T
his is the tenth book I have written, and I think it is one of the most im-
portant for the majority of photographers. Almost 70 percent of the sales
in my studio (and this is the case with many others photographers I have talked
to) are generated from head and shoulders portraits. Yet, while this one type of
portrait often makes up the bulk of the income for a studio, many photogra-
phers look at head and shoulders portraits as the portraits that “have to be
done” for the mothers, grandmothers, yearbooks, and business cards—the por-
traits they have to get out of the way so they can get to the more exciting full-
length poses.
In the senior-portrait market, the full-length pose is often looked at as the
way to set your self apart from the contracted studio that typically doesn’t offer
this type of image. Yet, while we offer everything to every client, the most re-
quested portraits are the close-up shots that we will be discussing shortly, not
the full-length poses. And as the average size of our clients seems to keep get-
ting larger, I can’t imagine this is a trend that is going to change. A tight close-
up of the face can be a lot easier on the ego than a full-length image.
Keep in mind, I look at a head and shoulders image as an image with a larger
facial size that is cropped somewhere above the waistline (at least in most cases).
You will find that, in dealing with your clients, the facial size is much more im-
portant in most images than exactly where the portrait is cropped. As you’ll
see, I often pose a subject for a full or three-quarter length pose that can also
be composed as a beautiful close-up. Looser framing for a yearbook or business
portrait (slightly above the waist) also gives me cropping options that framing
at the top of the shoulders does not.
In the upcoming chapters, we are going to look at each aspect of designing
a head and shoulders portrait that not only looks beautiful but pleases your
clients. That is the key to success in photography—whatever kind of portrait you
specialize in creating.
6 JEFF SMITH’S GUIDE TO HEAD AND SHOULDERS PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHYIntroduction
Why Head and Shoulders Portraits Sell..
The most requested
portraits are the
close-up shots, not the
full-length poses.