When the image will be displayed on white, I sometimes like there to be a slight bit of tone in the background. For you Photoshop people,  248 is usually dimmed down enough. This slightly dimmed down white creates a background for the image. Framing the image with a thin black or gray line is another option for keeping it from floating away.

The same principle of adding a little tone to the background applies to Product photography as well. In addition, drop shadow are often added. The shadow grounds the product, making it look as though it’s actually sitting on something. Creating realistic drop shadows is a snap, once you’ve done it a couple of hundred times.

Keep these choices in mind when you need photography on white backgrounds. The best solution is always the one that looks best in the final design.

When we shoot corporate headshots for website bio pages; we’ve been including enough background space on a few frames to run text. I like the look of an integrated head shot and bio as one image.
This image was made for a client in Gaithersburg, MD. We also shoot a more traditional headshot for them on a blue gray background during the same studio photography session.

This portrait of Alicia Thurston was made to advertise her morning talk show.  It’s a show for lawyers which airs in spanish.  Alicia is fun, fresh  and entertaining, so the directors wanted to use bright colors to portray her in this way.  It’s not your average legal talk show.

You can see the other portraits and get more information about contributing to hopecam at hopecam.org.