There’s Always a Kicker
Always a Kicker
My lighting setup is tailored to the individual that I’m photographing, but one thing that I like to add always is a kicker. A kicker is a light that’s placed behind the subject off to one side that creates a bright highlight to their face that adds dimension.
It kicks off their faces from a strong angle and creates a highlight.
My lighting setup is tailored to the individual that I’m photographing, but one thing that I always like to add is a kicker light. A kicker is a light that’s placed behind the subject off to one side that creates a bright highlight to their face that adds depth and dimension.
It kicks off their face—it creates a highlight as it skates off the face from that oblique position behind the subject.
You can see it in this photograph. It’s the bright area that catches her hair on the right side of the photograph, plus the side of her face and a bit of light on the side of her nose. Without a kicker, the face tends to be more flat in appearance and working with a two-dimensional medium, my job is to create a three-dimensional appearance by sculpting with light.
There’s also a softbox on the opposite side, the left side of the photo (you can see the square catchlight in her eye), and that creates shadowing on the side of her face with the kicker light. Together, they create a very pleasing look and the portrait has depth.
Similarly here, the light on the left side of her face, the bright kicker light, makes her portrait look vibrant and professional.
Some photographers want to eliminate all shadows and highlights, but those are the two things that really bring a strong look to a portrait.
When you get here, don’t worry, there will be a kicker!
Film for Studio Portraits
What about using film? Y’know, real film? I’m onboard. Film is a special way to make portraits.
The question is why to use film when digital is quicker. Because film has a look, one that try to be emulated with a digital image, but it’s never quite right.
What about using film? Y’know, real film? I’m onboard. Film is a special way to make portraits.
The question is why to use film when digital is quicker. Because film has a look, one that try to be emulated with a digital image, but it’s never quite right. This is black and white film used for a musician’s portrait session in studio.
Compare that to a similar session with another musician in studio created digitally. The digital black and whites tend to be more clinically sharp and contrasty. The light doesn’t play the same on a digital sensor as it does with gelatin silver film.
There’s also a different way that the subject responds to the camera. The larger film camera often gives the subject a sense that there is something important being produced, so they give it a bit more consideration. It’s the same way on a movie set, when the cinematographer is shooting on film, it’s a special set.
Film has a charm, a feeling of past tense compared to the present tense feel of digital photography.
For a group of portraits at a senior center, this next group of photographs were made on film in studio. I used a similar lighting setup that I can for digital photography, with just a bit of adjustment for the film negative.
Film has a softer way of recording light than digital cameras do, and that affects how I set the lights knowing there is a different lighting ratio needed with film.
On top of all that, the subjects are often enamored by the old cameras which often resemble works of art themselves.
Color or Black & White
Color or Black & White
You have choices. All photographs created digitally are color images that can be toned black and white in post production. Sometimes, black and white stands out differently in a world of color portraits.
You can have it both ways when we work digitally.
You have choices. All photographs created digitally are color images that can be toned black and white in post production. Sometimes, black and white stands out differently in a world of color portraits.
You can have it both ways when we work digitally. (Film, it’s a different story—we’ll get into that in another story.)
In this case, this businesswoman wanted to be photographed with the Milwaukee cityscape behind her for a background. Changing from color to black and white is a simple edit and you can literally have it both ways. To me, the black and white is a stronger image of the two. The lighting and modifiers are still in use to get that soft light across her face and the catchlight in her eye.
In this next one, for this headshot, we added a border to the black and white so it would stand out on an off-white web page. In photography, presentation is everything and we have the ability to make a portrait that works well in whatever format you need it.
So, color of black and white is something you can decide later. I’m a fan of black and white, but each has its use in business promotional materials.
What About Headshots Outside the Studio?
What About Headshots Outside the Studio?
We could do it, work outside the studio. It’s often what you see from photographers and I am fine setting up some light modifiers outdoors or lights indoors to create a look, but overall, I think studio portraits with a full lighting setup look more professional, but that’s certainly subjective. If you want to create a look that shows your office for a setting, there are ways to do that well. And I have the tools to make it look professional.
We could do it, work outside the studio. It’s often what you see from photographers and I am fine setting up some light modifiers outdoors or lights indoors to create a look, but overall, I think studio portraits with a full lighting setup look more professional, but that’s certainly subjective. If you want to create a look that shows your office for a setting, there are ways to do that well. And I have the tools to make it look professional.
The way to do it successfully is to still use light and modifiers and work in a place that lends itself to the style of the portrait you want to make. These portraits may look easy to photograph but all used lighting equipment to create them.
I see a lot of headshots that are made outside the studio without lighting and they look flat. If you want to create a look that shows your office setting or another location, let’s talk. We can do it but we will have to work out the details to make it a successful portrait shoot and will have to work out a lighting plan because that’s the most important aspect of portrait photography.
