Learning Headshot Photography

Learn the essentials for making great business portraits, from lighting and camera choices to interacting with your subjects and helping them look their best in front of the camera.

Introduction

• Welcome
• Be sure to watch my other course

1. About Headshots

• Who uses headshots
• Headshots not snapshots
• Finding your style and mastering it

2. Camera and Lens

• Minimums: Long lens, hotshoe, resolution, and picture size
• Flattering lenses: Kit, 85mm f/1.8, and distance from subject
• Don't use a smartphone

3. Tripod

• Why a tripod?
• Essential tripod features
• How to use a tripod for portraiture

4. Lights

• Positioning your lights
• Types: Continuous, flash, and speedlight
• Bigger is better
• Flash vs. speedlight advantages
• Light modifiers

5. Backdrops and Stands

• Backdrop vs. available
• Choosing your backdrop
• Support and safety tips

6. Working with People

• Two situations, same requirements
• Makeup and blotters
• What to wear
• Eyeglasses
• Simple poses
• Choosing the side of the face
• Camera height and tripod use
• Review pictures with subject
• Things to say, look at toes, Hurleyisms
• Shoot from start to finish

7. Finishing and Delivery

• Finish strong: Your job isn't over
• Cull with hindsight
• Use color checker and white balance targets
• Retouching in Lightroom and Perfectly Clear
• Batch retouching
• Delivery

Conclusion

• Next steps