Not sure about these...

jeffreaux2

A fellow photographer and friend asked me to do some head shots of her son. She is very good at wildlife and landscapes, but wanted help for this. I had originally lent her a lens to try, but in the end she got frustrated and asked me to take a few. Here are my results.











And a BW one.....

dogwood

The background on the first shot would be better if it was all foilage or all building-- I find the mix of the two a little distracting.

The subject's expression is virtually the same in the entire series. I'd suggest getting him to look off camera for a couple of shots to improve these. Tell a dumb joke or story-- get him to laugh and look more natural. I suspect too that you were posing him in all the photos-- even professional models don't always look good posed. Sometimes people just need to be themselves.

Just an idea, but when I shoot sometimes I can see that 'wooden face' start to creep up on my captures. That's when it's time to pause, move around, get the subject to talk a bit to relax face muscles-- then be ready to shoot FAST right after that. The first capture or two after this is usually good. Also, sometimes shooting a test shot (and telling your subject that's what you're doing) helps-- the subject will be more relaxed (after all, it's just a test) and not as pose-y. My 'test' shots are often the best shots.

For example, on the guitar shot, get him to play a bit and shoot while he does. Try some weird angles like shooting down the frets as his plays-- move around and don't always catch the same angle. Your energy can be contagious and will keep the model engaged. Teens are tough to shoot-- you have to connect with them-- and of course that's in addition to focus and exposure and composition and all that other stuff you're trying to think about as you shoot.

And yes-- I realize these are headshots but there's still room for creativity and different angles.

Just some ideas since no one else has chimed in. Take it all with a grain of salt.

jeffreaux2

Thanks
I had some decent ones of him playing guitar, but she was interested more in the head shots. I think she also wants to do a comp card, so maybe she will be back for more. The young man was a good sport, but they met me at an engagement shoot, and he sat through that first. Also......he has probably had about 1000 photos taken of him by his mother last week as she was trying to get her own shots.

Thanks for the response, and critique. I agree with most of what you said. I much prefer candid type photos over stiff posed ones, and don't really like studio stuff at all....so most of your comments jive with what I would rather produce.


jeff

k2butter

I like these shots, I do think the first and second to last could use a bit more cropping off the top... just seems to be a little too much space. Great job! I know it can be hard to take pictures of people, I can't take pictures of strangers at all, I just can't get them comfortable... So I think you did really well!

gavin

Just a rule of thumb, for portrature, You want your model to wear long sleeves. A portrait is all about the face, and the human eye is atracted to bair skin.

I like this group a lot. I think some would be stronger with long sleaves.

jeffreaux2

gavin wrote:

Just a rule of thumb, for portrature, You want your model to wear long sleeves. A portrait is all about the face, and the human eye is atracted to bair skin.

I like this group a lot. I think some would be stronger with long sleaves.

Thank you for the advice. I am always nervous about including hands in the forground as in the guitar shot. I tried to control that particular shot with a subtle PP vignetting. It might could stand some more. In this shot, the short sleeves don't bother me as much as they do when he changed to the sleeveless shirt. In the shot where he is leaning against the column I can see where ANY amount of sleeve would have made it a stronger image. Even a 1/4 sleeve would have helped a ton. Good point on long sleeves.

Thanks again
Jeff