A Sharp Photo - Taking Good Selfies

I am a member of a business group on facebook and one of the members asked me about using selfies in an about page on a business site.  While I think best practice would be to hire a professional who is proficient in taking headshots, it is possible to get a great image yourself with a little effort and these tips.

- Phone cameras are normally 35mm and that isn't the best focal length for portraits. Because its so wide, you have to have it close to your face to get a headshot. When you do that, it distorts your features. So you'd be better served to shoot wider and crop in ( below the bust line or even waistline)

- An image on your website should invite people to you as opposed to just show them what you look like. Think of something that makes you smile or feel confident or feel helpful when you are taking a photograph and that will show in the photo.  Also, dress the part.  Wear something that you might wear to an interview or networking event or meeting.  Not only will this look good in the photo but it will affect how you carry yourself.

- Eyes tend to go to the brightest part of the photo so you want to make your face the brightest part of the photo. Because you are shooting with your phone, it isn't likely that you can control the light as much as you can with a camera so you have to choose an appropriate background to make this happen. Optimum would be you facing a window with a dark wall behind you.

- I don't often use my phone for photography but my understanding is that the rear camera is of higher quality than the front facing camera. You will get a sharper image if you place the camera on a stand (or prop it somehow), set the timer, get in place and take the image that way.

- Shoot it in portrait mode (vertical) and try to frame right at the top of your head to right underneath the neckline of your shirt.


Headshots are my wheelhouse so of course feel free to reach out to me.  If you are in the Central Florida area this weekend, I am working with Detour Entertainment Productions and doing a headshot special.  Contact the information on the flyer to book your slot.

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A Sharp Photo is a Central Florida based (Orlando to Ocala) photography company specializing in Actor/Corporate headshots, Film & TV Production photography, Boudoir, Portrait photography and Art.  Michae E. Allen started this company in 2012 and his aim is to use photography to show people the beauty in themselves and the world around them.

A Sharp Photo - Great Headshots

If you are an actor, you need a great headshot.  This is normally the first step for casting directors as they are trying to cast roles.  Your headshot gives the casting director a preliminary way to 'see' you in a given role.  But, other people in other lines of work can benefit from a stellar headshot as well.  If you own a business, this is how you can give new customers a glimpse of who you are.  If you use LinkedIn, a great headshot can grab the attention of someone who sees your profile.  A solid, natural looking headshot can even be beneficial on a dating site.  Here are a few tips to put your best face forward:

- Wardrobe
Make sure that your clothing is clean, pressed and in good repair.  While a headshot is generally head and shoulders, when you are well dressed or comfortably dressed from head to toe, it affects the way you carry yourself.  Stay away from busy patterns or trendy clothing as the image will become dated as styles change.

- Hair
Make sure your hair is styled prior to your session.  When you know you look good, you show it.

- Its all in your head
Its nigh impossible to show what happy/confident/friendly/trustworthy look like.  But, we can all feel those thoughts/emotions and when you genuinely feel them, they show up on your face.

If you live in the Orlando area, this is a great deal for you to take advantage of.  Call or email the information on the flyer to reserve your spot.











Follow me in Twitter: @asharpphoto
Follow me on Instagram: @asharpphoto

A Sharp Photo is a Central Florida based (Orlando to Ocala) photography company specializing in Actor/Corporate headshots, Film & TV Production photography, Boudoir, Portrait photography and Art.  Michae E. Allen started this company in 2012 and his aim is to use photography to show people the beauty in themselves and the world around them. 

A Sharp Photo at Studio 40 East

Last week I got to shoot at a new studio in Ocala, FL; Studio 40 East.  They had a 'Shootout' event.  The purpose of these is to generate publicity and interest for the studio and to allow local photographers and models to network.  It was pretty intimate, 7 photographers and 7 models and there was plenty of room to shoot.

I had a blast!  The studio has a room with different colored backdrops, a boudoir/bedroom set and the sales room is a great setting for shooting as well.  There is a hair and makeup room and a variety of strobes and modifiers.  Even the area outside of the studio is great for shooting.  Daniel Bray and Jennifer Lazos (the owners) were helpful, kind and knowledgeable. 

Not having a studio can sometimes be a stumbling block for new photographers, especially if you do racier work.  Its great to have a place like this in my backyard.  I look forward to doing more work at this swanky joint :).

