Vinnie's First Portrait Shoot

VinnieVinnie Registered Users Posts: 112 Major grins
edited August 12, 2008 in People
This is my first attempt at portraits. My niece needed a couple "head" shots and I offered to take them.

I used my Nikon d70s with a Nikkor 50mm f1.8 - I had my sb-800 on a light stand in a 12in photoflex soft-box. I touched up the pictures as best I could...I'm not very good at it though...

Please give me your honest opinion...I love to learn from my mistakes - and I'm always learning.

For example - I was already told that I should have used a reflector to fill in the left side of picture...I was told a white reflector would have added nicer roundness to the face...I'll have to try it next time.


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1
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2
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3
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4
256393903_9HHVz-M-2.jpg

5
260341479_LPL8M-M-2.jpg

6
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Comments

  • NeilLNeilL Registered Users Posts: 4,201 Major grins
    edited August 11, 2008
    Hi Vinnie, for a debut they are in this one person's opinion impressive and pleasing. The quality with, as you say, little PP is really good.

    Each one has a frank, relaxed connection with you, the photographer.

    Smiles, though, I think, even with the head turns, are somewhat similar. But #2, 4 and 6 are nicely varied.

    #2 is my fav, though I would have liked to have seen more of the arms, and in #6 the hands. #1 & 3 are very good in that respect.

    WB in #3?

    Overall, for me they are somewhat lacking in luminance/exposure. #1 pops the best, for lighting, contrast and sharpness reasons, and all would improve, as you say, with more complex lighting on the face. And maybe a BG that is more subtle about being a portrait BG.

    In PP I would try some overall local contrast, relighting and selective sharpening. But keep in mind that I am probably less knowledgeable and experienced than you! mwink.gif I hope for both our sakes' that others will reply with more credible suggestions than mine. I am sure, for example, that making several adjustment layers would have a big and good effect, but I haven't got much into that kind of PP.

    Neil
    "Snow. Ice. Slow!" "Half-winter. Half-moon. Half-asleep!"

    http://www.behance.net/brosepix
  • VinnieVinnie Registered Users Posts: 112 Major grins
    edited August 11, 2008
    Thanks!
    Thank you so much for the comments...they are really helpful.

    I see what your saying about luminance/exposure - I really hadn't thought about it that way...after looking at them again I completely agree.

    Thanks again for all your comments...
  • VinnieVinnie Registered Users Posts: 112 Major grins
    edited August 11, 2008
    exposure is pretty spot-on. It is more a luminance matter

    I gotcha...it could stand to be more impactful, in a way...help tell the story more...
  • NeilLNeilL Registered Users Posts: 4,201 Major grins
    edited August 11, 2008
    Vinnie wrote:
    Thank you so much for the comments...they are really helpful.

    I see what your saying about luminance/exposure - I really hadn't thought about it that way...after looking at them again I completely agree.

    Thanks again for all your comments...


    I think Vinnie, actually, that exposure is pretty spot-on. It is more a luminance matter, to get the correct amount of light which is there to have more effect.

    Does that make sense?

    Neil
    "Snow. Ice. Slow!" "Half-winter. Half-moon. Half-asleep!"

    http://www.behance.net/brosepix
  • QarikQarik Registered Users Posts: 4,959 Major grins
    edited August 11, 2008
    I like #2 a lot. That's a good shot but could use some cropping.

    #1 and #5 her skin is kinda splotchy and too many shadowns on her right side imo.
    #3 has too much red
    #6 the pose looks a bit too hunched over to me
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  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited August 11, 2008
    Nice series! Keep them coming!:-) thumb.gif
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • jeffreaux2jeffreaux2 Registered Users Posts: 4,762 Major grins
    edited August 11, 2008
    In the color photos you posted the white balance seems to change from one to the next. Locking down a bit more consistancy there will be a big help as you do more portrature type work.
    Thanks,
    Jeff
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  • VinnieVinnie Registered Users Posts: 112 Major grins
    edited August 12, 2008
    Thanks for the feedback all, I really appreciate it!
  • divamumdivamum Registered Users Posts: 9,021 Major grins
    edited August 12, 2008
    I'm a n00bie photographer, but a longstanding performer (I'm a professional opera singer), so headshots are something that can bring me out of semi-lurker status!

    I'm going on the assumption you mean "headshots" as in "performing artist", so ask... is she an actress or musician? (If you didn't mean performer headshots, my apologies, and the remainder of my post becomes somewhat redundant!)

    #2 is definitely in the most current headshot style -a litlte more "urban chic" than "traditional portrait", and it captures something. With headshots, the eyes REALLY need to speak and "sell" the performer's personality as well as be flattering and, most importantly, look like the person, not the makeup artist. That is probably the biggest difference between a headshot and a promo shot IMO (where anything goes) - no matter how glamourouus, a headshot needs to look like you when you walk in the room for the audition.

