Tampa Headshot Photographer

NFL Player Professional Business Headshot Michael Clayton Tampa Florida

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Michael Clayton former NFL player creative headshot Tampa Florida - Nikon D300 Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/6.3 ISO 200 1/250th - Strobist: SB-800 in collapsed brolly to frame right

I received a phone call from a networking and St. Pete Chamber of Commerce friend I had not seen in a long time.  She is now working for former NFL player Michael Clayton.  She asked if I could come out to his private residence and make a variety of headshots, from full body standing, to three-quarters to the classic head and neck only.  While showing them some samples of past headshots, they both liked the deep shadow style seen above.  I shot in a bright room, but just used a very fast shutter speed and concentrated a single speedlight on Michael not letting any spill light bounce off walls, etc.

Full body style headshot of Michael Clayton former NFL Player Tampa Florida - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/6.3 ISO 200 1/100th - Strobist: SB-800 & SB-600 both in brolly

To make the full body standing headshot on a clean white digital background, I put a white cover over my expandable standing background to make it easier to "cut" Michael later out of the shot.

Three-quarter style headshot of Michael Clayton former NFL player Tampa headshot photography - Nikon D300 Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/6.3 ISO 200 1/80th - Strobist: SB-800 and SB-600 both in a brolly

This was the most challenging shot of the session, the three-quarters view, in particular how to place Michael's hands and arms.  The above pose was the last we came up with and I think works well.

Modern square orientation digital white background of NFL player Michael Clayton Tampa headshot photography - Nikon D300 Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/6.3 ISO 200 1/100th - Strobist: SB-800 & SB-600 both in a brolly

I recommended square orientation for Michael's more traditional business headshot as that is what is used on Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter, etc.  I think square orientation makes a headshot look more modern as well, and the lighting is more in a modern sense too with some highlight and shadow areas.

It was a fun and challenging headshot shoot and a chance to try a variety of styles in a single session.  Thank you Michael and Janice!

Creative Professional Headshot in Wesley Chapel Florida Home Studio with Austin and son

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Creative business headshot made in Wesley Chapel home studio - Nikon D300 Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/7.1 ISO 200 1/250th - Strobist: SB-800 in a snoot to frame rightIt was a bit of a long time in the making setting up this creative headshot shoot with Austin in my home photography study currently in the Wesley Chapel area.  We first discussed it in April.  Often times as a professional photographer persistent following up is required if a client does not have immediate availablity.  

A wardrobe and background change for this creative headshot in Wesley Chapel Florida - Nikon D300 Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/8 ISO 200 1/250th - Strobist: SB-800 & SB600 to frame left & rightAustin wanted a more creative look to his headshots, and liked some of the ones I did in the past with just one speedlight creating a lot of deep shadows and a black background.  After a wardrobe change I added a second speedlight and placed each one more on the side of him, rather than front and back.  That created the lighting look in the shot above with the white background.

Austin brought his son with him, so after the headshots I suggested we make a quick father & son portrait in my Wesley Chapel home photography studioHe had brought his son with him, so after Austin's two headshots were finished, I asked if he would like to get a quick portrait with his son while all the lighting was still setup.  His son joined him and I sent the portrait above as a free bonus along with his two headshots.  

Professional Business Headshot done in office in Tampa Dale Mabry Florida with John

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Business Headshot made on location in the Dale Mabry area of Tampa - Nikon D300 Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/6.3 ISO 200 1/200th - Strobist: SB-800 in 43" brolly & SB-600 in shoot-through umbrellaI packed up my portable photography studio equipment and headed to the north Dale Mabry area of Tampa to make an on location headshot of John in the lobby of his office building.  I was sent examples of headshots other staff members already had made and was told to make his headshot as close to that as possible.  The examples were not shot on a photography background of any type, just using existing walls or areas.  So we went out into the large atrium/lobby in his office building and I arranged my lights and produced a headshot very similar in look to all the others already on the employee page of the company website.  For the shot above, I cut out the darker background and placed the subject onto a digital white background to compliment the modern style of the over headshot.

Corporate Headshots for Wealth Management in Tampa Florida Photography

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Corporate Headshot for wealth management in Tampa Florida - Nikon D300 Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/8 ISO 200 1/125th - Strobist: SB-800 & SB-600 in 43" brolly each @ 1/2 power

After the longest period from first contact to actual shoot date (almost 6 months!) I was glad to finally head to Tampa to make corporate headshots for the staff at a wealth management company.  One or more are often out of the office so I was in contact about every two weeks in that six months period trying to find a date everyone was available on.  Following up is key sometimes!  

They requested my standard neutral gray background for their headshots, and a traditonal vertical rectangle composition.  I used two speedlights, each in a 43" brolly.  One about 45 degrees to frame front right and one half closed to the rear of frame left.  

Smiling for a corporate business headshot in Tampa Florida - Nikon D300 Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/8 ISO 200 1/125th - Strobist: SB-800 & SB-600 in 43" brolly each @ 1/2 power

I had each person sit on a small stool and lean forward a bit with their right elbow on their right thigh to create depth and a more natural look overall.  Shooting in this kind of controled environment using the existing background means minimal editing needs to be done other than a little touching up and contrast tweaks.  

Having fun on location in my portable headshot studio in Tampa Florida. Collapsible gray background used on a stand and clipped to the wall hanging and a 43" brolly left & right with speed lights inside.

My portrable headshot studio fit nicely right in their office lobby!  It was a fun shoot and everyone did a great job in front of the lens.