Keith

 

Keturah

Megan

 

Pinky Paige

Rae Ann

 

 

A Sharp Photo is a Central Florida based (Orlando to Ocala) photography company specializing in Actor/Corporate headshots, Film & TV Production photography, Boudoir, Portrait photography and Art.  Michae E. Allen started this company in 2012 and his aim is to use photography to show people the beauty in themselves and the world around them.

Twitter/Instagram: @asharpphoto
Facebook: www.facebook.com/asharpphoto13
www.asharpphoto.biz

A Change of Heart

So, for quite some time I'd been saying that I had no interest in photographing weddings.  I felt that they were too much work and I didn't know if I was up to the challenge.  Last month I photographed a small wedding for a friend in Orlando and I love it!  Because I was just doing a favor for a friend, I didn't fully equip like I normally would but things went really well.  I discovered (decided) that the pace of weddings isn't what scares me; its the potential to miss great moments that bothers me.  You have to know everything that's going on and be hyper-aware and that's before you get things technically correct with your camera.  But, all things considered, I actually enjoy doing weddings and I look forward to doing more.

Click here to see more of the DiGeorge wedding

Twitter: @asharpphoto
Instagram: @asharpphoto





A Sharp Photo is a Central Florida based (Orlando to Ocala) photography company specializing in Actor/Corporate headshots, Film & TV Production photography, Boudoir, Portrait photography and Art.  Michae E. Allen started this company in 2012 and his aim is to use photography to show people the beauty in themselves and the world around them.
prints for sale

If at first you don't succeed...

Try, try again, right?  You keep trying because your goal is to succeed.  Too many of us get stuck in the 'try' phase.  I am in a few photography groups and I see photographers posting photos and asking what can be done to fix them.  Oftentimes, the answer is nothing; you need to go reshoot it.  Effort only matters to you; the only thing that matters to your audience/client is the finished product.

You don't care how much time, thought and effort I put into the meal; you really only care if its good.  Most times I come home from a session with 200 or so images; only 20 or so of them are great (and I don't want good, I want great!).  I am working on bettering my ratio as well as evolving my definition of great.  Don't get stuck at try, soldier on to success!!!

Out of 104 shots of these bees, I only used 2

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A Sharp Photo is a Central Florida based (Orlando to Ocala) photography company specializing in Actor/Corporate headshots, Film & TV Production photography, Boudoir, Portrait photography and Art.  Michae E. Allen started this company in 2012 and his aim is to use photography to show people the beauty in themselves and the world around them.

To The Top!!!

No photos this week (maybe a few).  I didn't make time to do my P-52 but I have been working on something else.  My sister has been helping me beef up my website (www.asharpphoto.biz) and the goal is to work towards getting on the first page in Google when people search for a photographer in Central Florida.  She gave me 3 tasks:

1.)  Write out (yes, pen and paper) the format for my site.  Decide what areas of photography I will cover and make those headings.  If there are categories within those areas, make those sub headings.

2.)  Choose the photos I will use to represent those areas.  Better photos are more useful than more photos.

3.)  Write text for each page/section and add that to the website.  This may be the most important step because Google sees text much better than it sees photos.  When people search for you, Google looks for relevant text.  So I would need keywords that relate to; Central Florida, boudoir, headshots, photography and so on to be found and make it to that first page (angelic music plays).

I should be done by the end of this month so you will see some changes on my website :).  And I should be back on my P-52 next week :).

Twitter: asharpphoto
Facebook: www.facebook.com/asharpphoto13
Instagram: asharpphoto

I did do some boudoir work 2 weekends ago.

Enjoy!

A Sharp Photo is a Central Florida based (Orlando to Ocala) photography company specializing in Actor/Corporate headshots, Film & TV Production photography, Boudoir, Portrait photography and Art.  Michae E. Allen started this company in 2012 and his aim is to use photography to show people the beauty in themselves and the world around them.

P52 - Week 6 - Patterns

I enjoy making compelling images out of things that don't seem interesting.  This comes from my days have learning photography but not always being able to get out of the house or not having a model to shoot.  I had to learn to make something worth looking at out of the things that were near me.

See more of my work at www.asharpphoto.biz

A Sharp Photo is a Central Florida based (Orlando to Ocala) photography company specializing in Actor/Corporate headshots, Film & TV Production photography, Boudoir, Portrait photography and Art.  Michae E. Allen started this company in 2012 and his aim is to use photography to show people the beauty in themselves and the world around them.