Smart business owners invest in their images. When you’re at the top, you need to look like you’re at the top. Whether you’re designing a new website or preparing for a marketing campaign, you know you need excellent pictures. You want your headshots to look confident, approachable, and professional. Photographs send a message about your style, competency, and brand.

Our workflow is simple

Here’s how it goes…

We decide a background and style. We can do any background, any style (including styles not seen on my site). We’ll decide together what kind of images will work best for you.

We create an ideal schedule for the day. Sessions can be scheduled in increments depending on your needs. We don’t double-book myself and I never rush sessions.

We bring everything to you. With studio lighting and equipment to work in any space, nothing is a problem.

We do photo sessions with every person. We won’t stop taking pictures until we both believe we’ve “got the shot.” We will review the pictures together as we go. We coach every person on posing and expressions, talking the whole time and keeping it interactive. We know a lot of people are nervous doing this and we make people feel at ease.

Everyone selects their favorite photos from an online gallery. We’ll create an online gallery with the best photos of the day and each person chooses their favorite.

We do retouching & editing on each person’s favorite photo. We make people look picture perfect, per your guidance. We reduce age lines, remove blemishes, whiten teeth, and perform other subtle enhancements to your images.

We deliver all of the images in high resolution, ready for you to use. You’ll have a fantastic set of pictures to use to promote your business.

Our experience works for you

If you’re new to this and need guidance along the way, we can help you at every stage of the process – before, during and after the photoshoot. There are a number of ways headshot photography can go wrong (bad lighting, bad posing), and the more people you get involved, the more complicated it can get. For example, how does a photographer handle someone who’s really nervous during their photo session? With the wrong photographer, sessions can be awkward – and it shows in the photos. We have years of experience coaching people who are uncomfortable in front of the camera.

People leave their session saying “That was easy!”

Image competition

Simply put, if your headshots will be shown next to those of your competitors, you’ll want your photos to be better than the rest. For example, are you listed on a website that displays multiple service providers to choose from, such as a list of realtors or attorneys? If your photo looks better than your competition, your great headshot could be all it takes for you to get more leads.

Market yourself

A great headshot is critical for many marketing and advertising campaigns. Advertisements you place online, on billboards, bus stops, and inside magazines receive better response rates if they include great pictures. Engaging, honest headshots are an important part of showing why your prospective clients should hire YOU and not your competition.

Many ads only feature a headshot, a service description, and a phone number. We make sure our clients have picture-perfect images that capture their market’s attention.

program pICTURES

If you’re a public speaker or regularly speak at events, event planners and coordinators definitely need a great picture of you to use in the program. An attorney who regularly speaks at congressional hearings contacted us specifically for a headshot to be used when he gives talks.

Social media

WEBSITE IMAGES

Many companies are including pictures on staff bio webpages – many consumers expect to be able to click and see who they will be working with. We’ve partnered with a number of web designers and small businesses to create top-notch employee portraits for web pages.

OFFICE PORTRAITS

Doctors, attorneys, and lawyers often have pictures of themselves and their staff up at the office, to help create a friendly, welcoming environment for their clients or patients.

SHOWCASE EXPERTISE

A great corporate headshot will showcase your confidence and expertise. As part of your overall image, you’ll look more professional online when you have professional pictures. Conversely, you can lose your market’s confidence with a bad picture.

General Tips

Tip #1 - Hydration is King

No matter the scene, I always suggest hydration first. Hydrate yourself, thoroughly, with water throughout the morning and day of the session, the day and night before, and if you're next level healthy, the entire week before. Your face and your eyes are the two number 1 keys to a successful portrait. An optimal level of H2O will create a fuller face with fewer wrinkles, less eye bags, better skin, and fuller, clearer, brighter eyes. Your body and your mind will thank you for this.

Tip #2 - Meld Professionalism with Comfortability

Find clothes that match my recommendations, but don't sacrifice your comfort in the process. Wear sharp clothes that make you look AND feel your absolute best. You will find you will enjoy the process more if you aren't squirming and grimacing in-between shots. You will also be pleased with the results more if you wear something that you know matches your style and you looks good on you. This headshot is the best representation of you. So simply be you.

