Quick tips on portrait for job application?

[dergit]

Hey,

I know this is a bit lazy and I'll do more searching and reading right after I'm done typing this but a very good friend needs to send off job applications asap and I stupidly offered to take new pictures of her this weekend as the one she was going to use makes her look like she's 15.

The problem is... I usually shoot landscapes, street, architecture, macro, some wildlife... I've never properly done a portrait session but obviously I still want to help and I guess on such short notice, I'm her best bet. So, what I'm looking for then, are a few quick pointers. A little cheat-sheet if you will.

Equipment that's available to me and that I'd take along:
- Canon 600D
- Canon Speedlite 430 EXII (only one, I'm afraid, the 600D can trigger it off-camera, though. So that's probably handy, and I could use the on-camera flash, too...)
- Canon 50/1.8 II
- Tamron 17-50
- Tamron 90 Macro
- 2 Tripods... cheap one for flash and RedSnapper with ball-head for camera.

My first idea was to sit her quite near to a window and put the flash on the other side, possibly at some angle to kill the shadow behind her... then get as far away as I can and use the 50, possibly 90mm primes at eye-level and see where it goes?

Any quick and dirty dos and don'ts (like ... I don't know, telling her to hold white cardboard below her chin or whatever...)? Any help is appreciated... cheers,

Markus

 

[Al Brum]

Sounds to me like you already have an idea and it sounds like it will work well. Take a couple of simple 'bankers' and then play a bit. If she's getting the shoot for free then the least she can do is help you learn.
Window light with a bit of fill from some white paper looks great, pop the flash behind her to define her hair and shoulders perhaps? Get her to hold the reflector so that it reduces shadows beneath her eyes.
I reckon you know the basics, so enjoy the opportunity...

 

[tezmed]

ask the person your taking pics of to see if she knows exactly what the company in question is after as well....


do they want head and neck, shoulders included, top half of body included perhaps????

if she doesnt know then just take some of each and let her do the rest....

 

[dergit]

Cheers... I went and got my Dad's old Multiblitz-lights out of my parent's cellar just to be sure. Not much can go wrong now, I reckon.

 

[boyfalldown]

don't go too dramatic either. You don't know the end reader, relatively neutral, flattering against a plane background, making them look friendly and approachable

 

[Mirus Lux]

Just thinking what sort of job is she going for? If its a corporate type thing then get them to pop on a suit and shoot against a plain modern background maybe metal or glass etc. If its an outdoors type job then maybe consider the location and wardrobe again but again look for plainish backgrounds but dont discount dense hedges, stone walls etc as if out of focus can look really nice. If you havent got a blurred background that you want move the set up further away from the background but beware of less light falling on it so it could become dark with just 1 flash. I would say you don't want anything too creative so maybe simple 1 flash set up at about 45degrees to camera and angled 45 degrees to the subject using the 50mm at around f5.6-f8. If you can bounce the flash or diffuse it then fine if not just move the flash further away.

The 50mm will be perfect for portraits on your 600d and for this job I would suggest simple head and shoulders or head only shot. IMO pose the subject angled towards the light but looking towards the camera. It's the eyes that will make it so use your centre af point to focus and recompose.

I would consider using a reflector/ white board of some sort to bounce light back under the chin. Main thing is getting it fait evenly lit but not looking flat and dull.

I think it will be the styling of the wardrobe, hair and makeup that will help so pay attention to details ie hair in place, earings etc. The image if its good will stay in the mind of those assessing the applications and if its to be printed separately and attached make sure it is cut perfectly and has a clean border with which it can be attached ie stapled.

Have a few ideas in mind shoot the subject in front of a few different backgrounds and the let the "client" decide!

 

[dergit]

Cheers, some good advice there.

Unfortunately I'm a bit sick at the moment and don't want to risk her falling sick as well so we'll reschedule - which gives me more time to prepare.

I'll forward your thoughts on outfit, styling etc to her and let her think about how she wants to look.

Starting to look forward to this a lot now!