First Time Portriat Head Shot Setup Questions

I work in a small office (7 people) and they know my hobby is photography. I have been asked to bring in my camera and take some nice headshots/portraits for the website and their Linked In pages. I haven't really shot anything like this before and want to use this as an opportunity to learn and keep building my skill set.

I will be using my D7100 and my 35mm 1.8 prime on a tripod. I do have a SB-400 flash, but I was not planning on using that.

My thought was to put the subject on a stool at a 90 degree angle to a window in my office. I have approximately 8' of room to work with.

Do you have any tips, pointers, suggested settings? Should I shut off the fluorescent overhead lights and just use the natural window light? Do you think a reflector would help light the scene and their faces more evenly?

I don't have a reflector currently, but I'm fairly certain that I could order one for the shoot and expense it out, so I'd be open to any recommendations.

Here is a test shot with my phone just to show you the space I'm working with.


Thanks in advance!

Matt

I would suggest turning off the fluorescent overhead lights to avoid an ugly color cast. Hopefully the light from the window is not too overwhelming. What direction does the window face. Probably be OK if it faces north, but may be issue facing other directions depending on time of day. If light is too harsh from the window, you might want a reflector, or you could hang a white sheet in the window to soften the light. What color is the ceiling? If white, your might want to consider using your SB 400 as a bounce, fill-in flash, or even as a main flash, again depending on the light from the window. At least with Digital, you can take a few test shots and review the results, unlike the old film days.

Good luck and good shooting!

Working with the tools you have, the reflector could maybe reflect enough light on the shadow side and the flash could be used to light up the background or as a rim/hair light to create separation from the background. You can make it work. You need a model to come sit in while you fidget around. White balance will be critical.

My first comment was going to be to go with a longer lens than the 35mm, but with only 8' of working space, that may not be an option for you.

Moab Man has great ideas. Watch the direction and quality of light coming through the window, and you can use a sheet to modify it if needed. A reflector is going to be huge for you, I think. You can move the reflector closer/further to control the amount of light it puts into the shadows. Kill the overhead lights so that all your light comes from your key source, and I'd use the flash to light up the background since you're not going to be able to get distance between the subject and wall to eliminate shadows or blur the background.

Watch out for distractions. I used an umbrella on light stand high at 45º down. SB700 flash with a remote switch in manual mode. I did cheat I used a Sekonic Flash meter for exposure but you could chimp then set the exposure (aperture/shutter/ISO) I used a used lens an 18-70mm from KEH at 70mm.
Realized the clock, removed and a slight reposition, as I took several sitting on the edge of the desk and later seated in a chair. If wearing glasses you might have to do a combo have them tilt the frame slightly, head and maybe raise the flash.
One of the reasons I tell fellow glass wearers to pony up and pay for anti glare.
Lou Cioccio

Thank you for all of the great advice.

The window faces East, and the ceiling is white, so the flash may be useful. Unfortunately the SB-400 is not an off camera flash, so I would only be able to bounce it and not use it for a hair/rim light.

I think I will have to look at getting a reflector...any suggestions on what I need to look for?

Thanks!

It looks as though you have a clean white background and the natural light should be helpful as long as it doesn't cause undesirable shadows on the face. Bouncing your SB-400 might be enough to eliminate them, it might not. If there's a blind on that window you might be able to open/close it in such a way as to soften the ambient light and make it work for you. If at all possible I'd want to do some test shots at the same time of day ahead of the actual shoot to see what the light will be like.

"Time spent in reconnaissance is seldom wasted."

As for reflectors, the standard-issue is a 5-in-1 like this one for $22. You might be able to use something smaller, like a 32" instead. Bear in mind you'll need an assistant, or some kind of stand, to hold this for you so you can shoot.

You've got nice natural light - a win!!

You've got a plain wall - a win!!

You've got a 35mm lens... two out of 3 ain't bad.

Seriously, for a head shot in a small space you can do better than the 35mm, which will make everyone look nose-bit and a little chunkier than they want to look. I don't know what else you have but you don't need f1.8 for this, you can go with a zoom that sticks you in the f4 ballpark at 85mm or so and be happy. I know they'll be happier.

You want to use that flash and you want to do it off camera. Put the person 3 feet in front of the wall. If you have light coming from the window you'll want to use that as your primary and fill the dark side with the flash, otherwise you'll want to do the exact opposite (this may be the easier choice). Turn off the overheads and find a balance between the light from the window (from camera-right) and the flash (off camera left), setting the flash on manual. It's going to be trial and error to get it balanced at first, so find a helper and tweak until you're happy.

If you're doing head shots and get a smaller reflector, you can have the subject hold it.

Prefrosh01 said:

Unfortunately the SB-400 is not an off camera flash, so I would only be able to bounce it and not use it for a hair/rim light.

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Nikon makes a flash cord that can be used with your SB-400. It may not allow you to place it too far away from the body, but your flash can be used off camera.

I use one of these cords with a flash bracket so I know it will work off camera.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/300478-REG/Nikon_4766_SC_29_TTL_Off_Camera_Shoe.html

Jake,

Thanks for the advice on the lens...do you think my 18-140 would be a better choice?

Maybe instead of the reflector I should see if I could get them to spring for a Yongnuo 568EX!

Prefrosh01 said:

Thanks for the advice on the lens...do you think my 18-140 would be a better choice?

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It's the lens I would prefer, by far, over the 35mm.

For head-shots on a DX body I'd want to be shooting in 80-100mm range, or thereabouts.

Horoscope Fish said:

It's the lens I would prefer, by far, over the 35mm.

For head-shots on a DX body I'd want to be shooting in 80-100mm range, or thereabouts.

Click to expand...

What he said, yes. There are plenty of examples out there of headshots taken with different focal lengths. I did a bunch of self portraits for a project (all "headshot" stuff) taken in a spare bedroom from across a twin bed and used an 85mm and I still had stuff to crop.

personally I would not spend any money or worry ..I would use the 18-140 at f8 and the sb400 in the shoe ..maybe take off the lens hood. take the pictures landscape and crop out the portrait from the centre ...you will get a picture just like that of the minister posted earlier with no side shadows as the flash is right over the lens.
I have taken thousands of pics with a flash flipper that keeps the flash over the lens and never had any issues.