Best Light Modifier For Headshots

At 1 200th of a second f 8 and iso 100 we took each of the following shots on our canon 5d mark iii equipped with the canon 24 70mm f 2 8 mark ii lens.

Best light modifier for headshots.

Today business people have needs that extend far beyond traditional business cards. Social media linkedin websites marketing material and more. I shoot hundreds of headshots per year using this simple setup. This modifier is inexpensive and a great value since this kit comes with a light stand and a shoe mount.

It is important to understand what a light modifier is and how it will impact your portrait lighting or headshot photography. Natural light strobes and constant light. At f 8 and iso 100 we are maximizing lens detail and the color dynamic range of the camera. Beautiful headshots can be produced with three lights and a reflector.

As you can see this is a one light one reflector set up that is completely unobtrusive to the subject is quick to rig up and with a large octabox modifier produces a very flattering light. With the subject seated which makes shooting volume much easier position your light about arm s length from the subject and angled directly across the face perpendicular to. Softboxes are my modifier of choice when i want a soft directional light and i want to be able to control how much of that light is going to fall on my background. My standard setup consists of a large soft light source to the left or right of the subject a reflector under the face and another reflector opposite the main light source.

Umbrellas softboxes brolly boxes and beauty dishes are all important. You will need a key light a background light and a hair light. Sal will show you three of his most popular lighting setups for headshots. The most important light in my opinion is the hair light.

There s more to headshots than white backgrounds. Hair especially dark hair soaks up an incredible amount of light and doesn t bounce back much. The only drawback is that you can t tilt it so i cheat and just tilt the hot shoe mount and let some light leak out the bottom of the orb when i have the diffusion panel on the front. I can use a medium sized softbox to shoot a great portrait or even a full length shot with just a little light falloff from the shins to the feet.