sharpfocus photography

sharpfocus photography

headshots of a promotional model in dc

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promotional model with a black blouse yellow skirt and blue shoes kneeling picture of a promotional model wearing a white lace dress and large brim hat and accessories smiling picture of a promotional model wearing a white lace dress holding a large brim hat

jeanette is a woman in washington dc that I met through model mayhem. I wanted to do a portfolio update but she wanted to have a few model headshots that she could use in her marketing and pr material.

it was arguably the most carefully planned shoot that I’ve had in years. she came slightly early and we had to wait for the rest of the crew. she had a makeup artist, a wardrobe stylist and an assistant. since she’s a marketing professional, maybe she was using an intern. as usual when you have to do a shoot with a team, you just wait until they all come together.

after a long while she appeared with a white lace dress and a large brim hat ready for the first look. we did in succession maybe 5 looks, well beyond the regular 3. she changed into a black tank top and a puffy yellow mini skirt, then a blouse and stretch jeans and finally in athletic wear.

like most photo sessions where you have a wardrobe stylist, you have a lot of tags hanging which speak volumes about the origins of the clothes. you have an occasional tag sticking out that can’t be removed or tamed. I offered to photoshop it out later. the shoot lasted well over an hour. she was very happy and wrote me a nice review on google.

see more examples of model headshots

headshots of a black male actor in dc

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actor's headshot of a young black man in washington dc actor's headshot of a black man in white t-shirt with a broad smile actor's headshot of a black man in dc in a business suit

in the early days of opening a photography studio in nw washington dc, I had the chance to do a shoot for this promising young black actor who wanted some actors headshots for casting calls. he explained to me that he needed basic headshots for acting as well as regular pictures for his business as a real estate agent. I told him that it really didn’t matter what style of photos he wanted as long as he did 3 looks and not exceed one hour shooting time. he stepped in wearing a dark blue jacket and a white shirt. he opted on a mix of casual and formal photographs. so we proceed to do a first series of shots with an unshaven look in the initial outfit. warm up time was very short but after a series of pictures, he decided that we could pause for the next batch.

he then proceeded to the restroom to get a clean shave while I was reviewing the shots that I had already taken and repositioning my lighting for a change of mood. a few minutes later he was back, all smiles and changed his wardrobe to a white t-shirt. He was wearing blue jeans but since we were shooting just head and shoulders, it was not really a concern. in this batch of snaps, he had quick changes of clothes which were limited to t-shirts of different colors: white, grey and black. we had a few variations in angles, expressions and a little bit of lighting changes. after we captured a fair amount of images, it was time for the next pause to allow him to wear a suit and tie for a more formal look.

in an instant he shifted from casual to very formal by wearing a navy blue suit, white shirt and tie. all was accessorized by with a wrist watch that made a grand statement. I looked at him for a while and tried to come up with a business look that will make him friendly, yet credible. I changed the light to make it more neutral. he was looking confidently at the camera with poise. most of the headshots in this batch were formal, with arms crossed but the overall attitude was still relaxed. At that point we had agreed that we had enough good shots in the camera and the next move was to process the images and let him make his selection before final touch up.

you can see more actor headshots samples

actor headshots: studio or location?

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actor's headshot of black teen in washington dc

studio allows for better control of catchlights in the eyes

if you’re thinking of having some headshots for castings, you may have weighed the options: studio or on location. though it may not be critical, it’s sometimes worth asking which is better for increasing chances of getting an audition. the answer is not clear-cut. some photographers prefer shooting in studio because of the control that it gives. but there are no distinct differences in quality between natural light and artificial lighting.

when shooting on location, there may be issues with the trees, building, cars passing by and even gawkers in the backdrop. the picture should be very carefully framed to crop out any distracting elements. one advantage of the studio is you can choose a plain background so the focus is on your face. the white walls eliminate all color casts. it’s only you and the photographer.

actor's headshot of a young man in blue jacket and dark background

in a studio, you can change backgrounds in a snap

if you have to choose on-location for your photo shoot, discuss it in advance with your photographer. select an area with a lot of dynamism, without objects getting in the way. a wall without too much texture, a blue sky may be your best option. or out of focus backdrop, as long as it’s not too colorful.

you need to be also mindful, when you shoot outdoors, everything is a reflector. in a wooded area the trees around you will cast a lot of green from the foliage. another issue when shooting headshots outside is the sun. when it’s too bright, it’s very hard for people not to squint. one technique is for the subject to close their eyes and open only when the photographer is ready to press the shutter release. another technique is to have the subject turning their backs on the sun and use a reflector to bounce back light into their faces. it’s also important to look wide awake so as to let your eyes smile.

actor's headshot of a young man in the street

on location, objects in the background can be distracting

unlike a portrait which is purely for personal use, actors headshots are photos that will be viewed and judged by an agent or a casting director. one important thing is the ability to express something through the eyes. when you take photos in the shade, the eyes may become dull and lifeless. being able to show the color of your eyes is very important.

