{"id":42247,"date":"2017-10-24T22:36:13","date_gmt":"2017-10-25T02:36:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/?p=42247"},"modified":"2020-07-14T00:47:23","modified_gmt":"2020-07-14T04:47:23","slug":"headshot-photography-lighting-on-location","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/headshot-photography-lighting-on-location\/","title":{"rendered":"Headshot photography lighting on location"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Headshot photography lighting on location<\/h2>\n

Shooting headshots on location needs a different tack than working in the studio. Here I want to show some examples of lighting setups that I have used while shooting headshots indoors, on location. Since these examples are all from indoor sessions, the gear used might be different than when the session is outdoors. The logistics will also likely be different. So this discussion is contained within that framework – the lighting used when shooting headshots on location, indoors. There is a companion article that discusses some\u00a0lighting setups in the studio<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The lighting setups I use might change depending on the specific scenario, but the workflow and shooting logistics remain fairly similar. Most importantly, I shoot tethered. That’s an essential part of the workflow. My client and the people I photograph, need to see the results immediately. I will shoot a sequence of 8-10 photos, and then show them. I do want my subjects to be happy about how they are portrayed, and their expressions and any other minute detail.<\/p>\n

They then also select their favorite image (or two or three, depending on the arrangement with my client). This side-steps potential hiccups afterwards where someone isn’t happy about the photographs when they see them later on in an online gallery.<\/p>\n

While that part of the photo sessions’s workflow remains a constant, the lighting configuration will change depending on where I am shooting. How much space I have for the flashes, will dictate the lighting setup.<\/p>\n

Another important aspect here – I often have to mimic existing headshots that the company may have on their website. Then I have to reverse-engineer the lighting, and come up with something that would give the company new headshots that remain consistent with the previous look, and consistent with their branding.<\/p>\n

I have used speedlights for headshots, such as in this example:\u00a0On-location corporate headshots \u2013 Efficiency and speed<\/a>. Also check out the article on a home-studio setup with speedlites<\/a>.\u00a0However, with the ease of use and power that the Profoto B1 flashes<\/a>\u00a0(B&H<\/a>\u00a0\/\u00a0Amazon<\/a><\/em>) have, they are now make up my main lights that I use for headshots and business portraits.<\/p>\n

Let’s look at a few setups. And of course, they all are centered around Profoto flashes – the Profoto B1 and sometimes the Profoto D1 studio flashes. Please note,\u00a0with these I don’t want to show any client images, so you can see results with only a few of these setups.<\/p>\n

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Here I had to do about 16 headshots during a team’s lunch break during a conference in a hotel. There wasn’t much space to set up multiple lights, and I had to make sure that my setup didn’t expand into the main areas where people passed by. So I set up behind these glass doors behind which the hotel hid some extra chair and tables. I used two lights – one to light up the grey background to the extent they liked. \u00a0And then a single large main light source – the\u00a0Profoto B1 flash<\/a>\u00a0(affiliate<\/em>) and the massive\u00a0\u00a0Westcott 7′ Parabolic Umbrella<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0(B&H<\/a><\/em> \/ Amazon<\/a><\/em>).<\/p>\n

A simple, yet effective setup. My client loved the photos. This was quick and easy to setup, even as the solo photographer. I rolled everything in via the two roller cases shown in the photo. They are also shown in more detail here:\u00a0Photo gear & logistics: Corporate headshots<\/a>. It is essential to set up fast without struggling, and shoot efficiently.<\/p>\n

Lighting gear used during this photo session<\/h2>\n