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Thorsten Westheider's picture

First attempt at a portrait/headshot

Coming from landscape and deep sky photography I never thought I'd take pictures of people, thinking I didn't have it in me.

However, today a long time friend of mine came over for a cup of coffee. She had just updated her profile on FB and seeing that it wasn't much of a profile picture I replied that next time she'd be in the neighborhood I'd take a picture of her worth sharing.

She didn't come for the picture exactly, on the contrary she insisted on not being photogenic anyway, a point which I argued.

In the end I took that picture in my makeshift studio, a Walimex strobe as key light, an Aputure 120d with softbox as a fill light and an teeny weeny Aputure pocket light as hair light. I didn't have a clue how to set up the lighting, like I said, I only ever shoot in the great outdoors. It worked out, though, at least I think it did.

So what do you think of this first attempt?

PS: Camera was a Nikon D850 with the 70-200/mm Zoom at 85mm, f/8 ISO 200. Edited in Photoshop.
PPS: I only had a black background handy, I figure I should've gone with a grey one and yeah, I missed that streak of hair casting a shadow on her left cheek.

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2 Comments

Well I'd say you do have it in you. Not bad for a first try. Keep at it as you clearly have a feel for light.

Thanks Julian! I'll definitely look into portrait photography now, this was fun!