Tip #3 - Watch Your Patterns

Simplicity outperforms busyness. We want the focus on your eyes and face, so please keep shirts, blouses, coats, etc. simple. Wear solid colors and nice textures while keeping patterns subtle and busyness to a minimum. If you are an actor/model, please refrain from picking shirts and v-necks with any visible outward logos.

Tip #4 - Know Your Accessories

The same goes for accessories as does the clothing. Simplicity. Earrings and such should remain simplistic and minimal in nature. Tie-clips and watches should be classy but not gaudy.

Tip #5 - Complimentary Colors, Avoid The Reds

I highly recommend matching colors that best compliment your skin tone and your eyes; this is the best place to start when picking suits and etc. Generally, light blues and such work for everyone. Reds, however, do not. Red competes highly with your eyes so stay away from those power ties!

Tip #6 - Smile more

This tip actually refers to the hours and days before I have my camera in hand. Attitude, along with hydration, is often an unpreached element to obtaining The Perfect Headshot. The photographs I take aim to communicate a positive and lasting message to your audiences and that is best accomplished when you are mentally prepared by exuding a confident, charming, gratuitous personality in camera. You will notice a huge difference when you approach the headshot sessions with a positive mental attitude. I understand not everyone thinks they're photogenic or even enjoys being in front of the camera, but the sessions are laid-back and fun. So if you prime your subconscious, your body and face will follow. Smile today, smile tomorrow and I will see you smiling in studio.

Tip #7 - Know Yourself

While you are practicing exerting a huge gracious smile 24/7, might as well look in the mirror and study your positive self. Know if you have a 'favorite side' or if there are any quirks about you that I can work around in session. Feel free to bring up anything to me, I am all ears and know creative ways to make your face look its absolute best in every situation.

General Wardrobe Advice – Keep it simple!

You’ll want to wear a sharp outfit that makes you look and feel your best. Choose an outfit you would wear to an interview, or a sales pitch meeting, or if you were being interviewed on television.
Darker jackets are traditional for business headshots.
For shirts, wear solids or shirts with non-distracting subtle patterns.
For women, a bright colored shirt/blouse with a dark jacket is a very nice look.
Don’t wear all-white unless it’s underneath another article of clothing. (Exception: for women, white jacket + darker shirt underneath)
Avoid very light pastel colors unless they’re combined with dark clothing.
Strong stripes and patterns make a fashion statement and will be noticed – only wear these if it’s your personal style.
Avoid shiny clothing, turtlenecks.
Don’t wear all black – have some color in your outfit.
For inspiration on outfits, take a look at the photos in my portfolio and see what outfits capture your attention!

Ties

Bring a few tie options! This is one of the easiest changes we can make in your session if we need to add variety.

Hair

You’ll want to time any hair cuts, coloring, or styling so that you’ll look your best on the day of the photoshoot. You know your hair best! Keep in mind the date of our photoshoot when scheduling your hair appointments.

Makeup

Your makeup should be light and basic, as if you were going to a nice function. In many cases, less makeup is more classy. Bring your favorite lipstick and some powder if possible.

Shaving

You should shave on the day of the session. We’ll retouch out any nicks or scratches if they happen to occur that morning. We can’t edit out stubble after the fact, so make sure your facial hair looks just right for the session.

Jewelry

Keep your jewelry simple and classy. We want the focus to be on you! Anything that’s not too loud will work great.

Glasses

If you wear glasses every day, you should wear them in the photo. We can do photos with and without glasses if you like.

Note: if you have adaptive lenses that turn into your regular lenses into sunglasses, please let us know in advance so we can discuss your options. Adaptive lenses cannot be photographed outside.

Retouching and Editing

Every professional headshot you see has been retouched and edited in professional photography software such as Photoshop – yours will be too! Our retouching is honest and natural, and it doesn’t look fake. The editing process also ensures technical excellence for your image.

Retouching will include the following, as needed:
Blemish removal
Teeth whitening
Stray hair removal
Reducing age lines
Minimizing circles under the eyes
Evening skin tone