without any direct source of lighting, it may be hard for the eyes to show catch lights. being able to use a reflector to bounce back light on to the face can solve that issue. If you’re not sure, ask to see some pictures taken in natural light or go to the photographer’s website. the most important factor when shooting on location of course, nature has got to cooperate. if you have very little leeway in changing the date and time, it’s good to check the weather forecast.

actor's headshot of a black man sitting on the lawn

some backgrounds compete with the subject in brightness

the best times for taking portraits of people is when the sun is not too high. that’s about 2 hours after sunrise and 2 hours before sunset. you should avoid cloudy days and of course, when it’s raining. the light may be pleasing to the eye but it has limited contrast and may affect the quality of the images. so the final word is that it depends on what you’re more comfortable with. also the weather and your photographer’s ability to pull off some tricks to get you the right shots. cost may be involved too. some photographers will charge more whether you shoot in a studio or on location. make sure you ask all the right questions before making your decision.

additional resources:
the challenges and advantages of studio and natural lighting

black model with afro and ethnic look

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headshot of a black model with curly hair wearing a white bra in back lighting picture of a black model wearing a stylish white bra and a hat

click here for more modeling pictures

sonyja rivera is a black model with a beautiful afro look that I contacted through model mayhem. I wanted to take photos of an ethnic model with some dramatic lighting.  I had a makeup artist who was willing to work with me on the shoot.

sonyja is dark skinned, slim and just shy of 5’8” with an exotic look. she came with a whole assortment of clothing. I told her they were free to do any makeup look and I was gonna adjust the lighting accordingly. I had already taken a look at her profile online and seen the photos she had taken with some photographers in washington dc. I told her that she needed to shoot with someone who had a better understanding of lighting.

she turned out to have a great sense of style so, with the plain backdrop, I decided to do more editorial shots and focus on wardrobe, posing and mood. on the first set she wore wide-legged slacks with suspenders, a white bra and a hat. so we did a series of standing poses, sitting and a couple of headshots with and without the hat.

as far as makeup was concerned, it was just one look. it was more natural with the only accent being the dark shade of the lipstick. second set was with a bright red body-fitting mini dress and hair styled with an afro wig. some of the best snapshots of the session came out of that series. last she wore a black blouse and grey pencil skirt. I did a lot of variations on the lighting to capture different moods from bright to very dramatic. with her sense of style, she could be a great doing commercial modeling.

young aspiring asian model

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headshot of a teen asian model with pink shirt and backpack looking at the camera picture of a teen asian model in a dressed for school look sitting on a chair teen asian model in a good girl cute pose

headshots and pictures of an asian model in the dc area who loves fashion and with exceptional posing skills. soon after moving into georgetown, I needed to find new models to work with to build my portfolio. I contacted a few from coach models and this young asian girl responded.
at this point I had decided to add makeup to the mix. I contacted a few makeup artists and was lucky to find one with m.a.c cosmetics background. I may be biased but I’ve found makeup artists who worked at m.a.c tend to give me better results. The model was very young and short but beautiful and charismatic. she loves modeling and had great comfort in front of the camera and exceptional posing skills. we were going for 3 looks and she had brought quite an assortment of clothes. we did a shoot that was a lot of fun and came out with great pictures.

edgy ethiopian model with curly hair

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picture of a model with curly hair holding glasses close to her face headshot of a model in casual military jacket wearing a hat edgy model with curly hair in military jacket and a hat in a fun pose

I can’t remember how I found this ethiopian woman. she’s an edgy model  with curly hair and great looks,  a slim figure though a little shy of the required 5’.8” for editorial modeling. the pictures on her profile weren’t that great. I didn’t tell her but I thought that I could get much better pictures with sharpfocus photography.

after exchanging a few emails we agreed to do a photo shoot. for an unsigned model I found her to be very comfortable in front of the camera but also very creative. usually I coach models and suggest posing ideas. she needed no prodding and would come up with very edgy poses.

she initially wore a military style jacket on top of a blouse and slim pants. clothing change was fast because all she had to do was take her jacket off, wear a hat or use some props. I did some creative lighting too. all in all the shots came out nice and gave her a wide selection to choose from. if she was a little taller, she could give some runway models a run for the money.

actor’s headshots of a young man in dc

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acting headshot of an aspiring actor with his head tilted and a curious look actor headshot of a man with white shirt and a curious look headshot of a young actor with white shirt leaning his head playfully

this young man had just relocated to washington dc and was looking to get some actor’s headshots to take to casting calls. he booked a photo shoot on a september month hot on the heels of a slow august. though chances to pick up film roles are limited in dc, productions always need actors for movie extras. you can also find gigs in advertising if you have the looks.

when I asked him how he found out about sharpfocus photography, he said he googled ‘headshot photographers in dc‘ and we were on the top page. he sent me email to check for availability. he only brought a couple of changes of clothes. one shirt was a stark white. it’s not easy to photograph a white guy in a white shirt against a white backdrop. anybody will tell you it’s boring and ‘how you’re gonna do it?’ he had brought his iphone. so hooking it up to the stereo system was providing enough loud noise to keep him entertained.

