Why the Crop or Chop Off the Hair?
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This is a question that many actors (and some business people) ask when getting their headshots done. Why do photographers often cut off the top of the subject's head in headshots?
Start by watching this (start at 21:35):
https://youtu.be/MIMCFVlbEz8?t=1295
Then take a look at some of the links to portfolios below from some of the top headshot photographers in New York (or just search "headshots" in Google Image Search).
Start by watching this (start at 21:35):
https://youtu.be/MIMCFVlbEz8?t=1295
Then take a look at some of the links to portfolios below from some of the top headshot photographers in New York (or just search "headshots" in Google Image Search).
- http://mackephotography.com/headshots/women/index.html
- http://mzphotography.com/blog/new-york-headshots/information-2/
- http://www.new-york-headshots.com/headshots/actorheadshots.htm
- http://peterhurley.com/photography/actors-headshots/leading-ladies/
- http://www.jordanmatter.com/photography/head-shots/actor-headshots/
All of them have chopped off a bit of the actor's hairline. The question though, is why? Well, there are three primary reason:
Most people taking snapshots will try to frame the shot so that the person's face is centered. Look at the two images below:
- Those viewing the photo know that your head is there. They assume that your head doesn't suddenly end at the top of the frame. A headshot is much more effective if it conveys a feeling and has a certain style to it, and this can greatly be enhanced by the crop of the shot. Shooting from certain angles and bringing up the eyes higher in the frame draws more attention to those things.
- It allows the viewer to see what you are wearing and what body type you have. If a headshot photographer cuts off your clothing, how is the casting director going to know what you were wearing in the shot? Clothing, along with the expression in the shot, are what give off the mood and convey the look you are going for. It is much more important to see your body below the neckline than to see the tip of the hair, unless you have an intense hairstyle you need to show off. Shooting closer in makes the image more dynamic, but the only way to keep the body in the frame is to cut off a bit of the hair.
- Highly experienced photographers crop off the hair to make an image more dynamic. The more a photographer understands how to use the negative space in an image, the better the final image will look. This is usually an unconscious thing, however. The images look better, but you don't know why. That's probably why you didn't notice that almost ALL the photos in our Actor Headshot Portfolio have the hair cropped off. You just thought they looked good when you were browsing.
Most people taking snapshots will try to frame the shot so that the person's face is centered. Look at the two images below:
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Which do you think was taken by a more experienced photographer? Which image looks better?
It's the one on the right, where the subjects dominate the frame.
Shooting with the tip of the hair cropped is the professional way of shooting headshots that are taken close in. Any professional photographer who knows the rules of framing will agree with that, and if you ask them to show the top of your head in the image, they will insist on moving back and shooting from farther away to keep framing rules intact.
For example, look at the two images below. Framing rules dictate that you keep the eyes above the midpoint of an image, which helps to draw attention to them.
It's the one on the right, where the subjects dominate the frame.
Shooting with the tip of the hair cropped is the professional way of shooting headshots that are taken close in. Any professional photographer who knows the rules of framing will agree with that, and if you ask them to show the top of your head in the image, they will insist on moving back and shooting from farther away to keep framing rules intact.
For example, look at the two images below. Framing rules dictate that you keep the eyes above the midpoint of an image, which helps to draw attention to them.
Incorrect
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Correct
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The eyes are always drawn towards the upper portion of an image first, which is why placing the most compelling point of a headshot (the subject's eyes) in that section will make the image stronger.
Additionally, placing the subject higher in the frame gives them strength and dominance of the image. Framing them lower in the frame makes the subject appear weak and look as though they are falling out of the shot.
Hopefully this article has helped to explain why photographers shoot the way they do. If you have any questions about it, don't hesitate to ask!
As Peter Hurley (one of the top headshot photographers in the country) says, "The casting director knows your head is there!"
Additionally, placing the subject higher in the frame gives them strength and dominance of the image. Framing them lower in the frame makes the subject appear weak and look as though they are falling out of the shot.
Hopefully this article has helped to explain why photographers shoot the way they do. If you have any questions about it, don't hesitate to ask!
As Peter Hurley (one of the top headshot photographers in the country) says, "The casting director knows your head is there!"