Hands and Headshots

[fantasiesimage]

What are the basic element rules for hands in a headshot

C&C welcome.

[JDArt]

1. Don't cut the hands off if you're going to shoot them at all.

Nice shot here, Don.

[lobofw]

Nice shot Don, I like the look and the hand.
My rule about hands are, no white knuckles and relaxed. But then it's been awhile since i did a head shot.
uumm, soon to be remedied I think, I hope.

[Jon]

I'm sorry Amanda, it's just not going to work out. I've found a new girl, I'm moving to Kansas.

Oh.

Um.

I mean...

I think you've got it here, if they're in, they're in, not partway in or out.

On that note, do you think this is more of a headshot, or more of an extreme facial (shutup Jimmy)?

[chucklyman]

I like this shot, but I need some help to understand the reflection in the eyes from the lights. Is there any rule on how many white reflections should be in the eyes or shape or size?

[croma65]

Great! Congrats!

[amandajilesse]

Originally Posted by Jon

I'm sorry Amanda, it's just not going to work out. I've found a new girl, I'm moving to Kansas.

Oh.

Um.

Ah hell I'd leave me for her too!

[Lorek]

very nice shot!!

[fantasiesimage]

Originally Posted by TJPhotoGuy

My understanding that more than one set of catchlights is a no-no and should be ps'd out... that's what i've read

Normally I would have but in this case I didnt find the second catch light to be distracting or take away from the eyes..so I decided to leave it....not sure it was the right decisiion, but it doesnt bother me. it adds a lil sparkle to the eye but thats just my opinion...

Don.

[captlen]

A wonderful shot. I do have to agree that the second catch light is a bit distracting. It may be if it was not mentioned I would not have noticed but now I cant "not look at it".

Other than that I love it. The hands work very well

[fantasiesimage]

Originally Posted by TJPhotoGuy

Ahhh! Now I feel bad lol.

After looking at it again, one thing that seems a bit odd is tht her fingers are far away from her face(?) Just curious why

I asked the model not to press them against her face so as not to push the skin in..
maybe a bit too far out...

Don.

[Blinky]

Speaking strictly about portraits (in other words, not glamour portraits), I think the most important guideline is, 'hands hold & hands rest'. You should always have your subject do something natural with their hands and typically that means holding something... in this case, her chin and cheek. I think it would be appropriate to have her hand touching her face but at rest so the contours of her face aren't altered.

With very close crops like this one, I don't think the all-in or all-out rule works. I have seen beautiful portraits where hands were either partially cropped or positioned in such a way fingers were hidden in shadow or behind hair.

In this shot, which is lovely, I think her hand looks too smooth. Hands are full of character and in a portrait, you want that character to come out. Hands tell the viewer something more about the subject. It's not much of a distraction though, I just noticed cuz, uh... you know how I am about hands.

There is something in this shot that distracts me though, the false eyelash on camera right, something just looks wrong with it to me... I can't tell you what it is other than it's out position or coming unstuck or something. It's the first thing I noticed. 'Course, I don't know squat about false eyelashes or makeup either... could be it's supposed to look that way and my eyes are crooked... wouldn't be the first time. :P

What I think is awesome about this shot is the subtlety in the shadows around her mouth, eyes and nose. The lighting is very delicate and reveals her contours without digging in and raking up too much texture or throwing any features into deep relief.

That was a damn good shoot you had there Don.

Chip

[Jon]

I think that eyelash is just really long, I don't think it's an error on anyone's part.

I think her hand is extra-smooth because (I assume) he used the smoothing filter on the entire image, not just on her face.

I have no problem with multiple catchlights; I've never heard of any "one catchlight rule" and I disagree with it. In fact, I think a bunch of smaller catchlights, if positioned interestingly, is kinda neat-o.

For some really interesting catchlights, watch the new King Kong movie and pay close attention to the catchlights in the scene in the restaurant where Jack Black is trying to get Naomi Watts (who has NEVER looked better than in that movie, BTW) to join his production.