I just started using a new studio in rockville, so he was gonna be my first client in the new setting. he’s young dynamic and not shy at all. it was just a question of setting the lights right to get enough contrast and shading. then, it was his turn to shine. give me his best poses and change and change. he was very comfortable changing poses and was taking instructions quite well. he had come with his mom but I didn’t realize it until the end of the shoot. we had to introduce ourselves. take care of payment. and I promised to send them the link to the pictures the same evening.

click to see more samples of actor’s headshots

headshots of a female real estate broker in dc

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corporate headshot of a female dc broker wearing a casual dark camisole corporate headshot of a female executive in suit smiling headshot of an executive woman in a casual shirt smiling

I was on another call when someone attempted to reach me. they left me a message with a number to call. they said they were interested in corporate headshots pricing. I returned the call and the lady who responded confirmed that her assistant called and left a message. we were inching toward spring but it was still cold.

I later learned that she’s a corporate executive working for real estate brokerage firm in washington dc. she wanted the pictures as soon as possible. I wasn’t busy at the time so I could book a shoot on short notice. she picked a thursday and as for the time, 12 noon was fine with both of us. it snowed the day before so winter wasn’t going away without a fight. I usually arrive early to a shoot. there’s always some anxiety over whether client will show up, will arrive late…

as I was studying the lighting setup, she just popped up. hand shake. introductions. I took her hanger and placed it on a rack. I don’t like backgrounds with patterns but some people seem to love them. when I offered her a choice, she promptly picked a white background, which to me suits many situations.

I do a short session, explaining what is expected of the shoot and what client can do to help make it a success. relax. smile. be friendly. we picked up the pace very fast. she wore a light blue jacket and a white striped shirt. you see how hard it’s sometimes to smile when you’re forcing yourself. but with a little practice. smile. smile. click. click. click. after a while it starts getting funny. so the smile comes natural.

I promised to send her link to the images by day’s end. next day, she’s already made her selection. I touched them up promptly and she was ok to get them through email. she got great headshots at reasonable prices. she sent me email thanking me for ‘making it painless’. yes, the camera doesn’t bite.

click to see more examples of corporate headshots in dc

headshots for a freelance writer and author

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author headshot of a female freelance writer in black dress with her head tilted smiling picture of a freelance writer casually dressed in black tank top and blue jeans author headshot of a female freelance writer for bio

patti is a freelance writer who found sharpfocus photography through google. she was looking for some professional headshots for her author bio as a freelance writer. she also needed some dressier style portraits for personal use. so we went from business casual style to dressy evening look.

she had requested makeup, so I contacted a makeup artist whose work I like but she wasn’t available and instead recommended a friend. the client arrived on time. it was a late evening shoot. we were waiting for the artist to arrive but soon learned that she was experiencing mechanical problems. as a photographer, the last thing that you want to experience is having a client present and live in fear of an associate not showing up or vice versa.

as the clock was ticking, I was trying to keep my cool. evening shoots are no fun, especially if the client is female and didn’t have a companion. all the while I was trying to keep the conversation going. not only that gives you enough information about the client, her background, profession, expectations from the shoot, and things like that… at long last, the makeup artist showed up and I eased them to a corner where I had a desk set. then wait. that’s what you do when you’re a photographer. wait. then wait…

click to view more examples of business headshots

business headshots for job application

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executive portrait of a law student wearing a jacket looking at the camera smiling business headshot of a law student in dark jacket and tie looking at the camera smiling business portrait of a law student wearing a dark jacket and tie smiling

this law students in washington dc needed business headshots for a job application. it’s a standard in a profession where you need to look credible. as they step into the corporate world they find themselves in many situations where a headshot is required. apparently, the issue that he’s been having with dc photographers is that ‘nobody’s been able to capture his smile’.

I come from a background of portrait photography. I try to connect with the subject to help them reveal their inner personality. it’s not like you step into a studio and you’re posed to get a formal picture. rather, I make you feel relaxed. when you get your mind off a camera pointed at you, it’s much easier to be yourself. I have not only been capturing smiles, I create them. if I want to extract a smile, I can get it naturally because, instead of asking you to smile, I can say something that makes you smile.

I’m that type of photographer who focuses on you more than cameras and gear. lighting, body angles, expressions. lighting can create or enhance moods. you tell me that you need headshots for corporate use, then I try to make it formal. he was very relaxed so there was no need for too much coaching. we hit it off quite fast and I was getting a lot of smiles. all I needed was capture them. he was instantly happy with what he was seeing when I handed him the camera for feedback. you know you’re on to something when 5 mn into the shoot client tells you ‘I’ve seen a couple that I really like!’ the shoot went very well and he was glad to write me a review on google my business page.

click to see more samples of business headshots