Studio Katarzyna - Headshots

Bilsen

So I got in my last studio session before the studio went away thus stalling my plans for the winter.
This post is nothing but the headshots Katarzyna and I worked on during this session. All were shot with my 50mm 1.4.
Taking the advice I got here last week, there will be only two threads from this shoot, with other full body and 3/4s to come later.

Before you comment, I KNOW about the orphan hands in some of them but that's what she wanted for her online profile.



2.


3.


4.


5.


6.

Nikolai

John,
in general I like those, but you seem to have a genuine issue with your vantage points... :cry
You shoot full height from the eye level, and the portraits from below, while, in fact, the flattering angles are the opposite.
Here's a simple rule that may help: the closer you get (to the face/mountain top), the higher you go.
HTH
Nikolai

Bilsen

Well then you're gonna love the full body and 3/4 when I post them Nikolai. I was sitting down the entire time.:D

Thanks for the instruction.

Nikolai

JohnGalt_ny wrote: »

Well then you're gonna love the full body and 3/4 when I post them Nikolai. I was sitting down the entire time.:D

JohnGalt_ny wrote: »

Thanks for the instruction.

Qarik

these are quite nice..lovely light and posing. As nikolai pointed out, shoot down or at least have her look down a tough to avoid the, up the nostril view. Also the hair over the eye is killing the 1st shot.

Gotham

#6 is my favorite, though I agree with the others that it would be stronger if it weren't an up the nostril view (she has a naturally upturned nose, so it is definitely emphasized with only a little upward tilt of her head or upward tilt of your camera).

Bilsen

Thanks everyone.

As I said, I'll keep the idea on perspective in mind next time. Nice easy rule for even my little mind.

Qarik, we're gonna disagree my friend. I like the one eye look in # 1. Chacun a son gout.

Gotham, I don't really see up the nose in # 6. I think everyone is referring to #5 and maybe # 3 for that and I agree that POV is very rarely effective. Nevertheless, both Kat and her agency want a printable version of # 5 for her comp card. Go Figure.:D

Anyway, my main objective here was getting proper beauty lighting and it sounds like I at least got close. Basic lighting was pretty simple clamshell with a softlighter real close and slightly above and to camera left, with a reflector directly in front of her angled up.

Thanks again.

divamum

Excellent set. Of all your models, she's the one that says "fashion look" to me and this shoot brings that out - I can totally imagine her in fashion magazines selling to women rather than the SI "playing to the male gallery" of some of your other gals/looks/concepts.

I like these a lot. Light looks good, although you might want to raise the main just a tad sometimes to get that catchlight just a squidge higher in her eye consistently.

I don't mind hair over one eye as such, but in #1 it's just a little too square on for me and not quiiiitte intense enough to get that "come hither" look; it's really close, but "almost but not quite" for me. Close. Very close, though.

4/5 are the outstanding shots for me in this set - those are both REALLY good.

I'm seeing a little bit of artefacting on the background behind her in the first two - there's some halo effect around her head and just in the light on the background behind her head. Not sure if it's because my monitor needs recalibrating or if it's your processing... Might want to check, however.

Bilsen

Thanks Diva.

You've picked up on something. Kat is a working model doing catalogue/fashion. She doesn't have the stats for "high" fashion or runway (she's only 5.6" BUT she does pretty well selling stuff. These headshots purposely took about 1/2 of our shoot cause she needed some new looks for her comp card/online casting gallery.

I went back to my full size jpgs and there is a bit of artifacting in # 1 (must come from the conversion cause it's not in the RAW ). I don't see it in # 2 and the halo is from the lighting even in the RAW. It probably comes from the color correction.

zoomer

I think for me 3 would be my favorite, not sure about the material she is holding.
Glad to see you using the 50 1.4.

Bilsen

Thanks Zoomer.

To everyone, the occasional set I get like this makes every torching I take on here valuable so again, thanks to all.

Bryce Wilson

I'm probably the last guy qualified to weigh in on a "fashion shoot", but except for the angle of attack issues I like these. Normally, I prefer a softer creamier light, but this light works well for this look and the poses work too.

Way to go!

Bilsen

Thanks Bryce.:D

jeffreaux2

#4 would be my pick of the litter.

FWIW, I am not digging the hair over the eye either.....or the square crops on a couple of these

Bilsen

Thanks Jeff.

I actually like square crops for a lot of my headshots so we'll just have to disagree on that score BUT that's what makes the world (of photography at least).

anonymouscuban

I'm with Jeff. LOVE #4. Great job on these John.

Bilsen

Thanks Alex.

I'm amazed at the response to #4 although I agree she is stunning in it. Still, I thought the orphan hands would get me trashed.

I just never know.