In this age of modern digital technology, headshot photo editing is one of the most important strategic marketing tools to demonstrate how a buyer’s digital persona can manifest in the real world.
Headshot retouching or photo editing is an editing process that means making all the necessary changes and enhancements to make the best impression on the photograph.
Did you know honing the headshot competence and putting this portion on your portfolio may open up a whole host of new opportunities? And the most exciting thing is that it can open up new amenities for you both professionally and creatively.
So, kindly apply the following tips that will assist you in becoming a great headshot photographer and also support you in editing them in Photoshop with ease.
Capturing A Quality Headshot:
To capture a quality headshot, apply the following top-quality practices that will enhance your photo sessions and provide the confidence that your customer receives outstanding images for their significant demands.
So, when you’re planning to capture images, please consider the below three things:
- Setting:
Like a pro headshot photographer, you just need to set your location wisely. Cluttered, busy, complicated, or too-bright backgrounds can seriously affect the results of your photo.
The color scheme is the first and foremost thing you must be aware of when you work with the setting. For example, if your photo is displayed on a print material, plain black or white backgrounds color may be printed in an ineligible manner. Or, oversaturated color can be a diversion depending on where and how your customer intends to apply their headshots.
- Appearance:
The second most important thing for capturing quality photographs is outfit and appearance. And it also plays a significant role and empowers you to apply your creativity to move from the conflict.
In this modern technological age, it is much more common to see ingenious professionals using headshots to display their personalities, creativity, and skills. And this enables some extra flexibility in the manner you style your customer’s session.
- Lighting:
Lighting is, last but not least mandatory thing when it comes to capturing quality photographs. Proper placement of lighting can extricate an image, while a photo must eliminate bad lighting. That’s why the necessity of lighting is so severe.
Have you considered how the client’s features will be affected by lighting choices? You might see people who wear glasses usually require to adjust the light. Perhaps or more accurately, customers with diverse skin tones may require various lighting set-ups to emphasize their features best.
Headshot Photo Editing in Photoshop:
Well, this segment is going to show how you can do headshot photo editing in Photoshop with ease. But before starting, there are a few notes you need to remember before or during your client’s photo session.
- Choosing the proper attire
- Making elimination from the background
- Correct position of a model
- Get the accurate expression
- Suitable lighting in the place
- Maintaining the light entirely
Formula #01: Put the Image on Photoshop:
Go to your pc and run Photoshop, and choose the file. From there, select “open” and pick the photo you desire to edit. And Photoshop Canvas has a faster method to do it, like just dragging and dropping your photo.
Formula #02: Duplicate the Layer Background:
Make a duplicate background layer that prevents the photo from being accidentally harmed during the processing session. Go to Photoshop, right-click on the layer background, and give it a name you like.
Formula #03: Contrast and Brightness Adjusting:
Though it’s not a compulsory step, it’s required to be performed as per the image. By using accurate contrast and brightness, you’ll be able to enhance the image quality. Now, simply run for your photo, opt for Adjustments, and again pick Contrast/Brightness.
Also, at the bottom of the layers panel, you’ll be able to run the “adjustment layer button or Create new fill.”
Formula #04: Impurities and Spots Removing:
You have two specific tools to remove impurities and spots: the Clone Stamp and the Healing Brush Tool. I personally recommend applying the Healing Brush Tool for an unlimited option to use.
To perform the healing, make sure to create a duplicate layer before starting and name it healer. Now, give press and hold the “Alt” button and illustrate the position of your course of action. After that, brush the spot area, and you can remove the impurities.
Formula #05: Use of Gaussian Blur Filter:
The most commonly used filter in Photoshop is Gaussian blur. This filter is very easy and faster to use and supports you in many diverse situations, including reducing noise and grain.
So, before using this filter, kindly duplicate the layer “healer” and name it “filter.” Afterward, run for Filter and choose Blur. From here, select Gaussian, and it’ll take you to another tab. You can pick the amount of blur level that matches your photo skin tone there.
Formula #06: “Apply Image” Implementing:
Suppose you desire to make a dramatic background, double exposure on the photo, or pop out your image. In this case, you’ll be able to apply a strong kit in Photoshop called “Apply Image.”
Therefore, first of all, duplicate the layer “healer” and name it “color.” Then choose the layer “color” and go to the edit option. From here, pick the “Apply Image” and again elect “Blur Layer” from the layers option. And please ensure the mixing is on subtract.
Formula #07: Using the Proper Blending Mode:
Now that you have finished using “Apply Image,” it is time to transform the blending mode to keep an eye on the effects of the picture. And to do this, you have to switch the mode from Normal to Linear Light.
Formula #08: Using Soft Brush Tool:
Build an extra layer mask above the “Color” layer for the layer you’ll use to give your headshot image a smooth skin effect. Now, depending on your picture, take the Soft Brush Tool and place the opacity between 35 and 45%. And after that, the face rough patches of the picture should be painted, which will smooth these parts.
Formula #09: Contrast Fixing:
We are at the last step for headshot editing, and in this step, you, as a headshot editor, have to fix the contrast. And it’ll enhance your image quality, and to do that, like other formulas, just make a curve adjustment layer with the name “contrast.”
So, pull the curve from the middle point a bit upwards and see how astonishing the contrast is to your headshot.