Ep 12: How to give good head shot

Whether you’re shooting a head shot of an actor, model, CEO – and everyone in between – we break down the steps you need to take to create magic with your picture.

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Show notes
Photoshop turns 25

Brene brown + Chase Jarvis

The man in the arena by Theodore Roosevelt
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

How to give great head shot:

“It’s one thing to make a picture of what a person looks like, it’s another thing to make a portrait of who they are.” – Paul Caponigro

Actor’s head shot
Model head shot
Corporate Headshot

The set up – the rules

1. Deciding how to position someone
2. Don’t spray and pray
3. Why your model is better sitting down (most of the timeI
4. Should you photograph side on?
5. Shooting someone with a really symmetrical face
6.  Practice to find the best side.
7. Try different poses..
8. When you should photograph your model from slightly below eye level

Getting the expression

1. How to avoid your model looking distracted.
2. What happens in your first 15-20 frames?
3. Learning to master how you communicate, connect and direct your model are key elements to capturing a great expression.
4. Why you should ban “say cheese”!

How to get smiling Eyes

Creating a journey take together – and when you get it right, you’ll see it in your shots.
Looking away and flicking eyes to the side.

Troubleshooting headshots

• When your model has a double chin
• When your model has a prominent forehead or nose
• When your model has an uneven mouth
• When your model has one eye bigger than the other
• When your model has large ears
• When your model has a thin or wide face
• When your model has skin imperfections
• When your model wears glasses

Lens choice

Discussed in the podcast!