Headshot 1

[draymorton]

Need to gather up and present about five artist headshots, fast. And yet, I am in no way a headshot photographer. I'll need to show images which are everything from garden variety to edgy to ethereal.

Looking for ideas on what I need to improve in this image to make presentable. Feedback greatly appreciated.

[Tyson L. Sparks]

No complaints here.

[arne saknussen]

Yep, this looks pretty darn good to me. Is she an artist that needs a headshot (maybe those are earrings she has designed)? Or is this an actor's headshot?
I suppose one could argue that her head should be on the left, with the white space on the right, since her head is tilted to the right. But it does not bother me in this shot. Fantastic eyes capture.

[draymorton]

Thanks both.

Arne - she's a singer, actually. And she might have designed the earrings, I don't know.

[arne saknussen]

In that case, this is a spot on headshot.

[draymorton]

Thanks, arne.

Nobody else?

[rossi46]

I thought that the skin tone colour is alittle bit too white-ish, like you are putting alot of powder on her face or plasted with paint.

I guess this is due to processing methods? Not able to give suggestions on skin tone editing / enhancement as I am a total beginner in photoshop.

[Lava Lamp]

I think this is a great picture with character, but aren't headshots taken in portrait orientation, rather than landscape? Also, they tend to me harder, rather than the soft, difussed treatment of your photo. I understand, however, that you don't want to make it a passport photo taken at the local pharmacy.

Here is what comes up when I Google "singer headshots": singer headshot - Google Search

[llewpics]

I think the reflection in her right eye (left, as we see it) is a little too much - maybe cloning it down just a bit may help. Also, to my taste, I don't think it is well balanced because there is so much negative space on the right side of the image - and i think it adds quite a bit of weight to the right side - the face side. What I like about it the most is her expression, she is very "connected" and her gaze seems to be right at the person viewing a photo - which makes it quite powerful.

[draymorton]

Thanks all.

Llewpics - I'm glad someone mentioned that catchlight. It was bothering me, too. I can change the crop, as well, if need be.

Lava Lamp - from what I've seen, no. Landscape seems to be fine these days. A friend of mine who shoots celebrity headshots does much of his shooting in landscape. The softness - yeah, I see what you mean. Maybe adding some contrast would help? Or maybe this is the wrong approach altogether.

Rossi - thanks, and noted. I pulled way back on the skin retouching, so that it looks more natural. Will post the results.