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The Mission

– Shoot a cinematic head shot with a Speedlight and long lens

Time

– One hour

Skill level

– Advanced

Kit needed

– Fast telephoto lens, such as 70-200mm f/2.8

– Speedlight

– Umbrella/softbox

– Wireless flash trigger

– Reflector

– Light stand

If you want your headshot portraits to have a vibrant, more polished look then why not try shooting in a cinematic style? With a few simple camera skills we can get the look of a film still and transform our subjects into would-be movie stars.

As with most great portraits, this has a lot to do with lighting, but it’s also about knowing how to get a lovely soft background. Combine these techniques and you’ll be able to craft portraits with real star power.

There are two key elements that go into creating a cinematic headshot.