Headshot photography is among the most consistently in-demand jobs for a photographer. People belonging to varying professions tend to need a headshot. Companies often put headshots of their employees on their websites to add a distinctive personal touch. Many individuals also need headshots for their social media pages, portfolios and websites. A lot of industry experts such as Bruce Weber Photographer, in fact, started off their careers by taking headshots. Being a pretty simple genre of photography, engaging in headshot photography would be a great way to step into the industry.
The very first step of a headshot session would be to have a good understanding of the needs of the clients. This will invariably set a stage for all the decisions the photographers will make going forward, including where to shoot, the wardrobe choices must be made and so on. A few people need a formal-style headshot because of their profession, while there are others who require images that are more situational and relaxed. The needs of an actor will obviously be different from that of a lawyer or a yoga instructor, and all of their headshots would invariably have certain differences.
Backgrounds for headshots may range from actual backdrops in a studio to almost any kind of outdoor or indoor setting. While the specific location is not important at such, the elements making good headshots are mostly consistent. Regardless of the needs of the clients, one would have to select a background for the headshot that is not distracting. Empty offices, plain colored walls, stairwells or any other locale with neutral colors shall work.
The first rule of thumb for headshot images is to watch the posture of the clients. They could be standing or sitting, but must have their spine straight. Most headshot postures are positioned with the shoulders 45 degrees to the camera lens and heads tilted towards the photographer. The photographer may have to prompt the client to look right into the lens and not at the flashes. They may even ask the client if they have a preferred angle for photos, and incorporate their suggestions if possible.
Just because headshots are more simplistic in nature than many other photography styles, it does not imply that the photographers should just ignore the basics of composition. As the subject of the composition is the face of the client, photographers need to find ways to draw attention towards it.
While Bruce Weber Photographer is an extremely eminent industry professional today, and is particularly renowned for his editorial and fashion photos, he essentially started his career by taking headshots. His first apartment was a fifth-floor walkup between Little Italy and Chinatown. It was there that Bruce built his first small darkroom and started taking headshot portraits for actors and actresses just starting out. This actually proved to be a good training opportunity for his future as a fashion and portrait photographer.
