Headshot & Portrait Photography Basics - What Aperture Should You Use?

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  • Опубліковано 23 сер 2024
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 57

  • @luissalazar2021
    @luissalazar2021 Рік тому +2

    I been shooting F8 for over 20 years and never had any problems . I thought with digital camera’s was different but is D-same . Thanks for sharing. I do like your perspective on the subjects

    • @PeteCocoPhoto
      @PeteCocoPhoto  Рік тому

      Thanks, Luis. Glad you are enjoying the vids.

  • @holdmyown32
    @holdmyown32 Рік тому +1

    I’m usually at f8-f11, I shoot a lot of realtors that will be cutting themselves out and applying themselves to signs and other marketing materials. If I’m sitting beauty or actors I’ll go down to f4 or so, rarely I’ll go to 2.8.

  • @travism9424
    @travism9424 Рік тому +2

    Great stuff Pete! This was like a “micro master class” right there! I agree with everything you discussed, but my headshots sweet spot in studio is f6.3-8ish. Thx for sharing with everyone😃

  • @sempringham3868
    @sempringham3868 Рік тому +1

    Wow! What a great, interesting discussion. Thanks. Almost every video you make helps me improve my work.

  • @JunshiY
    @JunshiY Рік тому +2

    Just solved my recent question! Great video and thanks for sharing! 🌻

  • @josecolon8143
    @josecolon8143 Рік тому +2

    Very well explained! A portrait and a head shot are two different monsters! Thanks for the schooling! 💎💎💎💎Lot of good info newbies and all others!

    • @PeteCocoPhoto
      @PeteCocoPhoto  Рік тому +1

      Appreciate it dude! Like you said in another comment, you gotta know what the purpose of it is. Not all headshots and portraits are the same, but I definitely enjoy the more creative moody ones personally.

    • @josecolon8143
      @josecolon8143 Рік тому

      👍👍👍

  • @davidhalstead8791
    @davidhalstead8791 Рік тому +7

    Great stuff and very informative, but lose the distracting (music) background noise!

    • @PeteCocoPhoto
      @PeteCocoPhoto  Рік тому

      Thanks! And, yes, I've toned down the music in newer vids. Let's just say it's been brought to my attention before.😆

  • @luissalazar2159
    @luissalazar2159 Рік тому +1

    The music gets on the way, thanks for sharing

    • @PeteCocoPhoto
      @PeteCocoPhoto  Рік тому

      Thanks! Yep, I've toned down the music in the newer vids.

  • @tpe4ever
    @tpe4ever Рік тому +2

    I tend to start at around 85mm 5.6, and open up or stop down depending on the subject. Different people seem to benefit from different apertures, and catching this during the shoot tends to mean less work in post for me, and I have way more fun during the shoot than during edits personally. For an elderly lady who wants to look slightly more youthful, shooting at F8 is not exactly a kind rendition usually I find.

    • @PeteCocoPhoto
      @PeteCocoPhoto  Рік тому

      Great advice, Charles. Thank you!

    • @nocommentnoname1111
      @nocommentnoname1111 Рік тому +1

      Unless maybe you WANT to show what time has done to that person. Everything is relevant and must be out in context I believe.

    • @PeteCocoPhoto
      @PeteCocoPhoto  Рік тому

      @@nocommentnoname1111 yes context is key but typically people want to look their best in a headshot.

  • @smalltalk.productions9977
    @smalltalk.productions9977 Рік тому +1

    thanks for the effort and sharing. i very much appreciate the thoughtful subjects you deal with in your yt vids and that is why i am a subscriber. thumbs up.

    • @PeteCocoPhoto
      @PeteCocoPhoto  Рік тому

      Thanks so much - I appreciate the kind words and sub! 🙏🙏🙏

  • @nickdermilio4326
    @nickdermilio4326 Рік тому +1

    Thanks Pete..as always, very helpful!

  • @joshuagharis9017
    @joshuagharis9017 Рік тому +2

    I use F5.0 or 5.6, but I've heard f6.3 too, 100mm rf macro lens.

    • @PeteCocoPhoto
      @PeteCocoPhoto  Рік тому

      I used to shoot at 5.6 for headshots, but I like the look I get at 100mm with f/4 and even 3.5. Occasionally I shoot at 2.8 depending on the subject angle.

  • @peteristvanphotography
    @peteristvanphotography Рік тому +1

    Lots of great info, thanks!

  • @wilmerkrusen7501
    @wilmerkrusen7501 Рік тому +1

    So good. So good!!

  • @Franciehatescoffeeicecream
    @Franciehatescoffeeicecream Рік тому +1

    Actor headshots favour the eyes and really creamy backdrops so a wider aperture of 3.5-5 tends to suit Imo

    • @PeteCocoPhoto
      @PeteCocoPhoto  Рік тому

      Yep I love that look as well. I do the wide open stuff with my portraits and then not quite as shallow for my head and shoulders headshots.

