I've been shooting a lot of friends in my improvised home lighting. I am still new to shooting portraits and headshots, so any advice is welcome and appreciated. Also should I consider this shot a portrait or a headshot? Is it both? What differentiates a close portrait from a headshot?
Thanks in advance,
Good shot. For me i like the mood, considering the engineering helmet on. My only problem with the shot is that. The shadow at his left color is too much contrast to the light fall off on his left cheek. The the fall off should have been even or better still light up the dark left collar to show some details around that area. Once again dramatic shot.
Thanks, I'll keep that in mind for next time.
I like it, it's a nice character portrait. In my book a headshot is a portrait, whereas a portrait isn't necessarily a headshot - meaning that a headshot is just a sub-category of portraits!
Thank you. I was torn as to which group to post this. I was thinking it kinda fits both categories.
I think it had potential, it's just to flat though. Bump that contrast a bit, and bring the background exposure down some. I promise you'll see a better shot in there.
I think you have too much fill light. A manly man like guy guy can handle much more shadow.
Thanks, I was using my house lamp as my main light and a silver reflector as a fill. I guess I should have used the white reflector, or none at all. Thanks again for the tip. It'll be put to good use for next time.
Noone mention that so... Crop disturbes me abit. In my opinion a square crop would work a bit better, especially that there is nothing iteresting in the negative space on right, and it does not add dramaturgy to the photo.
Additionally - most successful portrait photography got their eyes well lid, where its in shadow here. Of course there is always an "exception" from rules, yet in this case I also get a bit distracted by this hard shadow and eyes put in dark. On the other hand adding more shadow would result in much more dramatic look that could make sence to have eyes in shadow. Hard to decide :)
Anyway nice shoot, keep good work!