Digital Camera World - UK (2020-04)

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undamentally a headshot

should be really simple. It’s one

person, sitting or standing still,

and all you need are three or

four good photographs. The

classic headshot is a photograph of a person’s

face that usually includes their shoulders.

Model: Rhiane Hacker

1

Clothing

Neutral colours tend to put the focus

on the face, which is the ultimate goal.

Avoid shirts with collars, logos or patterns, or tops

with lots of bright colours. These draw attention to

themselves which we do not want – keep things

simple and clean!

2

Backgrounds

Traditionally headshots were taken on a

solid black or white backdrop, but recently

things have moved on. Great backdrops are easy to

find. Use colours, find lines, and get a little creative!

Use local streets with natural light to produce great

results – this will also help keep your equipment

costs to an absolute minimum.

3

Lighting

Studio photography can be difficult

when you don’t have appropriate lights

or backgrounds readily available. Shooting in natural

light is easy – if you are out on a day where there is

harsh light, just head for a shaded area. This will

give you an even and consistent exposure, providing

a smooth surface of light to complement the skin

tones of your willing subject.

F

Master

headshots

Alistair Campbell

explains how to get great

results every time for this

classic portrait format

3 | PORTRAITS

20 DIGITAL CAMERA^ APRIL 2020 http://www.digitalcameraworld.com

4

Camera settings

Use a shallow depth of field to make your

subject stand out. Set your f-stop between

f/1.4 and f/2.8. Put your focal point on the eyes and

double-check the shot afterwards. Make sure that

your shutter speed is at least 1/125 sec. Keep your

ISO low, especially if the subject has dark hair or

clothing, to keep noise out of the darker areas.

5

Relax

If you’re relaxed, then the person you are

photographing will be relaxed. Chat with

them and take photos while you’re doing it; if the shoot

becomes too formal, that’s where problems can arise.

Always keep things positive. The first 10 minutes are

going to be awkward until you both start to loosen up.

6

Post-processing

If you’re shooting headshots for someone,

chances are they will be for a pretty

specific reason. Find out before the shoot how they

need the final images to look. Great headshots should

not need too much editing work: it should be a fair

representation of that person, not an image heavily

airbrushed with a lack of real skin detail or with

overprocessed effects like fake lens flares.

CLOTHING ADVICE

Avoid shirts with collars, logos or

patterns, or tops with lots of bright

colours. These all call attention to

themselves, which we do not need!

And formal shirts can make your

subject look like a corporate manager

rather than a creative individual.