Beginner Headshots.

[Kell]

Putting this in beginners because when it comes to portraits I’m a complete novice.

Background. Friends of mine have a son who’s at acting school.

He needs headshots and has been quoted £1,000 for a session.

As a student, he can’t afford this. But we were chatting this weekend and they asked if I would consider it.

It could be a good chance for him (and some of his friends) to get some shots. And it would be a learning experience for me.

What I want to know upfront if this is going to be worthwhile for all of us.

I have some kit, but I have no experience. I have enough knowledge to know I’m going to need some additional kit to make this work.

So some questions I have already are.

I have several (powerful) speed lights, but no studio lighting. I do not have any reflectors, brolleys or light stands.

Could I make this work by adding some brolleys and using speed lights?

In terms of portrait lenses, the one I was thinking of would be an 85/1.8. I do have a couple of 50/1.8s, a 24-70/2.8 and a 70-200/2.8. But no primes longer than 85.

I do also have some manual prime lenses that I can use with the R6 which, if this went ahead, I would probably take. 100/2.5 and a 135/3.5. I wouldn’t want to rely on manual focus though with everything else to think about.

IF this went ahead I would at the very least put in some hours to ensure I’m comfortable with using the flashes off camera and being able to control them.

But I don’t want it to be a waste of time for them or me.


In my head, although I’m relatively quiet, the fact they’re all actors, would be a bonus as they should be outgoing enough to offset me being inexperienced.

Any advice? Any ‘please don’t do it’s’? Any ‘what’s the worst that can happen?’

Please be honest. Even if it’s brutal.

Thanks.

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

For headshots all you really need is a plain background (something like a blanket is ideal, because it won't reflect "hotspots").

Lighting is easy: one on the left at roughly 45 degrees and one on the right at more or less the same angle. Umbrellas are good for a beginner, as the soft light is more forgiving. Put one light roughly 25% further away than the other. Seat the subject facing the closer light with the front of their face mostly visible to the camera. Take your first shot like that then let the subject move around to get a varied selection.

You can practice beforehand with something like a football so that you can predict how the lighting will work.

On a slightly overcast day, you can get good results outside but you'll want a long focus lens to blur the background...

 

[Boots]

I have no experience in such photography, but I think it would be a great opportunity to stretch your craft and help them out. So long as you are not planning to charge (except perhaps costs for printing if it gets to that), and you are honest up front that you are learning too, what do you or they have to lose?

The only part that sounded alarm bells for me was:

But I don’t want it to be a waste of time for them or me.

if that is genuinely how you feel, then it probably isn't a good idea.

If you Google actor headshots, they are very plain and straightforward. Often a simple black or white shirt, looking straight at the camera with shoulders also square on. They are in front of a fairly plain background.

In terms of equipment, I would have thought the 85mm prime or the longer zoom at around 135mm would be fine, but you will need a reasonably large room to get far enough away from them, with some space behind them. Really you would be wanting some kind of white painted empty space, like a gallery. Is it possible that their acting school has such a space that they could borrow for a couple of hours and arrange your admission?

If you could find a suitable white space, then you should be able to use your speedlights bounced off the walls either side.

I would have thought that a single hand-held reflector could be very useful. You say you don't have one. Perhaps a sheet of mount card? One of the other actors should be able to hold it for you.

Good luck

 

[sk66]

You've got more than enough kit to get good results... a single speedlight *bounced into a ceiling corner behind you will create soft light equivalent to a huuuge softbox. And using more than one light isn't usually necessary.

The main thing you need to start with is the look/looks he wants/needs you to capture... you have to know the outcome first...


(*in a small enough light colored room)

 

[ancient_mariner]

If it's a daytime shoot, could you us a window light - so that you can see what you've got?

Good point from @sk66 about knowing what is wanted first - might be worth considering a location shoot if they would like an industrial/classical/stage/organic type background.

 

[DemiLion]

Please, please don't do this.

Your questions (and the subsequent answers) show that you have the wrong mindset entirely.

It is absolutely, 100% NOT about the kit. You can do actor's headshots with one light and a brolly (as mentioned above).


What is important is 'The Look'. This is their portfolio - at the start of their career, this is everything for a young actor.

It is absolutely NOT simple as suggested above. Even experienced headshot photographers on the corporate side
hesitate to do these.

Spotlight requires very fixed formats and expressions.

As for what they've been quoted:

£1k is bloody expensive for an actor's headshot session. That is Peter Hurley pricing - and he's one of the best in the world.

Get the group of them to book a day session with a proper headshot photographer who specialises in actors and Spotlight shots.

An individual session should cost around £300-400 and end up with 3 to 5 retouched images.

Most firms will off discounts for student actors and potentially a further discount if booked en masse for more than one session.

It may be tempting for you but please remember that this is someone's career that you are thinking about!

 

[sk66]

It is absolutely NOT simple as suggested above. Even experienced headshot photographers on the corporate side
hesitate to do these.

It's definitely not simple for me... no form of people photography is easy for me because I am not "a people person." That single aspect is huge, and I'm not sure it's something that can be learned (and be authentic/effective).

 

[Pound Coin]

For headshots all you really need is a plain background (something like a blanket is ideal, because it won't reflect "hotspots").

Illustrated with a snap that is absolutely not a plain background

 

[shapeshifter]

Headshots a £1000! Taking the p*** or what