When you are changing lighting setups or camera settings, you cannot pay attention to expressions. Giving a lot of variety with lighting setups may not be the best approach.
KISS – Keep It Simple Stupid
Getting great facial expressions takes much more skill than changing a lighting setup. You have to build trust with the person. You have to connect with them so that together you can capture the subject’s true essence.
I do minor lighting changes so I can spend more time getting lots of expressions.
One thing I do with my setup is to change the background from a grey to a white background.
I can pause for a moment and turn on or off the two lights behind my white muslin background. Off I get a lovely neutral grey. The light from the beauty dish is what lights the background and my subject.
When I have my background lights on, they are giving me one stop more light than I have set on the subject. This gives me a spotless white background.
I love to shoot 50 to 100 images before I change the background.
I encourage people to bring a couple of outfits. It is incredible to me how much wardrobe change impacts the final photo.
Changing from a low-key to a high-key photo can also help change the photo’s mood.
My tip is to pick one outfit and shoot a lot. Go for 100 photos without changing lighting: background, or clothing. Then change the background and repeat. After you have done that, then change outfits and shoot again.
Make the emphasis of the portrait/headshot session about getting an expression. Go past the extremes of sadness and joy. Then try and shoot all the nuances of faces.
Don’t forget to get verticals and horizontal photos.
Remember, the thing that makes a great headshot is EXPRESSION!!!
It is much easier to get a pleasant and genuine expression if you have pushed the limits of expressions first.