    My answers threaded below, and in bold
    Vinnie wrote:
    This is my first attempt at portraits. My niece needed a couple "head" shots and I offered to take them.
    <hr>
    #1 is somewhat "senior portrait", IMO. Pretty picture, but the hair and the pose mean we lose her right eye in terms of "communication", and sheprobably looks younger than she wants to.
    256393889_2ueQa-M-2.jpg



    #2 I like very much for a headshot, particularly if she needs to sell the more dramatic side to her personality. Very diva :) Also, the hair is prominent but not distracting - more flattering to her like this than to one side, IMO. The catchlighs really make you go straight to her eyes.

     256393883_U9CJw-M-2.jpg



    #3 Is pretty, but the hands are a little more "portrait" than "headshot" to me.

     256393899_BnKV5-M-2.jpg

    #4 Her eyes are a little fixed (and is it me or is the contrast a little flat overall in this one?). It doesn't quite "grab" me, and when you consider that a headshot is going to be one of hundreds in a pile of resumes, it really needs to pop out. Some catchlights in her eyes would help it, I think.

     256393903_9HHVz-M-2.jpg

    #5 Nice - this is my favorite of the colour ones. Just as a note (and do forgive me for speaking so frankly, particularly if these aren't performer headshots!!), that kind of traditional portrait background is out of fashion now in actress/singer shots as things have moved to a less "studio" style, but it's a good picture and captures some sparkle from her. That one and #2 as a pair would show a lot of range in her "personality" for dramatic to inegnue.

    260341479_LPL8M-M-2.jpg

    #6 I like a lot, and definitely not "one of the pack". That said, on my monitor it's not quite pin sharp and in that unusual angle it needs to be. If it can be tweaked in post to sharpen it up, then it's a great picture and very much in the style currently in favour. Plus, the crop perhaps could be modified to bring it out more (I'd probably take it close to her LH side hair and bring her WAY off to the side, and lose the chair rail as well, although that might make it a little too close). One thing to note is that, while landscape headshots are turning up more often, The Establishment still prefers portrait orientation. That said, my own headshot is landscape and I've had no complaints (although it sometimes gets croppped a little strangely for programs!)

    260347935_pvnKg-M-2.jpg

    Btw, a LOT of headshots these days - particularly for actors (musicians tend to lag behind the times and are usually accused of being conservative) - are natural light (or meant to look like natural light) and a sort of "urban chic" loft-style look, especially for black and white. Outdoor shots which, 10 years ago were COMPLETELY out of vogue for classical musicians (and not all that prevalent with actors) - are returning to fashion as well.

    Again, I'm making a lot of assumptions here about what you meant by "headshot" so apologies if I've assumed too much and you didn't mean performer headshots! They're some great pictures in there and for a first shoot it's terrific!<img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/clap.gif&quot; border="0" alt="" >

    All the best :)

    ETA: her lips are very pale in the B&W - I'm assuming she did her own makeup? If you can warm up the lips it will help the balance of her face in the B&W, I think.
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  • Ed911Ed911 Registered Users Posts: 1,306 Major grins
    edited August 12, 2008
    D70s vice D200
    I agree with your white balance being off. One question. Why didn't you use your D200 you have listed in you profile vice the D70s? With the D200 it is really easy to set your white balance to 5400K, the same as the SB800. That way all of your pictures should come out looking the same...as far as white balance is concerned.

    2 and 4 are my favorites...and 6 could be made better if you had her set up more and fold her arms across the back of the chair.

    Here's a link to what I'm talking about...not the best, but it represents.

    http://www.superstock.com/stock-photos-images/1663R-4811
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    Ed
  • divamumdivamum Registered Users Posts: 9,021 Major grins
    edited August 12, 2008
    The pose in the link you posted would only work if you cropped out all of the chair; in this instance, there's not enough emphasis on the person, and too much on the overall look (including the chair and background). Everything in a headshot needs to draw the viewer into the personality of the subject... and the technique (including hair and makeup as well as photographic) needs to be absolutely transparent. Which is, IMO, why it's so HARD!!!! (And again, I freely admit that I know what the finished product in a headshot needs to look like but as to HOW to achieve it technically? That, I leave to those far, far FAR more expert than I am - I'm busy learning that myself!).

    Btw, the reproductions website has a directory of links to performing artist headshot photographers - it's a useful resource for those "shopping" for headshots, but also great for perusing photographically. FWIW. Many of these photographers seem to do mostly actors, which is a slightly different (and more casual) look than classical musicians (and less "edgy" than popular musicians), but some of them do it all. Very interesting. Some "high end" names which I don't see listed there but which are well known in the opera world for headshots and promo work are Devon Cass, Dario Acosta, Peter Sweyer, Kristin Hoebermann, Lisa Kohler and Christian Steiner.

    Sorrry if I'm speaking out of turn - headshots are one of the reasons I've been drawn to learning more photographically, so I've spent a lot of time looking at those of my colleagues in the biz :) If anything I say is useful, great - if not, just smile indulgently and move right along (no offense will be taken!! :):):)

    :: slinks back into n00b semi-lurker status ::

    Ed911 wrote:
    I agree with your white balance being off. One question. Why didn't you use your D200 you have listed in you profile vice the D70s? With the D200 it is really easy to set your white balance to 5400K, the same as the SB800. That way all of your pictures should come out looking the same...as far as white balance is concerned.

