5 Tips for AMAZING Headshots! Radically Improve Your Headshot Photography TODAY
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 มิ.ย. 2024
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Professional headshots are one of the fastest growing segments in photography, and an awesome way to make living as a full time job or rewarding side hustle. In this video, I present 5 easy to understand and implement tips that will help to radically improve your headshots.
I learned these lighting techniques from Peter Hurley (peterhurley.com/) so go check out his work as well for more inspiration and join the Headshot Crew if you want to become an awesome headshot photographer (headshotcrew.com/).
5 TIPS!
02:22 Avoid "Extreme Posing"
06:02 Get that Jawline Out
08:45 Never Say, "Say Cheese!"
15:49 Better when you tether
17:34 Use a simple, flattering light
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You’ve made more sense in 23 mins than most do in 2 hours . Thank you .
Thank you, Paul.
I always shoot clients from both sides, as I am aware of the good/bad sides. But I never say that out loud. I always ask "do you have a favorite angle?" and that gives me a clue about what they are going to like, too.
Yep, I do the same. Many of my clients already know, but a lot of times they are surprised because they actually prefer the other side. It's so important to be able to size them up and figure out their best angle.
I stumbled on your video and thought I would give you Kudos. I have been shooting for over 25 years. I shoot corporate headshots at corporate events sometimes over 350 in 4 days. All your information is very sound and accurate. You basically became Peter Hurley without the hyper activity and crazy hair. One thing I might add especially on assembly line shoots. Don't care how you learn to do it but learn to think quick and train for that. Have a personality you have to size up your subject quick and make them feel comfortable. Peter is a master at this. He does not get over technical with people and makes them laugh. Be careful referring to a woman's nose as a snout not all woman would find that funny. Dial in your camera settings and get your light set up ahead of time. Set it and forget it and focus on your subjects!
Thank you so much for this kind comment! Peter is my mentor so I've learned everything from him, and you are right, he is the master at sizing people up and getting them to look great and natural in photos.
great advice! especially dialing in camera and lighting settings in advance. yes, you'll need to make adjustments on the fly, but having your baseline setup will make it easier to make those adjustments.
Tips:
1. @2:22 Avoid extreme posing
2. @6:02 Get the jawline out
3. @8:45 Never say cheese
4. @15:48 Shoot tethered
5. @17:33 Use simple flattering light
Clam shell is my go to, one light with eye lighter for fill.
A great setup for headshots!
I can't tell you how relieved I am to hear someone who has been doing this for a while say they use continuous lighting. I'm just getting into portraits and headshots and have some clients who want studio shots (vs outdoor shots) and I am not a fan of flashes. I think it's just one more thing to have to fiddle with and, as a model/subject, I hate the burst of light and the sound of flashes.
Many photographers are using continuous light nowadays, mostly due to the influence of the GOAT Peter Hurley. If you want to learn to master headshot lighting and composition, join the Headshot Crew. headshotcrew.com/
thanks for the lead!
This is so useful, especially for non-studio photographers that need portability. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
No more awkward photobooth pics for me! Thanks Pete
Thanks a lot Pete for the golden advices! I learnt a lot, God bless you!
Thanks Nate! Glad you found it helpful!
Thanks Pete for this great video! ⚡️⚡️⚡️
My pleasure!
Thanks Pete, that was one of the best videos on the subject I've seen. And you have a great presenting manner!
Wow, thanks!
Killer tips as always. Thanks Pete!
Appreciate it my man!
This is hands down the best instructional video for studio photography. It helped me a lot with my confidence. Thank you so much for making this brilliant content.
You are too kind! Thank you so much. More videos on headshot and portrait lighting techniques coming soon!
Thanks for the GREAT tips
You got it! Thanks so much for watching, don't forget to subscribe! ;)
Love this tutorial. Thank you. 😊
You are very welcome!
Very good advices
Wonderful advice. I’m looking to make my studio,and especially headshot, photography more consistent and easy to setup, and this really hits all the areas I need. I can’t wait to try out some of this advice on my next shoot.
Thanks and good luck!
Very informative! Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Good tips. Thank you. I like your teaching style. Very helpful.
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks! Very helpful
Glad it helped!
Very good Pete…thanks!
Thanks, Nick!
