How often do we see images shot with flash where the pupils of our subject are dilated?
Do we want our subject’s beautiful blue eyes to sparkle in our photograph, or do we want pupils that look like saucepan lids to overshadow them?
As a headshot and portrait photographer, I can categorically state that we want to see the colour of those eyes.
Today’s post is a quick tip to address this frequently overlooked element of flash photography.
It’s something I see every day.
I’ve been guilty of it myself.
Why is it so common?
When we photograph a subject using flash, the temptation is to place our subject in a dark room to ensure that the only light to illuminate them is coming from our flash unit. The problem arises here as the pupils dilate to allow in more light. Firing off a flash in a dark room confounds the issue even further.
So what can we do?
There are two solutions to this.
Set up your studio so that the subject is looking directly towards a window. The light from the window will have the desired effect and keep the pupils from dilating.
The second solution is to use flash units that have modelling lights. Switching on the modelling light will have the same effect as looking at the window.
Two simple solutions that will accentuate the detail in the eyes of your subject.
I’m a portrait photographer based in Tamworth, Staffordshire. Specialising in creative and styled portraiture, fitness photography, headshots, and personal branding for actors, athletes and business professionals.
Do you have a session booked, but are confused about what to wear?
Are you looking to update your Linkedin profile?
Are you an actor or musician that needs new headshots or personal branding images?
Well, look no further guys.
I’ve compiled an extensive list of useful tips to prepare you for your headshot session. This guide is crammed full of great advice. The meat and potatoes. Bookmark it, return to it and use it as a reference. It’s full of information that will help you to get the most from your headshot session.
I’m a portrait photographer based in Tamworth, Staffordshire. Specialising in creative and styled portraiture, fitness photography, headshots, and personal branding for actors, athletes and business professionals.
#20 DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE VALUE OF GETTING PROFESSIONAL HEADSHOTS!
Repeat that over and over until it sinks in.
Your face represents your brand.
It’s your calling card.
If you want people to take you seriously, you must have a high-quality headshot.
A professional headshot is going to add value to your profile and help to get you hired.
Let me break it down for you.
Let’s look at Linkedin, for example. Linkedin is the world’s leading networking site for career advancement and employment opportunities. It’s an online business network and a portal for professionals. Your profile can be reached and viewed by an enormous network of potential customers or employers, all in the blink of an eye.
What’s their first port of call?
Where do they look when they open your profile?
Is it the ‘About‘ section?
The ‘Experience‘ or ‘Education’ sections?
NOPE.
IT’S YOUR PROFILE PICTURE!
IT’S YOUR PROFILE PICTURE!
IT’S YOUR PROFILE PICTURE!
Did I mention that IT’S YOUR PROFILE PICTURE?!
That profile picture is the first impression, it’s your foot in the door. It can determine whether or not you are chosen by employers. You need to make it count.
Here’s a statistic that might shock you.
Linkedin profiles with professional headshots receive roughly 14 times more profile views and are 36 times more likely to receive a message on Linkedin.
That’s quite an advantage over the competition!
It’s important to look professional, confident and approachable.
Will you look professional with a phone selfie or holiday snap as your profile picture?
What message do you think such a picture conveys to a potential employer or business partner?
The brutal truth is that it looks like you don’t care about your career or your brand enough to invest in it.
If your profile picture is bad, you look bad. You want to be seen as a professional, not an amateur, so the way you present yourself in your photograph is everything.
That digital first impression lasts for just a split-second. Please take a moment to digest and remember this hard fact.
So what makes for a bad profile picture?
Selfies.
Your LinkedIn profile picture needs to match the professionalism of others on the site to give you a fighting chance. The high ‘selfie-angle’ is a poor photographic technique which causes foreshortening of the body and the loss of background. Standing in front of a mirror, whilst looking into your phone and pouting (I see this on Instagram every day) is also unacceptable. Selfies reek of amateur.
Filters.
If selfies make your profile picture look amateur, then using filters will help you win the race to the bottom. Skin-smoothing filters, bunny ears, anime eyes, crunchy clarity and bad black and whites, all look ridiculous. Photo-editing is not a one-click solution. Re-touching images is an art in itself and requires many years of hard work to achieve a high standard. DON’T USE FILTERS!
