Sweet Chariot Photography
Okay, you've decided to shoot with me. That's great, and it's going to be a lot of fun. Let's prep by going over a few things, because a little homework can go a long way toward a good shoot.
Before We Shoot
I like to get a sense of who you are, what your looking for and so forth prior to shooting. So, before the actual shoot date, please do the following:
- show me your current headshots or whatever you are using. if you can send them by email, that's great. if you can't do that, bring them the day of the shoot
- let me know what you're looking for
- if you know, let me know how people see you
- again, if you know, let me know how you'd like to be seen in your headshots
What To Wear
Generally, the simple rule with black and white headshots is to avoid busy patterns (for example, plaids) and heavy contrast shirts (e.g., strong black and white shirts or sweaters). Simply avoid anything that would distract your eye from the expression in your face and eyes. Simple, muted colors work very well.
Other than that, the choice of clothes really depends on what you want to say about your personality or the character that you want to play. For "pure" heashots - shoulders and above, only the shirt matters, obviously. For three-quarter shots, the clothes are very important. Unless you specify otherwise, I'll try to do a mix of both.
Make-Up
If you're not hiring a make-up artist, there are guides and tips for make-up available. Men often don't need much more than powder. Whether you are a guy or girl, pay particular attention to removing shadows under the eyes. The closeness of the lens and the direction of light accentuates the area under the eyes. For women, concealer can be very helpful.
Poses
The "natural" and "spontaneous" look is what we're going after. Nevertheless, being a little conscious of your body position can't hurt. It's like acting - think about it, even practice if you want, beforehand and then forget about it and focus on connecting with the camera when you're shooting. Some important guidelines (remember, not absolute rules by any means) are helpful. If you flip through a magazine, you'll find that asymmetry is very important and contributes to the "natural" feel. So generally, keep in mind the following:
- Often, tilting the head to one side or the other helps
- Asymmetrical shoulders are usually more interesting than symmetrical
- Being square to camera can often work, but eyes to camera and chin pointing just to the right or left of camera is usually more interesting
- Pick positions where you'll be very comfortable, even slouchy. Lazy will give the photo a more natural feel.
Tension
Very few of us take headshots naturally. Even models, who are always in front of a camera, have a hard time with headshots, because the requirements are very different. Many of us carry tension somewhere in our faces when we're in front of a camera: we furrow the brows, crinkle the forehead, tweak the lip to one side or the other.
If you know you carry tension in front of a camera, please let me know. Also, practice making yourself aware of this tension. Often, the tension develops because we become disconnected, so any action - physical or mental that forces us to reconnect will solve the problem. During the shoot, I will of course work with you if such tension arises.
Selecting A Print
Okay, we've done a shoot and you've gotten a proof sheet. Now what? Well, if you haven't done this before, you to take a look at your proofs through a loop. You can buy one at most camera stores, or, when you to to get them printed, the lab will provide you with a loop while you are there.
I recommend that you get several 3x5 or 4x6 prints of shots that you like on the proof sheet before printing a full 8x10. Most labs charge $1.50-2.50 for these prints. When printing your 8x10, fiber-based paper is the most durable, but RC can also work equally well.
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