portraits - it's printed on 9X13 (wide) stock and should be found easily. In it, there is a great discussion of the different types of portrait lighting and the use of one, two and four lights. John Hedgecoe also has a good book on portraits.
There's nothing wrong with using "hot lights." I started with and still use them. Make sure that both of your reflectors are fitted with bulbs of the same wattage. Sit your model on a comfortable stool (to start). Set your camera on your tripod, the lens axis should be at about the shoulder height of your model (again, to start). Use a focal length between 90-135 mm.
Then set the first light (Main Light)slightly to the left or right of the camera; adjust the height of the light a little above the model's eyes (again, to start). Set the second light on the side opposite your Main Light at a 45-degree angle to the axis of the lens.
Measure (roughly) the distance of the light to the subject (it will depend on the wattage of the bulbs). The second light should be set at twice the distance of the Main Light. That will give you a 2:1 lighting ratio.
Move the lights closer or further from the model, checking the viewfinder to see the effects of these adjustments. Keep the 2:1 lighting ratio; snap away. Then, go to a 3:1 ratio by moving the second light away from the subject. Snap away.
From that point (the above is the basic stuff), you can move the model, lights and camera wherever to get variations. But, for theatrical head shots, the standard 2:1 or 3:1 is usually what you've seen in barn theatres, etc.
Make sure you use the tripod. It may be that, even with two lights, your meter will call for a relatively long exposure (shutter speeds of, say, 1/25th sec. are not uncommon if you're using 250 watt photoflash bulbs). Also, you should use a cable release so that you're "away from the camera." The CR will also allow to you to snap the picture when you subject assumes a natural smile or terrific body position.
Plan to take a lot of pictures in hopes of getting one or two. For my first sitting, I shot 2 36-exposure rolls over the course of 1 1/2 hours. Take your time, but remember a sitting is tiring for your model. Let him/her move/relax whenever s/he needs to.
Finally, if you're shooting color film, you'll need an 80A filter (blue) for color correction. If you're shooting digital, I can't provide advice since I don't own a digicam.
Have fun. Portraiture is very satisfying.

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July 01, 2005

- Gregory LaGrange

BetterPhoto Member

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Use reflected sunlight. You don't need much else for headshots, and many are done that way.

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July 01, 2005

- Gregory LaGrange

BetterPhoto Member

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July 01, 2005

Will Wohler

WOW! Thanks for the tips, John and Greg. I will try what you said and see how they come out.

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July 02, 2005

Bob Cammarata

I agree with Greg. For headshots, use "God's" light. It's reliable ... and it's free.

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July 02, 2005

Leah Marshall

Hate to be a parrot, but that is exactly right. If you dont know anything about indoor lighting and want proffessional looking stuff, take your friend outside...I even recommend taking some images with the instrument. Make sure you go outside 1 hour before or after sunset/sunrise. Get an assistant, place your friend facing away from the sun, and bounce light back on her face with a reflector.You will have to do a manual reading cause the suns backlight will probably underexpose her face. This is almost foolproof and highly dramatic lighting! One of my favorites....
EXample 1:reflector
Example 2:reflector
Example 3-very strong backlight-speedlight