  • @damarist2026
    @damarist2026 Рік тому +1

    can you do a visual example video on how you got photo 7:49?

    • @PeteCocoPhoto
      @PeteCocoPhoto  Рік тому

      Eventually I will do a lighting video, but probably not for a while. I'm still working on some stuff. Stay tuned!

  • @lkasdlf
    @lkasdlf Рік тому +1

    Great video!

  • @jobolitz5753
    @jobolitz5753 Рік тому +1

    Good video, great content. Just one small constructive criticism, if you allow it: the music is too (loud?) distracting over your voice.

    • @PeteCocoPhoto
      @PeteCocoPhoto  Рік тому

      Thank you! The message on the music was received by a bunch of my viewers so I no longer use any under dialogue in my new videos haha. I appreciate the feedback!

  • @dab7963
    @dab7963 Рік тому +1

    Wow photographer Dave Norton also when he shoots his portraits cuts off the top of the head. I noticed in your portraits you also do not include the full top of a person's head. Is this the standard? I guess the face is the most important part but I'm still trying to adjust to the idea of cutting off the top of people's heads when taking a shoulder level portrait photograph.

    • @PeteCocoPhoto
      @PeteCocoPhoto  Рік тому

      This is one of the standard ways to do headshots. I learned this technique from my mentor Peter Hurley, but some people still take vertical/full head photos as well. One way is not better than the other but this is my preference for headshots because it does indeed make the facial expression the most important ingredient to the photo.
      I also take portraits, and here I don't crop heads out normally and shoot in portrait orientation as well. My goal for clients is to give them a great variety to choose from in the form of headshots and portraits. Thanks for watching and commenting!

    • @dab7963
      @dab7963 Рік тому +1

      @@PeteCocoPhoto Great I am still learning.

  • @DiviPhotos
    @DiviPhotos Рік тому +1

    great video

  • @yotrif
    @yotrif Рік тому +1

    Pick me, Pete 📸😊

  • @mihgio3235
    @mihgio3235 Рік тому

    and your most used lens for headshots and portraits is ??? thanks

    • @PeteCocoPhoto
      @PeteCocoPhoto  Рік тому

      Right now: Canon EF 70-200 2.8 for headshots, and Canon EF 50 1.4 for half frame portraits. I also use a Fuji XT5 with 16-55 2.8 for some of this work as well.

  • @nevvanclarke9225
    @nevvanclarke9225 Рік тому +1

    If you are using a screen at the back or have a backdrop of some type, then I would go f6 to f8…why because most lenses are sharpest at that Aperture?…

    • @PeteCocoPhoto
      @PeteCocoPhoto  Рік тому

      Sometimes I will stop down. But my favorite kind of portrait is when the only tack sharp part is the eyeball. I do this all the time in my portrait work and my clients love it. Plus if you stop down, then your backdrop is also tack sharp, which I generally don't prefer. I like when the backdrop is also out of focus.

    • @nevvanclarke9225
      @nevvanclarke9225 Рік тому +1

      @@PeteCocoPhoto Yeah, I was purely referring to the actual sharpness of the lens, but I will generally shoot portraits at about F2 .8 …. Don’t like blurry ears are a no no for me, but you make a good point

    • @PeteCocoPhoto
      @PeteCocoPhoto  Рік тому

      @@nevvanclarke9225 I also make a distinction with a head and shoulders headshot, where I prefer it relatively sharp (usually shoot these around f/4) but when I do portraits I get a bit more artsy about it and don't mind the shallow dof.

  • @SpotBentley
    @SpotBentley Рік тому +1

    Your background music is distracting and completely unnecessary.

    • @PeteCocoPhoto
      @PeteCocoPhoto  Рік тому

      I appreciate this. I have been going back and forth with the bg music and whether it's needed or just a distraction.

    • @SpotBentley
      @SpotBentley Рік тому +3

      @@PeteCocoPhoto Music is okay when you aren't talking but if what you say is important, than why not let people hear it without any distractions. I don't and won't watch videos with unnecessary distractions.

    • @PeteCocoPhoto
      @PeteCocoPhoto  Рік тому +2

      @@SpotBentley Cool, again thanks for the feedback. I look at every video as a learning opportunity so hearing from viewers is important to me.

    • @andydragonfisher6900
      @andydragonfisher6900 Рік тому

      @@SpotBentley your loss buddy - if you would reject educational information because the delivery doesn’t meet your exacting learning conditions, you’ll throw away a lot of excellent opportunities. Perhaps working on being more adaptable might be a useful life skill?

  • @FBall-im8ui
    @FBall-im8ui Рік тому +1

    nix he background music mate so distracting

    • @PeteCocoPhoto
      @PeteCocoPhoto  Рік тому

      Haha yes I have gotten rid of the music in newer videos.