Tips to Get Better Results from Headshot Photography

If you are new to the world of photography and are learning the fine tactics of this art, headshot photography is one of the popular segments to master. Even before the culture of social media grew, headshots were commonly taken for pictures used in official documents and ID cards. It was normal to see clients visiting a photo studio for hire in London to get their headshots.

While experienced photographers take hundreds of headshots each year, there is no denying the fact that capturing the face of a person flawlessly can be a daunting task. With one person in front of your camera who also expects to get the directions from you for a great picture, it can be an intense environment to work in.

People getting headshots can also be quite critical of themselves when they look at their pictures and most of them do feel nervous. However, with a few simple tactics you can make them comfortable and take wonderful pictures:

1. Talk to the client before the session

Experienced photographers from London photo film studio for hire advise that before a headshot photography session, it is good for you to know the purpose of images and the style, if any, your client would prefer. You can discuss this over the phone or when the client visits you for the session. By talking to them directly instead of sending an e-mail to get this information, you will also help them to feel relaxed and know how the session will be conducted.

2. Advise them on the right clothes

Solid and neutral colours generally work the best for headshots. This is because you aim to avoid anything that can distract away from the subject’s face. Also, when you have to work with a formal style, ensure that your client gets the message and wears formal clothes for the photograph session. Clothes should also be well ironed.

Men often forget to complement formal shirts with a jacket so it is good to keep a spare one at hand. When you use photo studio rental in London it is easier to get such accessories within the studio premises.

3. Create segregation from the backdrop

While capturing the headshot, see that your subject is not standing too close to the backdrop. When you use studio wall and someone nearer the background, it can form shadows on the wall and that makes the image appear less professional.

A bokeh forms a neat nondescript backdrop particularly when the shot is taken with a wide aperture. Professional photographers recommend an aperture of f/4 for ambient and natural light sessions, and f/8 for sessions with lights in a studio.

4. Positioning and light modulation

While shooting headshots for business executives and actors, it is advisable to use light evenly. There may be a few cases when the pictures have to be low-key, but largely they should be squarely lit. For a classic beauty lighting setup, you can use one light from above and a second (or reflector) filing in from the ground level.

It is also good to ensure that your subject stands at a position that is about 45 degrees away from the camera and towards the principal light source. They should face the camera looking directly into the lens. It is common for people to look off camera when the flash strikes, but this should not happen for an ideal headshot.

5. Keep encouraging the subject

Even when you start taking the picture, keep talking to the subject. Reassure them that they are doing fine and you will create a good picture for them. At times you may not be satisfied personally with the photos when the subject turns their head in a certain direction or the way the light falls on them. However, do not express that your subject. Talk to them in positive tones, make some amends in set up and shoot another picture if necessary.

Author Bio: Founded in 2006 by Photographer Francois Boutemy and Designer Chris Charalambous, Simulacra Studio has worked with a number of individual and high calibre business clients for more than a decade. It also coordinates workshops and artistic development courses to give budding photographers the best of growth opportunities in the industry. For more information on the studio and trainings imparted visit https://www.simulacrastudio.com/

Michael harley is a writer at Search Engine.