Step by step how to take great headshots

Get geared up for professional-looking business portraits with a simple one-light setup

01 Small Studio SETUP

For our white backdrop, we simply used a Lastolite Super White paper backdrop on stands in our small kitchen. We’re using just one Elinchrom D-lite RX 4 flash head with a Rotalux 90x110cm softbox to the right, with patio window light to the left.

02 Camera & lens SETUP

We’re using a full-frame Canon 6D Mk II camera, and our versatile Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8l lens. We’re using this so we can capture tighter head-andshoulders compositions with the twist of the zoom, all without crowding our subject.

03 manual Camera Control

When using studio lights, you’ll need to use Manual mode to control your aperture and shutter speed. For enough depth of field for close-up headshots, we suggest shooting at an aperture around f/11 to f/13, and 1/125 to 1/160 sec, and ISO100.

04 Wireless Trigger

We’re using an Elinchrom El-skyport wireless trigger attached to the top of our Canon 6D Mark II’S hotshoe to fire our Elinchrom studio light remotely. If we had more studio lights, we could trigger them all together as necessary.

05 lights, Camera, action

Now it’s just a case of adjusting the light power on the head for a balanced exposure. We factored in the window light to the left, and therefore, with our exposure set, we set the flash head power to 2.6 for our headshots.

06 Professional POSES

You don’t want people smiling or laughing too much in headshots, as it can look unprofessional. Instead aim for more a engaged look, with a gentle smile. Capture a variety of expressions, and from slightly raised position for more flattering results.