Ringlights for headshots?

sheeep

sheeep

Active member
I'm gonna take headshots for the acting classes as my school, mostly as a not-so -serious portfolio thing for the kids in the classes, but there are a few kids who need the shots for their own actual use.

I'm gonna do standard head shots, nothing fancy. Blown out background, even lighting, etc, but I was wondering how would the use of a ring light be received by recruiters/whomever?

Just kinda curious.

Here's an example of the ringlight:

021-gabbyring.jpg
 
The lighting is too flattening, maybe as a fill it would be OK. I don't see the benefit of a ring-light over a diffused flash if you aren't doing macro or extreme closeups.
 
Ring lights are no bueno for standard industry headshots. I do actor headshots professionally, for what it's worth (not much, I know) but I know a little about this particular niche. The eyes are key to headshots, the CD/Agent needs to see them, clearly.

Quick tip; Looking at your sample I would check into the rule of thirds and hair light for separation.

Good luck!

www.zampanophoto.com
 
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I agree with Alveraz. Stay away from the ring flash for headshots. Stay away from using flash of any kind for headshots. It creates a bad eyelight.

I also do actor headshots. Take a look at the Portrait section of www.grergorystorm.com. I recommend natural light with backgrounds that are not busy and that do not detract from the subject. 50mm or 85mm f/1.8 prime lens. Headshots are not about how cool you are as a photographer. They are about the actor.

I have a ring flash and the ring flash is pretty cool, but it's not going to feature the actor in the right light. It's great for model shoots and where you a featuring the clothes. I took this shot with a ring flash.

 
Not for me! Use a 42" Soft Silver Umbrella directly over /behind the camera and pointed down towards the chin. It's called Avedon/Scavullo lighting ;) Ringlights are for medical /dental pictures!
 
Zeph has magical powers, so I would listen. You may even get a few fantasy birds and God-rays that enter your headshots at just the right moment.

:)

(i kid, i kid)
 
Nope. Just clean lighting that follows nature. There are no ringlights in the natural world :2vrolijk_08:

alveraz said:
Zeph has magical powers, so I would listen. You may even get a few fantasy birds and God-rays that enter your headshots at just the right moment.

:)

(i kid, i kid)
Click to expand...
 
exactly.,

i think people get the wrong idea when they want a headshot. An actors headshot is not a modeling shot, nor a glamor shot. It is supposed to be a realistic portrayal of what the actor actually looks like. Making your headshot hotter than you will not be of any benefit when you get into the audition room.

so, i would say no to ringlights for ACTING headshots. modeling, whatever...
 
Oh, it's cool man, I wasnt trying to be a turd. There are two different meanings behind headshots. I think the original question was geared towards actors though, which in that case, no ringlights. But for models, sure, why not, if that's what the big-shots use, who am I do disagree.
 
They all look like they got some strange contact lenses on.

I don´t like Greenbergs lighting anyways, no mather how famous he is.
It produces a that pearl effect on the skin and I think thats ugly.
Like those shiny stockings or panty hoses that make such ugly legs - but the gals wear everything that´s "in" no mather how it looks.

For actor headshots use a film light setup - maybe a reflector under the chin - model set cards are a different game.
 
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