👏🏾👍🏾📸This is great work you showed here
Thank you!
Great tips! Thanks!
You're so welcome!
absolutely wonderful. i spend so much time tweaking my camera settings and the lighting but i REALLY need to continue to work on getting folks in front of the camera to relax enough to allow themselves to pose. BIG thumbs up.
Thank you for this comment! I really appreciate it and I'm glad you enjoyed the tutorial! More coming soon. :)
Excellent video. Now I got to watch the others.
Thanks, Don! Enjoy - more videos coming soon!
Thank Pete
I grew up in the Bronx listening to you made me home sick.
Great job
Thanks Karl! I joke with people who are not from the area they are the ones with an accent, not me haha.
Awesome, excellent.. just great. Absolutely helpful. Thank you so much. Greetings from Switzerland.
Hey André, thank you so much! I'm glad you found it helpful, and more are on the way!
Thank You 😊
You're welcome! 😊
Thank you ...nice tips...I mostly shoot dance sprinkled with some head shot work.....Yes the jawline! Thanks for the. review!
My pleasure. Glad you enjoyed it!
Have you shared the parallel lights make and model? Very helpful video. Thanks!
I use a Westcott Flex Kit, but you can use flashes too, just make sure to use 1x3 strip boxes. Glad you found it helpful!
Great Video! Love this information. Would love to see some videos on light setups. Do you happen to have any? Thank you! :)
Thanks! Here's one that's an introduction to flash photography: th-cam.com/video/r-CENKRImHk/w-d-xo.html
I am doing more and more headshots... mostly for a modeling agency... really enjoyed this video...
Glad you enjoyed it!
When I take all my pictures,a second or so before their ready,you snap the shot and then another when you they are ready to be snapped,when you give them the signal to snap,people will tend to tense up and will not get a natural look or they blink.ALWAYS TAKE (2) shots,seconds before you snap the picture and when the signal to snap
great straightforward headshot advice. thanks. any tips on photographing headshots for people wearing glasses?
Thanks, Peter. Yes, when photographing glasses you want to make sure they push the glasses all the way up on their face, and if they angle the lenses slightly down that helps too. Parallel light like I demonstrated in this tutorial is also a good option, because then you only have 2 lights to work with in avoiding the glare. I did a video on the parallel setup where I go more in depth on the setup here: th-cam.com/video/zbjOpkNn-cs/w-d-xo.html
Great video! What are those continuous light panels you use that are mounted on those poles?
Thanks! That’s a Westcott Peter Hurley Flex Kit. It’s awesome! I use it for the majority of my headshot and portrait work.
Haha I like the poodle at 17:59
What poodle? LOL
Hi Pete, Very straight forward advice! I'll be watching more of your videos. Question about parallel lighting. Isn't it really hard to avoid eyeglass glare on those folks who wear glasses? What do you do to avoid that?
Thank you! Depends on how bad the glare is but I do use parallel to avoid glasses glare. You need to make sure the glasses are pointed slightly down but I also tweak the lights to avoid the glare if it's really bad. Sometimes it's a compromise between getting rid of the glare and getting the light right. Also sometimes if it's not too bad I just photoshop it out. There's a ton of good info about all of this in the headshot crew, so check it out (www.headshotcrew.com)
Thanks for a clear and simple explanation. You're right....I have watched at least 50 videos on a tons of setups. I'ver purchased enough modifiers to basically to work in any environment! Quesiton though. I would prefer to work with constant light rather than dealing with my wireless trigger and flashes. What are you using for actual lights in this video? LED panels? Not quite sure how to work with what I have to so it's even on both sides. I have all godox speedltes, one AD200 Pro and a Neewer 300 W strobe? Suggestions?
Glad you enjoyed it! I use a Westcott Flex Kit which is a set of continuous LED panels. I use it for my videos as well as for my headshots. There are less expensive options available however because it's rather expensive.
hi Pete! greetings from Malaysia...
Hello from New York!
I would love to see a diagram of the “parallel lighting” . Great video!
He shows that at the 19 minute mark...
Thanks Justin! Yep, I do show a quick clip of the setup. It's pretty easy to achieve and if you feather the lights towards or away from the subject, you can create a variety of different results.
