Composite Headshot

Do you want your headshot taken in Praha or Tokyo or your favorite place you traveled last year? How about shooting in a building that no longer exists? As long as we have the image we can use as the background, we can shoot your headshot in studio and merge them to produce composite images like what you see on this page. We are also set up to visit your favorite place in Boston area to capture the scenic images, then shoot your headshot in studio, and finish the composite image as a single project.

Who this is for

Anyone who wants an interesting backdrop in their headshot. People who are in the creative business, performers, musicians, and people who want to explore possibilities using offbeat headshots (such as sales, marketing, travel and entertainment businesses.)

Why this is useful

Many locations are easy to visit with a professional quality “point-and-shoot” camera to collect scenic images to be used as background, but it is often very difficult to arrange a real photoshoot, due to security regulations, foot traffic and lighting conditions. Location headshots are also tricky, due to weather conditions. The perfect lighting conditions come during a very brief and unpredictable time window, particularly in New England. The studio is a much more comfortable and controlled environment to work in, without any passers-by. Lighting can be more precisely controlled to match your skin and hair. Really, this option is a good route for an eye-catching headshot that sends a personal message.

Why do so few photographers offer this option? The answer is simple. It requires skills to perform very detailed work of separating the headshot from the background, and then merging the images to produce a plausible image. In theory, this subject is a chapter in any advanced photoshop course, but in reality, most photographers skip that chapter, or the entire course altogether. Advertising and commercial photographers are about the only people who do this type of work routinely, but they usually don’t offer headshots. (Most portrait and wedding photographers don’t have this type of post-production editing skill… and they need a perfect Saturday afternoon in June, at a beautiful venue!)

Other ways to get the backdrop images

Other than custom shooting your backdrop, there are a few possibilities.

1. Library of Beaupix Studio
2. Your photo library (must be RAW or highest quality JPEG file)
3. Buy from stock photo agencies