We don’t photograph faces, we photograph the light on faces.
Professional Headshots Near Me: Find the Best Colorado Headshot Photographer in Denver, Boulder and Front Range
In today's digital world, where first impressions often happen online, a professional headshot is far more than just a picture. It's a reflection of your brand, your competence, and your commitment to professionalism. If you're searching for "professional headshots near me" in Denver, you want a photographer who understands the power of a great image and can deliver headshots that elevate your online and in-person presence.
Introduction
In today's digital world, where first impressions often happen online, a professional headshot is far more than just a picture. It's a reflection of your brand, your competence, and your commitment to professionalism. If you're searching for "professional headshots near me" in Denver or Boulder or anywhere throughout the Front Range, you want a photographer who understands the power of a great image and can deliver headshots that elevate your online and in-person presence. More than a person with a camera, you need a professional who understands lighting and posing and can draw out you looking your most amazing self.
Why You Can't Skimp on Professional Headshots
Strong First Impressions: A professional headshot projects confidence, trustworthiness, and approachability—the qualities that make people want to connect with and do business with you.
Consistency Across Platforms: A professionally shot headshot ensures you and your team have a cohesive brand image across your website, LinkedIn, social media, and marketing materials.
Lasting Investment: A high-quality headshot can serve you for years, representing you with professionalism long after it's taken.
What to Look for in a Colorado (Denver, Boulder and other Front Range Cities) Headshot Photographer
Portfolio and Style: Browse the photographer's work. Does their style align with your desired image (Classic? Modern? Professional? Not outside standing by a tree!) and showcase a variety of styles?
Technical Skill: Look for professional studio lighting, crisp focus, flattering posing, and natural-looking editing.
Client Experience: Do they offer clear communication, guidance with wardrobe and posing, and a comfortable environment for your session without a time limit
Hair and Makeup: See if they offer a hair and makeup professional as an additional service to make you and your staff look (and feel) their best in front of the camera.
Range of Services: Can they accommodate individual sessions, teams, and on-location shoots to meet your business needs?
Why Colorado Headshot is Your Front Range Headshot Solution
At Colorado Headshot, you will experience photography services tailored to enhance your professional image using the state-of-the-art camera and lighting technology in a full mobile studio. The difference professional lighting makes and using a studio means a consistency for your staff’s portraits and new additions can be photographed to maintain the uniform look.
Kenneth Wajda is a commercial photographer, a 35-year experience professional who has photographed celebrities and U.S. Presidents and is a master at lighting and posing people for the camera. He will make you look your absolute best.
Focus on Business Professionals: Kenneth specializes in creating headshots that reflect your unique brand and industry, making you stand out in the Denver business landscape.
Expert Guidance: Kenneth will ensure you feel confident and look your best in your photos.
Convenient Studio Brought to Your Location: Choose the time that best suits your business needs in all Front Range Colorado cities including Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins and Colorado Springs.
Exceptional Customer Service: From consultation to delivery, we provide personalized attention and ensure your satisfaction. Need quick turnaround? You’ll get it!
See the Colorado Headshot Difference
By working in a fully-equipped professional studio, Colorado Headshot can tailor the lighting for your style, your look. It’s more than just a photograph, it’s your business portrait, what everyone in your social media and online circles sees first.
Additional Services
Need lifestyle photographs of your team at work in your office? Updated photographs for your web site and marketing materials? Annual report? We can schedule that, too, and make a collection of photographs that show off your professional workspace.
How About Your Upcoming Convention?
Who did you book for your VIPs in attendance? Keynote speaker? Professional in your industry or a celebrity? Colorado Headshot has a mobile VIP portrait studio that is brought to conventions to photograph dignitaries and award-winners. All the most important people to your company, and we do it with the same professional lighting setups and backgrounds for a highly-stylized look. (Just like they have a studio backstage at the Academy Awards/Oscars and the Sundance Film Festival.)
Ready to Elevate Your Brand with Professional Headshots?
Don't settle for a mediocre selfie or a generic outdoor experience without professional lighting and styling. Invest in your professional image with Colorado Headshot.
Contact Colorado Headshot today to schedule your consultation and start making a powerful first impression.
Colorado Headshot serves the entire Front Range—Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, Longmont, Loveland, Berthoud and your town. It’s “your headshot studio”.
Book your professional headshot session today, contact the studio at Colorado Headshot: 720-982-9237
What’s a Catchlight? (And Why You Need One—Actually Two!)
What’s a Catchlight (And Why You Need One—or Two!)
Merle Oberon, a British movie star who worked in Hollywood in the 1930s and 1940s, found that when a cinematographer put a small light on top of the camera that causes a specular highlight in a subject's eye in an image—a catchlight—that she looked best. So, she began to request a light on top of all cameras filming her. That got known as an Obie light and it’s a term still used in cinematography to this day.
