Some of my secrets for getting headshots and up close portraits that pop?

1. Focus on the eyes

The eyes are the window of the soul.  Guiding the facial expression of the subject is crucial to capturing life in the eyes and the expression.  Most people are not professional actors or models and may feel a little uncomfortable in front of the camera at first.  Taking time to make people feel comfortable and relaxed in front of the lens is so important for expressions that look natural and appropriate to the style of the portrait need instead of posed and awkward.

2. Correct choice of lens and camera settings

The correct lens choice can take a good headshot and make it stellar.  Depth of field, color saturation, exposure, avoiding lens distortion – all of these converge for beautiful and effective close up portraits.

3. It’s all about angles

Close up headshots are all about getting the right angle to set up the look and feel for the particular style of headshot needed.  Most of the population does not have perfectly proportioned faces and straight on shots are almost always not the most flattering angle.  Photographing women by shooting from a slightly higher angle looking down emphasizes eyes and makes the features more feminine and delicate.  For men, shooting slightly up strengthens the face and makes it more masculine.  Even when shooting extremely close up, the placement of the shoulders and lower body can have a big effect on the final outcome.

4. Lighting

In headshots and up close portraits lighting is everything.  Diffused light, hair lights, natural light – all of these need to converge effectively to show skin glowing with health without highlighting blemishes and wrinkles while making eyes sparkle.  Inexperienced photographers will often try to fix incorrect lighting in Photoshop but the best professional headshots start with lighting appropriate to the subject and the style of portrait.

5. Appropriate photo editing

Many portrait and headshot photographers in the Nashville area over process and edit headshots until the subject looks very different than their natural self.  Good headshot editing involves enhancing natural skin, hair, and eyes – not artificially changing or over softening to cover incorrect technique.

Ready to book a session with an experienced and creative portrait/headshot photographer in the Franklin, Brentwood, and Nashville areas?  Contact Allison Hendrickson Design & Photography today!

Headshot tips for photographers

Highly effective promotional headshots start with a photographer who knows how to capture your style, image, and what you want your photos to accomplish. Contact me via www.allisonhendrickson.com for more information and prices if you are a musician in the Nashville area looking for professional headshots!

Musician promotional head shots

Michael Pratt has developed a love and passion for music that is un-paralleled. Since first starting the drums at age 12, Michael has since developed an affinity for rhythm and natural talent for playing percussion. Throughout middle and high school, he played with the concert and jazz bands, as well as the middle and high school youth group worship teams. It was in these settings that his love for God and passion for music awakened the deep desires of his heart, modifying music and worship from an extra-curricular activity to a life calling. Upon early graduation from high school, he started college at the age of 17 and was immediately accepted into the college percussion and mallet ensembles, learning music at an advanced level.

Throughout his higher education years, which included getting Bachelors and Masters degrees in percussion performance, Michael has had many tremendous opportunities to study with some of the world’s best percussion and drum set players. Some of his former teachers include classical percussionists Dr. John Pennington, Dr. Christopher Norton, and NSO percussionist Richard Graber. Drum set teachers include Zoro, Chester Thompson, and Jim Riley. Michael has freelanced drum set for many years, playing with such groups as Lacey Black and Red Rhapsody, Augusta Vain, Rebecca Sorrenson, Cirvant and SOHA, and many jazz/funk groups. He has recorded 6 albums and played hundreds of shows at various venues. He has knowledge and ability to play various styles of music, including funk, latin, hip-hop, jazz, swing, shuffle, blues, rock, metal, brazilian, Cuban, techno, disco, and numerous others. Most importantly, his passion and enthusiasm that are clearly evident in his performing make him one of the more exciting drummers around.

Check out his website for more info!

Media kit photos for musicians in Nashville, TN

Factory at Franklin – www.factoryatfranklin.com
230 Franklin Rd, Franklin, TN‎ – (615) 791-1777‎

The Factory at Franklin is an incredible spot for photos of any kind. It is a national historic factory with 15 buildings with dozens of shops for shopping, dining and entertainment along with special event facilities – and of course beautiful photo spots! While some locations are dependent on weather and time of year The Factory is a special place no matter if it’s bright and sunny or the dead of winter. There are always wonderful places for photos with everything from fun stairs, broken down walls, courtyards, trendy hallways, and retro buildings for limitless possibilities for your photos.

Winstead Hill – www.franklin-gov.com
Columbia Ave Franklin, TN 37064 – (615) 794-2103

Winstead Hill Park is located south of downtown Franklin on Columbia Highway and consists of 61 acres with a walking trail, parking area, and restrooms facilities. I love taking photos here. Winstead Hill seems to be an undiscovered gem of a park where sometimes we can do an entire shoot and never see another person. It’s especially beautiful in the fall with the gorgeous color leaves that we can play in while we shoot. In the spring and summer the green grass is lush and walking along the paved trails we can find wonderful photo opportunities. Alongside the park is a beautiful road with interlacing branches that form almost a tunnel with the light shining through the leaves.

Pinkerton Park – http://www.franklin-gov.com/parks/pinkerton_park.html
405 Murfreesboro Road, Franklin, Tennessee (615) 794-2103‎

Pinkerton Park is located on Murfreesboro Road and is the most popular park in Franklin. The Harpeth River is along the west side of the park while Fort Granger lies to the north. There is also a playground with perfect places for family photos and children’s photos. There is a one-mile paved pedestrian track that goes around the entire park. There are great places for photos along the river, bridge, and the fort. If you’re up for a short walk there is a pedestrian bridge that connects Pinkerton Park with downtown Franklin and some great railroad tracks for more photos!

Historic Downtown Franklin – http://www.downtownfranklintn.com/

Downtown Franklin should count for about 20 favorite photo spots! There are fifteen blocks that are listed in the National Register Historic District with more than 70 unique shops, restaurants and antiques. Franklin has been cited as one of the most beautiful downtowns in the South. There are old churches, the downtown square, sidestreets with historic buildings and homes, railroad tracks, old trees, the historic movie theater, benches, and of course Starbucks for a little coffee break if needed! There are so many places for photos downtown that many of my clients will take a walk around the area prior to our session to pick some of their favorite spots.

Downtown Franklin Wedding Photos by Allison Hendrickson

Here are a few pointers get the most out of your headshot session:

Makeup – sometimes less is more. Don’t put on layers of makeup with excessive eye shadow, lipstick, or foundation. You want you headshots to look natural and not like 80′s glamour photos! For both women and men, when you come to your shoot bring powder that matches your skin tone to touch up shine.

Keep your clothing simple. Choose solid colors and avoid patterns and prints. You want to people to notice you and not your clothing.

And most importantly relax and have fun as your photo is taken! I always make sure I’ve had lunch ahead of time so I promise I won’t bite! Instead of thinking of the camera or your client looking at you, imagine yourself looking at your potential client, customer, agent, or casting director.

I’m here to take as much time as we need to get the right shot, I want you to feel relaxed and comfortable so that your personality shines through.

Below is examples of several different styles of headshots from left to right, full length body shot on location, 3/4 shot studio shot, and a traditional head and shoulders headshot.

Professional headshots