Here’s a Pittsburgh headshot I did today.  Somehow, I’m usually drawn to the serious ones…

Here’s the last headshot of 2011. This was shot with my “big nose” lens, but fortunately, she didn’t have a big nose… )

Happy New Year Everyone…

This is a lawyer… Go figure… )

Here’s a headshot from an aspiring Pittsburgh Actor that I created this morning.

Here are a couple of actresses’ headhsots I photographed today.

This is probably not the one she’ll select, but I kinda liked it… )

I just finished shooting some headshots and wanted to post sample of my two new backgrounds. I am very pleased with the results.  The great thing about shooting Pittsburgh headshots is that I’m always learning something new that I can apply to my regular commercial photography business. One of the things that I’m beginning to understand better is the use of color.  By the time I’m 90, I’ll have this thing mastered! )

Here's my new gold background.

Here's a headshot using my new green background

I’ve just finished working on a couple of new backgrounds for my headshots.  I’m shooting this Saturday and will “unveil” them then.  Keep an eye out this coming week for the new textures.

The new backgrounds are gold and green, similar to the blue and white ones I like so much. I’m excited and am looking forward to see how they work out.  I also have another one in the wings, but can’t decide on what color I want to make it, so for now, I guess I’ll hold off and wait for inspiration.

So If you want to see what kind of new headshot backgrounds I’ve come up with, come back early next week and see what I have posted!

Ya know, it’s a funny thing about photographing headshots.  I shoot probably more smiling faces than non-smiling faces, but when it comes time to choose my favorites, the ones I post on MY website, I lean toward the non-smiling ones.   I don’t know what it is….

So what’s right or wrong, when it comes to choosing your headshot?  I really can’t tell you because there seems to be a difference of opinion in the industry.

Not that long ago, I photographed the headshot for a drama professor from the University of Pittsburgh.  His theory was that an actor’s headshot should be a non-smiling, close in shot.  And to prove his point, he took me to many famous actor’s web pages and showed me their headshots, and he was right, most of them were not smiling.  His reasoning is that the casting agent is more likely to read into the headshot, the type of actor he is looking for…  It’s all to deep for me…

Then, I talked to a local Talent Agency owner and he much preferred shots where the talent was smiling for their headshot.  His reasoning was that it shows that the actor (or model) actually had teeth, and a nice smile.  I can see his point, but on the other hand, there’s something about a serious expression that seems, to me at least, to let you into the soul of the actor.  This just can’t be said about smiling shots.

So, what’ the answer?  There is no clear-cut answer, and that’s why I shoot both and let you pick! )

Here are two of the headshots from today’s shoots here in Pittsburgh.

Sometimes my job shooting model and actress headshots is just too easy… )

Here’s the business headshot I mentioned in the last post.  It’s really hard to do a bad job with such attractive subjects…

Shot a couple headshots today, one for an budding actress and another for a business woman.  Both turned out great, but I only got around to processing one of them today.  Maybe I’ll get to the other later in the week.

I’m not sure which of these two I prefer.  Actually, I took around 600 shots and just skimmed through the batch in about a minute to find these ones…  Which do you like better?

There are times that a location casual or candid headshot is preferred.  That’s not a problem…

It the subjects are builders, what do where should I photograph them?  In front of one of their buildings, of course.

And then again, there’s always the standard studio business headshot.  Most Pittsburgh businessman need one of these for various purposes including marketing materials and social networking pages…

Here are a few samples of previous headshots, just to get some images up on my new headshot blog.  Remember, give me a call or make a post if you have any questions….

I shoot headshots for all ages…

Welcome to my Pittsburgh Actor, Model, and Business Headshot blog.  This is the first post, and hopefully I’ll get around to adding to the blog on a regular basis.  For right now, I’m going to add some headshots just to populate the site with some photos to get things rolling.  If you should have any questions about getting your headshot done or anything about headshots, please feel free to contact me.  I’d be glad to tell you everything I know about headshots.