Outdoor Headshots In San Francisco: What You Need To Know
Photo by Slava Blazer Photography
The number of elements that a photographer must pay attention to is almost infinite. This holds especially true for a headshot photographer in San Francisco. Your photographer should have an idea of what to account for when shooting outside. Environmental concerns such as these may surprise you.
The Wind
Long hair flying might be ideal for a beauty product or a perfume shoot... not so much for a professional headshot. As such, clients with longer hair might want to stay ahead of the weather. In the Bay Area, the wind is generally at its calmest in the morning, a fact to which any headshot photographer in San Francisco can attest. It typically gets windier in late afternoon.
The Light
Mid-morning or afternoon works best when taking light into account. At these times, the sun is coming through at an angle and is blocked by the buildings creating lots of shade. This prevents harsh shadows from showing up on the subject's face. The soft light of morning or afternoon illuminates the face evenly. This type of soft and even lighting is best for a professional headshot. It's best to avoid shooting from 11am to 1pm since light is too harsh during that time of day unless it is cloudy.
The Weather
An overcast day is ideal for the diffused and even light that it provides. While busy schedules may not allow you to wait for the perfect weather, good cloud cover does away with the need to stick to the shade. Avoid rainy days, so backgrounds don't create a somber atmosphere. On the other side of the coin, try for a partly sunny day to see if you can have your body backlit, so you stand out even more. Of course if you're working with a professional photographer, he or she will tell you all these things and will prepare you for the photo shoot.
The Traffic
“Traffic” here refers to both car and foot traffic. Definitely avoid tons of extras in your personal headshot. The streets are usually cleared out by 10 or 11 on weekdays, once again making mid-morning a great time for an outdoor photo shoot. Avoid lunch hours, which can extend into the afternoons, and definitely avoid rush hours, which take place between 7-9am and 4-6pm.
The Bay Area has a defined set of weather patterns that its residents have learned how to deal with, so any good headshot photographer in San Francisco should know how to handle them. He or she will almost certainly be keeping these factors in mind for you. Still, it's good to know well in advance when you should expect to make time.
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About Slava Blazer
He is the founder at Slava Blazer Photography. His team has taken headshots for over 1,200 clients in the last 12 years including companies such as Google, LinkedIn, Salesforce, NBC Bay Area and others. Slava Blazer Photography has over 170 five star reviews across Yelp and Google listings.