Portrait (or head shot) photography has been a staple for most working photographers out there, for some it's their main source of income. But what really makes a great head shot that stands out from the rest? Well, it goes back to keeping things simple. You don't need a bunch of expensive gear or crazy lighting techniques. All you really need is what your client wants at the end of the day. If their a model and need head shots for their portfolio, then usually the process is simply because they will tell you exactly what they want. All you have to do is just meet their demands and try to take their instructions of what they want to the last detail.

Now when it comes to someone that doesn't quite know what they want or a model that gives the photographer all the freedom to direct them. It could get a little tricky, but don't panic it's simpler then you think. For someone like me, I always talk to the client beforehand. Whether it be on the phone or email and in some cases even texts if its someone I know like a friend or colleague. It's always a good idea to get to know the client's ideas of what they want beforehand. That way on the day of the photo shoot there would be fewer chances of delays or confusion.

Give them ideas! I always carry around a few media or fashion magazines. So I can get an idea, be inspired or give visual suggestions to the client. It's best to show visual examples rather than explain most of the time. Since visual pictures are most likely direct and show a great example to the client of what look they are going for. Now with this strategy, its most like this magazine photo shoots took place in a studio. If you don't own a studio or cant afford to rent one for a single day. Not to worry, outside portraiture works just as well. Here is where the imagination and the creativity come in. You see if both the client and yourself talk and agree to a certain tone and vibe. You can go with the daytime, a more joyful and light-hearted mood. Also depending what time it is, you will have to work with different types of daylight. Would you like a harsh daylight for more of a fashion and sports/action photo shoot? Or sunrise/sunset for a more calm and gentle mood type photo shoot. If you go night time, you most likely get a mysterious/rebel style of photos.

Lastly, whatever you choose when it comes to editing. This step should definitely come last because here there are thousands of ways and styles to go with (too many to go over). But by researching online, seeing the latest editing style trends on social media or whats popular on the magazines. You should play around, discover and come up with your own editing style unless the client told you a specific style. In that case, you just listen and edit it in such a way you get the perfect edit. The way the client told you they wanted their portrait shots to look like.

So you see here is just a simple template that some photographers use to get that great portrait hot. of course it's not a night and day shift. Where you would get a lot of people going towards you for their head shot. It takes a lot of time and a lot of practice, with time you'll find you'll be on your way to get that great head shot.