Don’t crop a group shot.
Cropping your wife or husband out of a wedding photo or a cropped photo of you from a night out will not present the best professional version of yourself. It shows a lack of commitment and looks like an afterthought.
Distracting Background.
Let’s keep it simple. Studio paper in grey, white or black are always a nice neat option that keeps the focus on you. Cinematic headshots also look amazing with a blurred background, achieved by shooting a long focal length and wide-open aperture.
Are you starting to see the value of professional photography now?
Do you know which pictures get the most likes on social media sites like Facebook?
Pictures of your dinner?
Pictures of yourself in a nightclub toilet?
NOPE.
IT’S YOUR PROFILE PICTURE!
People are excited and happy to see a picture of YOU!
It will also help if it’s a good picture of you!
How many newly launched small business websites do you see with care taken over the content and layout, but a badly taken profile picture in the ‘about me’ section?
Here’s where your professional photographer comes in.
Imagery can make or break your brand. High-quality photography adds value to your business.
DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE VALUE OF GETTING PROFESSIONAL HEADSHOTS!
Or the value of professional product photography, for that matter.
It might seem a little uncomfortable to thrust yourself into the spotlight as the face of your business, but the quicker you come to terms with this and make peace with it, the better. A professional headshot will improve the quality your profile photo and the way you feel about yourself as the founder of your business.
Let’s work together to elevate your profile and strengthen your brand.
I’ve created an in-depth series of articles that should answer the majority of your questions about headshot sessions and the value of professional photography.
I’m a portrait photographer based in Tamworth, Staffordshire. Specialising in creative and styled portraiture, fitness photography, headshots, and personal branding for actors, athletes and business professionals.
Solid, bold colours are best. Choose a bold colour that suits you and matches your skin tone. Consider a colour that complements your eyes.
Patterns, logos, loud colours and shiny materials are distracting. The focus of the headshot session is you, your face and your brand. Not that zig-zag pattern on your favourite sweater!
Avoid white, it will compete with your face to be the brightest part of the image. It’s also very reflective, so leave the whites at home.
Choose well-fitting clothing and avoid anything chunky or baggy. It may be comfortable, but it will add bulk and make you look heavier.
Avoid anything that fits too tight. There’s comfortable, then there’s bursting out of a tight shirt!
Choose something you’ve worn before, something that works for you. It will give you peace of mind.
Select a neckline that ends at or above the collar bone. Your headshot will be tightly cropped, so we would try to avoid having a deep plunging neckline exiting the bottom of the frame. High polo necks should also be avoided.
Layer your clothing. It’s a great way to mix things up and create multiple looks. Not too many layers though, as it will add bulk. We’re looking to strike a nice balance here.
Avoid fashionable trends and think classic style, it ages better. Fashion changes with every new season. If you stick to classic designs, then you won’t need to update your headshots as often.
Bring a few different looks with you. We will get a better variety of images with more options. A good rule of thumb would be three to four different outfits.
MORE ABOUT COLOURS.
Nailing the colours is an often underestimated tool in portrait photography. Choosing colours that complement your eye colour and skin tone will elevate the pictures to a higher level and make them stand out.
Here are a few useful tips.
Choose colours to match your skin tone. Earthy shades, such as olive, green, brown and cream work well with warmer skin tones. For neutral skin tones, opt for sky blue, jade green and greys. Cooler skin tones work best with bolder, brighter colours, such as rich blues, emerald or burgundy.
Avoid metallic colours. We want you to shine, not your shirt! Shimmery, metallic or neon colours will be extremely distracting in a headshot.
Texture can add dimension. Take a look at the image at the top of the page. See how nice the subject’s textured sweater looks? A solid-coloured shirt or top with a simple texture can help you stand out. The key is to select a simple texture and not overdo it.
Steer clear of elaborate textures and patterns such as tweed, plaid, herringbone or tartan. These fabrics will be too distracting for your headshots.
If you are wearing a suit, be aware that lighter suit colours work better for people with warmer skin tones and vice versa. Darker suits work well with light and medium skin tones.
Match the colour of your neck-tie to your shirt and jacket and resist the urge to wear strong patterns or that Homer Simpson comedy piece!
