Category Archives: Headshot Backgrounds

We get requests all the time to shoot folks on white backgrounds.  For the most part these are for future use of the client to be able to “cut and paste” the photo onto a white background combined with text or other images in a brochure, web page or layout of various types.  This type of shot is fun to do but a bit challenging.  If it is in our studio we can attempt to light the background a stop brighter than the subject but to do that you need the room.  Doing it on location can be a bit of an issue, especially if you are attempting it in a small space.  Anyway you look at it, unless you have a lot of studio gear, e.g. flags to deal with the flair from all that white it sometimes works out well and sometimes, well? Not so well! LOL.  That’s why we always like to have the option to do the “cut and paste” ourselves from our original shot to a white background _before_ we give it to our clients.  It’s a matter of a bit of extra work for us but clients appreciate it and we feel better letting it go that way.  So here are two shots of my “new best friend” Eduardo we did yesterday showing the setup and the result.  What you can’t see are two _very large_ umbrellas to the right and left of the background which should be making the background “pure white.”  Problem is it does not usually cover the floor and hence  you get a bit of “gray” down there vs. pure white.  And, _that_ folks is why we take the extra step to “cut and paste” onto pure white for our deserving clients!

Sal Sessa /Dallas Headshots