Paul C. Buff — 5 Ways To Improve Your ICM Photos

Recently I saw a few headshots that were taken by the family and friends of an actor/artist. Although you could see the face, the image were expressionless and unremarkable in tone and color. It commanded no visual interest and wold be hard pressed to get attention and stand out from the crowd. There are several compelling reasons to get a headshot taken by a professional photographer. Here are some of the key advantages:

Professionalism and First Impressions:
A high-quality headshot conveys professionalism and can make a strong first impression. Whether you're an aspiring actor, a job seeker, a business professional, or an entrepreneur, having a polished headshot can enhance your credibility and help you stand out from the competition.

Personal Branding:
A headshot is an essential element of personal branding. It represents you and your unique identity, allowing others to get a glimpse of your personality and character. A professional photographer can capture your essence and help you create a consistent and memorable brand image across various platforms, such as LinkedIn, social media, websites, and promotional materials.

Versatility and Usage:
A professional headshot can be used in a wide range of professional contexts. It can be included in your resume, used for job applications, displayed on your business website, featured in marketing materials, and utilized for speaking engagements or conference profiles. Having a versatile headshot that suits different purposes is invaluable.

Quality and Technical Expertise:
Professional photographers possess the technical skills and artistic vision necessary to capture a headshot that stands out. They have the knowledge of lighting, composition, and posing techniques to create flattering and visually appealing images. Their expertise ensures that your headshot reflects your best qualities and presents you in the most favorable light.

Attention to Detail:
Professional photographers pay close attention to every detail during a headshot session. They will consider factors such as lighting, background, wardrobe, and overall aesthetics to create a cohesive and impactful image. Their guidance and attention to detail can elevate your headshot and ensure that it aligns with your goals and intentions.

Confidence and Comfort:
Working with a professional photographer can help you feel at ease and confident during the photoshoot. They are experienced in guiding and directing their subjects to achieve the desired results. A professional photographer can help you relax, bring out your natural expressions, and capture your genuine personality, resulting in a headshot that exudes confidence and approachability.

Image Quality and Post-Production:
Professional photographers use high-end equipment and editing software to produce images of superior quality. They have the expertise to enhance and retouch your headshot if necessary, ensuring that the final result is flawless and visually striking. Professional editing can help correct minor imperfections, adjust lighting, and optimize the overall visual impact.

There are times I want to photograph something just because it’s beautiful. No other reason except it’s beautiful.

Recently a bouquet of roses were given to us by some close friends that were picked from their garden. The flowers colors were rich and their scent filled the room with the promise of spring. I could not resist photographing these exquisite specimens.

The Set-up

I placed the vase of flowers on a table on top of a black cloth. About three feet behind the flowers was a medium gray background. I then placed my Canon 6D in a position so the horizon line of the table would not be cutting the horizontal picture plane in half. I then placed two white reflectors just out of camera range, one to the right of the flowers and one underneath the vase. The final step was to place my Paul C. Buff White Lighting 800 strobe about 26 inches away fro the flowers and feather the light toward the reflector between the camera and the subject.

Camera Settings

The correct exposure was determined through exposure testing using the histogram as my guide. Finally the Canon 6D was set to ISO 100, f/6.6, with a shutter speed of 1/60th of a second.

Exposures

Now that I was set I started the process of making exposures. The image consists of five exposures. The first was head-on, the second rotated about 1/2 inch counter clockwise, the third 1 inch clockwise, the fourth 11/2 inch counter clockwise and the last 1/12 inches clockwise. By rotating in one direction and then in the opposite I was able to keep the balance of the image. If I had kept turning the image in one direction, some of the more delicate details probably would have been lost.

Processing The Final Image

The images were brought into Photoshop through Adobe Bridge. I always use bridge for my work because it will allow you the Raw file adjustments AND it imports the images into Photoshop as 16 bit images (make sure your Photoshop is set for 16 bit; Image - Mode - 16 bits/Channel).

Adobe Bridge can also bring your group of images in as layers (Tools - Photoshop - Load Files into Photoshop Layers). Once the images were brought in as layers I kept the base layer as normal and the upper four layers were changed to Soft Light Blending Mode. All that was left to do was to add a curves adjustment layer for a bit more contrast, then a levels adjustment layer for final tonal and printing corrections.