@@jimtincher7357 Yes, I did see this but was looking more for a diagram. The video has the lights setup without model in position and I was just a bit confused with the hands as the lights excatly what was going on. Great video and have idea just liked it so miuch wanted to see an actualy diagram or vid with model in place and lights.
Good post with examples and lots of detail/handy tips about communicating with people, which is the most vital skill for any photographer. Not a fan of that Peter Hurley shadow-murdering lighting, but I understand that it is popular for a lot of clients.
If you say, “Move your right shoulder five degree toward me.”, and they move their left shoulder (as you did), I’d start by confirming that they know their left from right. Also, when you say “five degrees”, do any of them ever ask for a protractor, just in case they move six degrees or four degrees?
Thanks for the comment, Paul! Appreciate the feedback. Sometimes they do move the wrong shoulder, so I mimic what I want them to do using the opposite shoulder. Surprisingly, when I say "5 degrees" it makes them move very slightly, I think that's because it sounds like a small move even if they failed math class. 😆 I used to just tell them to move their shoulder towards me, but they would wildly swing their entire body towards my camera like it was 6th grade picture day haha.
Regarding Peter, yes, clients love soft, even light. I use it with both men and women, and never get a complaint about it. I also use a variety of other lighting methods depending on the client, some that I learned from Peter and some others too. I think it's best to have a bunch of tools in the toolbox, but the Hurley Triangle is definitely my go-to for headshots.
@@PeteCocoPhoto The 5° thing makes sense now. I must admit that I always prefer a bit of shadow in my studio portraiture, but as you say, there are so many options. If I use a more open set it’s usually more clamshell or a triangle with fill at least 2 stops below key. Everyone has their preference and style. Thanks for your detailed response.
@@Drinckx2 My pleasure! I like shadowing people up too but generally so I usually start my sessions doing bright and cheery and then use more dramatic lighting later on. I like to give them plenty of options to choose from.
I like your style Peter.
Sadly, I am not a good communicator, so I have to work at it
Thanks! You can improve those communication skills it just takes some practice
Very helpful tips and I particularly appreciate you explaining what a photographer should NOT do.
Glad it was helpful!
Hey! Love your videos. One thing that I would enjoy though, is if you take another look at your audio volume. It seems a lot lower than other places on TH-cam.
Thanks for the feedback! Do you find this with the newer videos? I had this issue with the older ones but thought I had sorted it all out.
@@PeteCocoPhoto Those do seem better! I only recently discovered your channel so have gone through videos in quite a random order, partially by what TH-cam is recommending. Sorry for the scare haha
@@unusedTV haha no problem! As long as I'm improving lol
What continuous lights are those that you briefly show? They look like square panels you mounted on poles.
Here is a link: www.fjwestcott.com/flex-cine-1x2-bi-color-peter-hurley-kit
Wow $5,000.00 no thanks. 😂
@@52701970 you can find very reasonable panels on Amazon. I upgraded to these bad boys after growing my business to a place where it made sense. But yeah, they ain’t cheap lol!
Good family photograph of the photographer
Do the trick of family
Kids conversation flow naturally
Thanks for watching!
Do you recommend parallel lighting to be the minimum to use? I only have one speedlight at the moment, and I just ordered a 36" softbox for it.
If you have one light, you should use a reflector with it. The idea is to get a nice, even light.
Great tips...finally got rid of my poodle...:)
Thanks Peter! The poodle will be part of my advanced lighting video. 😆
Thank you, like the channel! The parallel lighting gives cats eyes so not my choice. Sorry as many others, I thought Peter work is good distinctly average and flat. Read his book too. Still interesting but better photographers out there than PH. Loved the video on the 50mm's. Keep it up please. All the best M
Thank you for the kind words, Marcelo! Parallel is not my first choice for a commercial style headshot, but I love it for a more dramatic style of shot with intense light falloff. I like it as an option too when I have a client with very reflective lenses since it's easier to deal with 2 instead of 3 lights. I know Peter's work isn't for everyone but he's #1 in my book not only because of the great lighting techniques, but because he teaches you how to get the best out of every face. I have had so many clients who hate being photographed leave my studio in love with their headshots. Often it's the first time a person has ever loved a photo of themselves, so it's very inspiring! More vids coming soon, thanks for the feedback!