I’m a portrait photographer based in Tamworth, Staffordshire. Specialising in creative and styled portraiture, fitness photography, headshots, and personal branding for actors, athletes and business professionals.
Should I invest in professional hair and makeup for my headshot session?
I would personally recommend using a trusted makeup artist for any portrait photography session. A skilled makeup artist can create the illusion of flawless skin, define the eyes and enhance facial features. Professional makeup will also help to keep re-touching and post-production down to a minimum.
Here are a few tips should you want to do your makeup yourself.
Keep it real.
Your makeup should be an accurate representation of you and your brand. We’re looking for a good balance of clear skin and realism.
Pores.
Use a thin coating of foundation which still allows for natural skin texture. If too many layers of makeup are used in an attempt to better accentuate facial features, it will cover the pores and skin texture, resulting in flat, un-realistic looking skin.
Matte is your friend.
Steer well clear of shimmer and glitter, resist that urge! For party makeup, shimmer can look great, but for photography, use a matte finish. Whether it be eye shadow, cheeks, or face, remember matte will always look best.
Natural Look, not “Light”
It is more important to aim for a natural look than “light makeup.” Studio lighting has a way of reducing the impact of makeup, so you can afford to go a little darker with lip colour, mascara and eye shadow.
Colour of foundation.
Match the colour of your foundation to the natural colour of your skin in your neck and chest area. Resist the temptation to choose a shade which is darker than your skin tone. Oil-free matte will yield the best results in headshots but it can be difficult to apply correctly.
Oily Skin.
The best way to control oily skin is to use a blotter sheet. Mattifying gel (cream) is another option. It’s easy to apply and works well with the skin of all types and colours.
So, consider whether you should invest in professional makeup for your headshot session. Your headshots are an investment in yourself and your brand so spending a little more to achieve better results seems like a no-brainer to me.
If you do choose the professional option, be sure to confirm that your make-up artist is proficient in make-up specifically for photography. There is a big difference in ‘night-out’ makeup and photo-shoot makeup.
I’m a portrait photographer based in Tamworth, Staffordshire. Specialising in creative and styled portraiture, fitness photography, headshots, and personal branding for actors, athletes and business professionals.
Consider how you want to present yourself in your headshots or business portraits. These photographs will represent you and your brand on platforms like Linkedin, Facebook or a company website. They need to be an accurate representation of you.
Think about the clothing you plan to bring to your headshot session and by all means discuss it with your photographer beforehand.
What would ‘inappropriate’ clothing look like?
Let’s say you work in construction, for example, then a pinstriped suit might not be ‘role-appropriate.’ It would however, be perfect attire for a banker or lawyer.
See where I’m going with this?
Are you a dog groomer, a nail-technician or anyone that works in a branded uniform with a logo? Bring it along to the session. We can shoot some images with you wearing your brand colours and logo as well as some slightly more formally attired shots.
I would always suggest you bring a few different outfits along to your headshot session. This allows us to mix it up and get a nice variety of looks.
If in doubt, please drop me a message before the session and I’ll be happy to help.
I’m a portrait photographer based in Tamworth, Staffordshire. Specialising in creative and styled portraiture, fitness photography, headshots, and personal branding for actors, athletes and business professionals.
Baggy clothes might be comfortable and we’ve all been enjoying wearing our ‘comfies’ during the Coronavirus Pandemic, but they don’t photograph well. So don’t turn up to your headshot session wearing your favourite chunky jumper, over-sized t-shirt or ‘MC Hammer pants!’ Resist the urge to wear your favourite shirt if the collar is a bit loose, it won’t look good in the photos. Clothing that is too big tends to add bulk and might make you appear heavier than you are. We don’t want that.
What we do want, is for you to choose form-fitting clothing. An outfit that accentuates and flatters your body will yield the best results.
But.
When I say form-fitting, please don’t take that to mean ‘skin-tight!’
Lumps and bumps can be easily ‘liquified‘ in Photoshop (flattened out), but having you bursting out of a muscle-fit top is not the look we want to project in our professional headshots. If we’re doing a fitness, physique or muscle shoot it’s a different conversation altogether.
So, let’s find that happy medium.
What are the golden rules?
Wear form-fitting clothing that fits well.