    2 and 4 are my favorites...and 6 could be made better if you had her set up more and fold her arms across the back of the chair.

    Here's a link to what I'm talking about...not the best, but it represents.

    http://www.superstock.com/stock-photos-images/1663R-4811
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  • VinnieVinnie Registered Users Posts: 112 Major grins
    edited August 12, 2008
    divamum wrote:
    I'm going on the assumption you mean "headshots" as in "performing artist", so ask... is she an actress or musician? (If you didn't mean performer headshots, my apologies, and the remainder of my post becomes somewhat redundant!)

    Actually she's a singer...she is a soprano - she was going for a audition with the USO.

    divamum wrote:

    ETA: her lips are very pale in the B&W - I'm assuming she did her own makeup? If you can warm up the lips it will help the balance of her face in the B&W, I think.

    She did do her own makeup...I will try that...I didn't even think of that...

    It is amazing how much smarter we all are together....a good friend once told me - "no one is as smart as all of us!"


    Thank you overall - your comments are greatly appreciated
  • VinnieVinnie Registered Users Posts: 112 Major grins
    edited August 12, 2008
    Ed911 wrote:
    Why didn't you use your D200 you have listed in you profile vice the D70s?

    Funny you should ask that...I was wondering if anyone would pick up on that...actually I didn't have my d200 at the time. I only had my d70s. I wish I did have it - it takes such better pictures...

    I get what you mean about the overall composition.

    Thank you for your comments!
  • VinnieVinnie Registered Users Posts: 112 Major grins
    edited August 12, 2008
    divamum wrote:
    If anything I say is useful, great - if not, just smile indulgently and move right along (no offense will be taken!! :):):)

    :: slinks back into n00b semi-lurker status ::

    Your comments are valuable. I appreciate every ones point of view - that's why I asked - what I mean by that is...after all, some might argue - aren't we all trying to impress everyone else? - maybe not quite, but close...at least I think...
  • divamumdivamum Registered Users Posts: 9,021 Major grins
    edited August 12, 2008
    Vinnie wrote:
    Actually she's a singer...she is a soprano - she was going for a audition with the USO.

    She did do her own makeup...I will try that...I didn't even think of that...

    It is amazing how much smarter we all are together....a good friend once told me - "no one is as smart as all of us!"

    Thank you overall - your comments are greatly appreciated

    The makeup for her eyes is fine (especially in #2) - it's only her lips which need bumping up. It's always a problem in B&W since most of us don't have much experience with mu for it! The lips need to look much darker (I know for my last bw headshots, the photg put a Trix green filter on the conversion and that punched up the drama); I was always told to use magenta or true red lipstick for dark lips in bw. For the softer pix, a softer lipshade would be appropriate and, of course, it's fine in colour where the pale pink shows.

    What kind of soprano is she - what repertoire does she sing? That will make a difference as to whether she "should" use the dramatic #2 (which IMO remains the standout choice of the series for a headshot - it "speaks" immediately and makes me want to know more about her) or go for one of the smilier ones which would say "perky soprano" more. Sad to say, all this stuff DOES make a difference when you're one of zillions applying for an audition, and sopranos are THE most overpopulated voice type out there, so it's extra ferocious for them, espeically getting past the "on paper" stage to the "live audition". While in theory nobody's qualifications are being judged by their photo, the headshot can sometimes be the difference between capturing the attention of the person who's making the decisions about who to hear... or not.

    Have fun with it!
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  • VinnieVinnie Registered Users Posts: 112 Major grins
    edited August 12, 2008
    divamum wrote:
    ...Trix green filter on the conversion and that punched up the drama); I was always told to use magenta or true red lipstick for dark lips in bw. For the softer pix, a softer lipshade would be appropriate and, of course, it's fine in colour where the pale pink shows....

    What kind of soprano is she - what repertoire does she sing? That will make a difference as to whether she "should" use the dramatic #2 (which IMO remains the standout choice of the series for a headshot - it "speaks" immediately and makes me want to know more about her) or go for one of the smilier ones which would say "perky soprano" more...

    Great tips - I had no idea....

    She does a variety of contemporary and broadway mostly. Although she does do some classical - I think her strength lies in the former.

    thanks again!
  • divamumdivamum Registered Users Posts: 9,021 Major grins
    edited August 12, 2008
    Vinnie wrote:
    Great tips - I had no idea....

    Yeah, it's definitely a "niche market"! :)

    (edited since I just checked out your smugmug gallery and realise this all happened a while back, thus she's made her choice! I gather she went with #2 ....?)
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  • VinnieVinnie Registered Users Posts: 112 Major grins
    edited August 12, 2008
    divamum wrote:
    Yeah, it's definitely a "niche market"! :)

    (edited since I just checked out your smugmug gallery and realise this all happened a while back, thus she's made her choice! I gather she went with #2 ....?)

    She did...and she only brought that one pose...the funny thing is, they said - "you are young - you shouldn't be trying to look 25 - you should have a shot that shows you smiling....something fun...haha

    I just cracked up....
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