@@PeteCocoPhoto thanks for responding, much appreciated. Having an world wide community is an amazing achievement. (Even when we sometimes disagree on stuff) I am really struggling with getting headshot work and where to focus my efforts. Emailing seems futile. ( I am near London) I note there very few videos on this. Any suggestions in a future video would be much appreciated. I wonder if very capable of phones with touch up AI are are a threat. All the best M
@@marcelowilson-barnett3768 I actually did a four part series on growing your photography biz. Check it out: th-cam.com/video/nBsn1P_vG0o/w-d-xo.html
I also think you should check out the headshot crew. it's more than learning Peter's style, there is also a ton of practical business advice too. I think AI is a threat, but not yet. I'm not sure where the industry will be in 10 years....
Hi, how do you deal with eyeglasses?
Hi Glenn, I try to minimize glare while shooting. If the glare is very bad, I tend to use a parallel lighting setup over a three light setup. By eliminating the bottom light, it gets rid of a lot of the glare. If the glasses are extremely reflective, sometimes I take an image without them while the subject is in the same position and then photoshop the eyes back in, but I don't like doing this except as a last resort. I also ask my clients to bring a few pair of glasses as options, and tell them to avoid blue light blockers as these are usually the worst to be photographed in. If I can't get rid of all the glare in camera, I try to get it 95% out of there and then fix the rest in post. In general though, you will need to change (and sometimes slightly compromise) your lighting setup if they have very reflective lenses.
Hi thank you for sharing this video. I understand your 4 tips but did not understand one tips about tether, what is this ? Can you please explain once more for me ? You can just reply in text.
Tethering is when you plug your camera into the computer via a physical tether cable. This way, you can view the photos on your computer as you take them instead of just seeing the tiny images on the back of your camera. It's much easier to check details this way and make sure the photos look good.
You seem to know what you are talking about, would love to have an interview conversation with you about these things
Thanks!
Should you look at the lens or the photographer?
For headshots look into the lens.
@@PeteCocoPhoto Thank you!
Looks like Peter Hurleys work...
Peter is my mentor so I am out of the "Hurley School" of headshots.
That's the point
How do you comfort the people if you only have 3 mins. for 3 headshots per person on an event and you don't have time to show them their pictures and do them over again?
Good question. The more you do it the better you get at sizing up people and knowing how to angle them and make them comfortable in just a few minutes. It takes practice!
Thanks!
@@tatianaverbiesen my pleasure!
Wait! How did you do that? The light in the background on the white floor, behind your left should is higher than the shelf behind your right shoulder? Wow! Is the light on a platform?
That is an optical illusion that I didn't even notice until you just pointed it out LOL. It does look like the stand is floating but in reality it's just on a white cabinet against a white wall. 😆
@@PeteCocoPhoto too good, man
Good stuff. Easily get great shots with 2 lights. Do Not need 10k worth of gear.
Thanks Dean!
I never understood the head cut that you use on all pictures, it destroys the whole portrait.
Thanks for this comment, I appreciate the critique. I am going to do a video on this as I think it's a great topic to address but the simple answer is that it's a stylistic preference. I actually never crop the heads off in camera, so when I deliver the images to my clients I send uncropped and cropped so they get the best of both worlds. Thanks for watching!
I laugh at the extreme posing! I see those ALLLLLL the time.
😂😂😂 People get so mad when I bring that up but c'mon it's 2023 enough with the crazy angles, leans, and shoulders haha
Well done video. I swear you look related to the Russo brothers!
Thanks Omar! Haven't gotten that one before but I have been compared to Ralph Macchio more than once lol
I actually disagree about tethering to show the client the pictures as you are shooting. I find that the vast majority of people are very critical of how they look. Showing them the picture as you go along just introduces more neurosis and critical thoughts about how they look. Inevitably they focus on what they aren't liking and start to overthink the moment. I find it much more useful to tell them how wonderful a shot is, how well it is going, etc.. and it put them at ease.