Merle Oberon, a British movie star who worked in Hollywood in the 1930s and 1940s, found that when a cinematographer put a small light on top of the camera that causes a specular highlight in a subject's eye in an image—a catchlight—that she looked best. So, she began to request a light on top of all cameras filming her. That got known as an Obie light and it’s a term still used in cinematography to this day.
When I photograph your business portrait, I will insist on a pose that creates a strong catchlight, because with one, your eyes look alive. And without, they’re dark. So catchlight it is.
It looks like this.
It’s actually seen in any good professional portrait and gives you a clue as to what lighting device was used to make the photograph. In the first one, the light is off to the subject’s left, which is why the side of her face closest to the camera has a light shadow, and why the catchlight is seen in the upper left of her eye. Sometimes you can see an umbrella shape in the catchlight if the photographer used a lighting umbrella for a modifier. The eye creates a perfect representation of the lighting device used.
It’s a fascinating look that once you see it, you’ll notice it in magazine portraits and advertising photographs all the time.
It’s what makes eyes look alive!
What To Wear for a Portrait Session
What To Wear for a Portrait Session
This question gets asked a lot and having photographed thousands of headshots for business people over my career, I’ve learned a few things I can share with you.
This question gets asked a lot and having photographed thousands of headshots for business people over my career, I’ve learned a few things I can share with you.
Women look great with dark-colored blouses because it lets their face take center stage in the photograph. As viewers, we’re drawn to light areas of a photograph, so to emphasize your face, go with something more subdued for a top. Also, stripes and patterns can work but it’s best to bring a few changes of clothing so we have options on the shoot day in case they’re taking too much attention. Dangling large earrings can also draw attention so smaller stud-type are usually a safer choice. Necklaces have to work with your collar-line, so choose some accessories that can be placed where you want them to fall. Again, bring choices and we can find the best combination that works. Jackets create a strong professional look, so I usually say let’s try a few like that. The best thing is to have a variety of clothing and jewelry options so we can choose different looks. Remember, at my sessions, you are never under a time constraint and you can have multiple outfit changes. This is all about you and getting the looks you want.
Men look great with open shirt collars with suit jackets, shirt collars and tie with suit jackets, and even just shirt and tie, depending on the look you want. A modern trend is a simple dark t-shirt with a suit jacket. We can try different combinations so, just like with the women, it’s best to have a variety of options so we can create different looks for your portrait.
Hair and makeup professionals are an option if you want to bring on a professional to touch you up. Mention that at the time of booking so I can get someone booked to be in studio for you on the day of your session.
I suggest expressions with a smile as well as a closed-mouth smile and a non-smiling strong confident look, so you have different poses for different uses.
If you’re a performer or creative who needs to have a portrait made for a book jacket or press kit, we can work with props and furniture as well. I can even use more contrasty lighting to create dramatic portraits. When we discuss your session, we can work out all the details of what will work best, and again, you’ll bring options so we can try different poses, outfits and setups.
For backgrounds, I like a formal old-masters hand-painted muslin background as seen above (the same type used by celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz for magazine shoots), which implies a professional, high-quality, formal studio portrait, but white or another color background is also an option. Seamless background paper is available in a rainbow of colors, so if there are any special requests, I can bring them.
No matter what, you get to see the photographs as we’re making them so you know exactly if you’re finding the poses and looks that you want, and we don’t finish the session until you have multiple selections that work for you. You leave the session knowing exactly what your business headshot will look like.
And turnaround on the photographs, if needed, can be as quick as the next day.
The Beauty of Hair & Makeup
The Beauty of Hair and Makeup
It started with a call from an executive who wanted a new headshot, as most calls begin. But this one knew that she wanted the full treatment. Usually, it’s offices that bring in a hair and makeup (HMU) person for their full staff, but this woman booked a single business portrait and she wanted someone there to take care of her look. So, I called Marnie Brooks, a professional I know who’s worked in the industry for years and booked her to take care of my client.
It started with a call from an executive who wanted a new headshot, as most calls begin. But this one knew that she wanted the full treatment. Usually, it’s offices that bring in a hair and makeup (HMU) person for their full staff, but this woman booked a single business portrait and she wanted someone there to take care of her look. So, I called Marnie Brooks, a professional I know who’s worked in the industry for years and booked her to take care of my client.
We worked together to make multiple looks for her, some with glasses, several with different outfits. And I always work without a deadline, I want to create portraits until we get the various looks my client wants and can use. So, we do. That’s just part of the session. And as always, I compose horizontally knowing we can always crop verticals but if I were to photograph in a vertical format, creating a horizontal photo would be impossible, and there are many conference directors that request horizontal format photographs for their programs, so I create all headshots in that orientation.
It was a good day and a good photography session. The photos show her confidence and she has various looks for different purposes.