Blog
Studio Portraiture: White Backgrounds I think a lot of people think of studio portraiture with white backgrounds. Studio photography can have a very distinct look, particularly when it comes to corporate portraiture. Often there is a reason for this. White backgrounds can be a great choice for a headshot or portrait. For companies, matching headshots with a white background can tie in nicely to a website, are easy to manipulate (add space, create banners, print out, replace the background), and […]
Retouching is an important part of my process. I think retouching in general has a bit of a bad reputation. When people think about retouching, many jump to the conclusion of airbrushed skin, blurred features, liquified bodies, picture-perfect and unrealistic perfection. But this isn’t always the case, and it certainly isn’t in my retouching process. I thought I would take you through photo retouching, and the difference between a ‘retouched’ and ‘enhanced’ edit. I want to show you my style, […]
Recently I worked with Jen, who is a small business owner local to me. She decided to bite the bullet and stop putting off getting some new headshots for her business. Like many business owners, Jen wasn’t super keen on getting behind the camera. While she knew there was value in it, it doesn’t stop that all too common dread or nervousness. “Where do I put my hands!?”, “How do I pose?” – these are the most common worries people […]
When I’m not photographing headshots for actors or business professionals, I’m possibly taking portraits of children. I absolutely love this, and while it can be challenging at times, capturing a child’s personality while they are in their element at childcare or kinder is an amazing feeling. I work with a small team of amazing photographers: Jenny and Linda. Jenny has built up her business, Suga Snaps Photography, and refined her craft and the art of children’s photography. She brought me […]
There are so many things to consider when taking a portrait. If you are only picking up a camera for the first time, or if you’re not sure if you need to hire a professional, there are a lot of things to consider. Simple mistakes really distract from the final portrait. So, I have written a list of ten common mistakes that are made when people take portraits. These can range from selfies taken with a phone, to a professional […]
Stock Photography It is one of those things that can be so convenient. There are so many stock photography libraries out there. If you’re out of the loop, photographers shoot and upload their work into these libraries, and they can be purchased with various licenses for others to use. It is common for stock photography to be used to accompany articles, or on brochures and marketing material. While it can be incredibly easy to access this photography, it is not […]
When I have a studio headshot session, I try to get a feel for the overall mood and style my subject wants. If it is for actor headshots, corporate headshots, or some personal branding, the lighting is a big part of the overall result. I, of course, also have my go-to setups for headshot lighting. These setups work well for all different people – they’re flattering, create nice catchlights in the eyes, and I know the setups off by heart. […]
Posing for Actor Headshots: Actor headshots are one of those necessary, important things. But they aren’t always everyone’s favourite thing to do. One of the things that gets some people stuck is the posing – that feeling of not knowing what to do in front of a camera. Feeling awkward. Overthinking and stressing. Of course your headshot photographer should be able to direct you and give you some cues that will help with the posing. I also believe it helps […]
Common flash mistakes to avoid (and how to fix them): Studio photography can feel like a constant learning curve. When using flash in the studio, it’s not just a matter of turning on a few lights. Off-camera flash, when controlled correctly, can create amazing lighting effects. However, when not correctly controlled, flash can make you look like an amateur. Below are six common flash mistakes you should try to avoid, with a little information on how to correct them. Here […]
Matt booked an actor headshot session in the studio with me, for a bit of a refresh. It was lucky that his session was to be inside, as we hit probably the only bad day within two weeks of blissful weather possible. Lucky for me, Matt was a pleasure to work with – patient and open to new ideas. We were aiming for three strong headshots to update his folio. Along with various tops, we looked at different backgrounds and […]