Wear form-fitting clothing that fits well, BUT, is also comfortable.
Wear form-fitting clothing that represents your brand.
Wear form-fitting clothing in complementary colours but avoid white.
Just a quick word on white.
White will always be battling with your face for attention in a photograph. Our eyes are drawn to the brightest part of an image. I want the brightest part of the image to be your face, not your shirt. It’s your time to shine. Let your shirt shine in the club on Saturday night!
I’m a portrait photographer based in Tamworth, Staffordshire. Specialising in creative and styled portraiture, fitness photography, headshots, and personal branding for actors, athletes and business professionals.
THE MOMENT YOU RELAX IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA, IS WHEN THE MAGIC HAPPENS!
It’s that simple.
When you can forget about the camera and start to be yourself, is when we’re going to start capturing you at your best.
‘But I hate having my picture taken’
‘The camera makes me nervous’
Don’t worry.
I got you.
We’re going to chat, have a few laughs, have a drink, do a handstand! Whatever it takes to get you to feel comfortable at your headshot session. I’m liberal with my time and I’m not going to pressure you by placing a constraint on it. So, let’s relax, get in the zone and create some killer headshots.
I’m a portrait photographer based in Tamworth, Staffordshire. Specialising in creative and styled portraiture, fitness photography, headshots, and personal branding for actors, athletes and business professionals.
It’s fantastic to see people expressing themselves. Innovative style, interesting hair, bold make-up.
I love it.
But, and it’s a big but.
It doesn’t necessarily belong in your headshot session.
Why not?
Think about it.
Have you ever looked back at photographs of your parents or grand-parents taken in the 1970s, for example? Their style, whilst interesting, looks a little out-there doesn’t it? Flared trousers, platform soles, huge collars and heavy side-burns look dated by today’s standards.
This is what we would look to avoid in our headshots. Any trends that might appear out of date within a year or two.
If you think ‘timeless’ with your styling, then you won’t go far wrong.
Remember, your headshots are a representation of your brand. You are presumably looking to get hired or advance your career, so let’s try to avoid any ultra trendy styling items. Let’s work together to create the images that launch your career to a higher level.
If you do wish to work on something specifically to illustrate a more creative styling concept, then please take a look at my editorial portrait work and get in touch to discuss your needs.
I’m a portrait photographer based in Tamworth, Staffordshire. Specialising in creative and styled portraiture, fitness photography, headshots, and personal branding for actors, athletes and business professionals.
Have you ever seen the ten billion or so ‘selfies’ posted to social media every day that are taken with a mobile phone camera from a painfully high angle?
Of course you have.
Looks like the picture was taken from the top of the Empire State Building!
Every time I see one of those pictures, a little piece of me dies inside. I understand why people do it, to make the jaw look stronger and to eliminate the double-chin. The fact remains though, that high-angle selfie sucks, BIG TIME!
Did I just hear the whole of Instagram gasp?
Probably.
Why does it suck?
It sucks because we lose our background.
It sucks because we don’t want to be looking down on our subject.
What does looking down on someone imply?
The subconscious implication is that by looking down on someone they appear inferior and weak. The fore-shortening effect it has on the body looks silly. In our professional headshots, we want to be looking slightly up at someone to project the opposite. We want you to appear confident and powerful, rather than diminished.
So how are we going to achieve this?
I’m going to ask you to pull back your shoulders and jam your forehead towards the camera with your chin down and slightly out. It’s effectively stretching the muscles around your jawline and pulling your skin tight.
That’s it!
It might feel a little strange and un-natural but trust me THIS WORKS. It’s going to strengthen your jawline and get the very best from your face. Have you ever heard the expression ‘the camera adds ten pounds?’
This is how we take those ten pounds away.
Try it in the mirror.
We’re going to position the camera at chin height. Just slightly looking up at our subject to give that powerful viewpoint. Too low, and we’re looking up their nostrils. We don’t want that. The relationship between camera angle and focal length (lens choice) has a massive impact on portrait photography. It’s a subject that I will cover later.
I’m a portrait photographer based in Tamworth, Staffordshire. Specialising in creative and styled portraiture, fitness photography, headshots, and personal branding for actors, athletes and business professionals.
Andrew Katsaitis Photography 