Thanks for this. I think tthere are some other issues that arise if you do it this way. First, if they can't see the photos, how do you know whether they will be happy with the final results? Only after sending a proof or final gallery? Also, having the client tell me what they like and possibly don't like about the photos in real time makes it easy to fix the issue, resulting in them loving the final images. After doing this for a while, I have a very good sense of what angles, poses, and expressions work best after spending only a few minutes with my clients so I actually avoid this situation most of the time. Don't get me wrong, I am still encouraging them and telling them how great they look throughout, but if the client says "I don't like my face from this side," for instance, that's an easy real time fix. Also, everyone looks great on a 2" LCD screen, so if they base it on that when they see the full size photo they will most likely find something to dislike.
@@PeteCocoPhoto Thanks for your response. I understand your point of view. I think most would agree with you. For me, I like to pull things out of them that they might not portray because they are trying to look or pose perfectly. I just like the session to flow, without any regard in their own mind for how they look. For me, it is more important how they feel. I find most people have neurosis around how they look in pictures and are uncomfortable as I mentioned before. So I just pump up their ego by telling them they look amazing regardless! LOL...At the end of the shoot I will show them the pictures so they know they got a bunch they like. I just prefer to leave the analyzing till after the session so they aren't in their heads. With that said, I make exceptions for talent from time to time since they are often more comfortable in their own skin. Another thing I do is I tell them to share their session with at least 3 people and have them pick the top 3-5. Cream always rises to the top and so 90% of the time their is at least one picture that overlaps between the objective viewers. I suggest the client consider that image (if just needing one). We see ourselves differently than how others see us as we are often critical of features no one else notices. Thanks for your channel - it's been great!
I experience both situations, so I think both approaches are valid. More often than not, I tend to get better better results when the client can see what they look like early on and we can discuss what adjustments to make. It also helps them feel like they are more involved in the creation process and that they have more control over the results, rather than a total trust exercise. However, for those who are clearly more neurotic and sensitive, I will take the other route and just try to help them relax 😅
CHEESE!
Don't say it! LOL
@@PeteCocoPhoto 😂
Hm. They all look weird with this creepy reflections in the eyes. Can't this be done without those?
I've never had a client complain about the catchlights. 😉 But you can use larger modifiers if you prefer although the look is not gonna be exactly the same as this.
@@PeteCocoPhoto Everything else is just perfect, maybe it's worth it. Thanks for your answer and for the great content!
@@vir2lx Thanks for watching! I appreciate the feedback!
Making a great head shot is not rocket science. It's been done for years. But I don't care for your "subject straight at the camera" DMV pose. I usually angle them slightly to one side, looking at the camera from the opposite way their body is pointed. It's nowhere near an extreme angle and it's far more flattering that a DMV photo. Peter Hurley is not the person, although he may take credit for it, that came up with pushing the head forward slightly to accentuate the jawline. Photographers in the 90's and early 2000s like Don Blair did and taught that style of headshots and portraits. It also allows overweight people to not have that under the chin bulge. I've been in this business a long time and when I first saw Peter Hurley's headshot photos I said to the person with me, "they all look like they came out of a high school yearbook." He may make a lot of money selling his gear but to use an old phrase "he's a legend in his own mind," when it comes to photography.
Hi Guy! I respectfully disagree. Making a great headshot, especially for regular people (not models), can be very challenging. Finding the right angles for an individual face as well as the best lighting to use takes a lot of practice photographing many people. I also think it's easy to criticize Peter's work but the proof is in the pudding as they say. He has photographed thousands of people, and helped thousands of photographers learn how to create amazing headshots and make people feel empowered and self-confident. He has also helped these same photographers, myself include, create thriving headshot and portrait businesses all over the globe. In either case, thanks for watching and commenting! I appreciate it very much.
@@PeteCocoPhoto You can package horse shit in a pretty enough wrapping that people will buy it.
Ouch!
At 8min the first picture is so fake
You're right. It's actually AI. In fact, all of the images here are AI. Plus, I'm not a real person, just a bunch of AI generated videos.
@@PeteCocoPhoto lol, it's fake, because he does his chin back, so it looks bad. It's not what beginner would do.
@@TnFruit Ah I see - you are saying I staged it? That is exactly how he stood before I coached him. Not fake at all! I was even surprised by it too lol. Everyone looks bunched to one degree or another if they don't jam out their chin.
Omg do you have IG or email I have a question I'd like to ask you, but privately.
My insta is @petecocophoto