So what are the main advantages of a professional headshot session?
Professionalism: A high-quality headshot can help you appear more professional and polished in your business dealings, whether you're applying for a new job, networking with colleagues, or representing your company in public.
Branding: A well-crafted corporate headshot can also help you establish your personal brand and make a strong first impression on potential agents, clients or employers. In today's digital age, a business's online presence is often the first point of contact with potential clients and customers. Professional headshots can help to create a positive first impression and make the business appear more professional, trustworthy and importantly, humanize the business.
Consistency: By using the same headshot across all your professional profiles and marketing materials, you can create a consistent and recognizable brand image that reinforces your expertise and credibility. Corporate headshots can be used as part of a business's branding efforts and can help to create a consistent and cohesive visual identity. By using consistent styles and poses, businesses can create a recognizable and memorable brand image that sets them apart from competitors.
Connection: A professional headshot that captures your personality and unique qualities can also help you connect with others on a more personal level, making it easier to build relationships and establish trust. Corporate headshots can help to humanize the business by putting faces to the names and positions of employees. This can help to create a more personal connection with clients and stakeholders and make the business appear more approachable and friendly.
Versatility: A corporate headshot can be used in a variety of ways, including on your website, social media profiles, business cards, and email signature, making it a valuable asset for your professional toolkit.
Overall, a high-quality corporate headshot can help you stand out in a competitive business landscape, humanize and establish your personal brand, and connect with others in a meaningful way, making it a worthwhile investment for many professionals.
I feel nervous, how can you help me?
Unless you’re an experienced model, everyone is a little camera-shy. I’ll provide professional guidance to calm your nerves to show your most authentic and confident self and talk you through relaxed posing techniques. Direction will be given for both formal corporate headshots and creating environmental casual looks.
Headshot or portrait?
A headshot will be specifically framed for your head and shoulders. Think of the classic actor’s headshot – the emphasis is very much on the face.
A portrait can be framed however you wish: full body, waist-up, three-quarter body and, yes, even head and shoulders. Headshots are most commonly thought of for use in a more formal professional capacity such as a profile page on your organisation’s website or on LinkedIn, for example. Portraits have greater scope to be used in an editorial manner or as part of a branding project where you need the image to give context to a wider story. They may also be more artistic in style.
What background can I have?With modern digital editing, I can even take an image and completely replace the background with pretty much anything you can think of with creative direction given throughout. Pure white (perfect for website integration) or grey are popular choices for corporate. I have a wide range of backgrounds both textured and solid colours that can be applied in post-production. Working like this also allows me to take up much less space. You may wish to think about corporate colours or how it will integrate with other promotional materials or slogans.
Do you come to me or do I come to you?
I ordinarily come to you using a portable studio set-up, using the latest equipment. Based in Tunbridge Wells, I operate mainly in parts of Kent, East Sussex and Central London areas. Although I am happy to travel internationally. The travel expenses may be reflected in the quote.
Do you have a retouching service for homeworkers?
Yes, I can retouch, replace backgrounds and provide guidelines as to how to pose, take and submit your photos. This however is far from ideal and does not substitute an on-site session.
What space do you need?
I need at least 3m x 4m indoors with controlled lighting - the bigger the better as it gives us more freedom. (As I use powerful battery-powered strobe lighting, we may able to go outside for some shots, weather depending.) One power point would be helpful for the laptop.
How will I receive my photos?
I will go through the photos on location and you can choose your favourites to be carefully retouched and processed which will take a few days. Most blemishes will be removed. Eyes, skin, teeth, and hair are naturally and subtly enhanced. Scars and moles are not removed (unless requested). I don't do 'skin smoothing'. The skin has a texture, even soft fur. We want to show the best version of you.
You will then receive an email link where you can download the whole gallery (zip) as jpeg files ordinarily. Tiff files (more suitable for large-scale prints) can be provided. (RAW files will not be provided).
You will then receive an email link where you can download the whole gallery (zip) as jpeg files ordinarily. Tiff files (more suitable for large-scale prints) can be provided. (RAW files will not be provided).
Do I own the photographs taken?
As with most photographers, I will always own the copyright to the photos. You are free to use them commercially online or print them forever, but not necessarily edit them significantly yourself or sell them to third parties without permission. If they are to be used commercially by me (i.e on my website) you will be asked to sign a 'commercial model release form' at the time of the shot ordinarily. This can be sent ahead of time of the shoot so you can read it at your leisure.
Can I have the photos taken outside?
Yes, as I use all modern battery-powered gear. Depending on requirements this may not be possible if the weather is bad or windy. Please also be aware some property that looks 'public owned' may actually be private, therefore permission is needed.
What other things should I consider?
Where are the photos going i.e. website or print? how large are the prints?
What is it that you are trying to convey in the photo? What context will it then be seen? i.e where the website.
How many retouched photos do you require?
What are the company brand colours if any?
Location, is there enough space and time for the shoot? (at least 3X4M, set up takes over 45 minutes approximately, pack down around 25 minutes)
If going outside are there alternative areas if there are high winds or bad weather?
Please also be aware some property that looks 'publicly owned' may actually be private, therefore permission is needed.
I strongly advise against wearing patterned clothing for headshots and portraits, we want to keep the focus on you, not the clothes.
What is it that you are trying to convey in the photo? What context will it then be seen? i.e where the website.
How many retouched photos do you require?
What are the company brand colours if any?
Location, is there enough space and time for the shoot? (at least 3X4M, set up takes over 45 minutes approximately, pack down around 25 minutes)
If going outside are there alternative areas if there are high winds or bad weather?
Please also be aware some property that looks 'publicly owned' may actually be private, therefore permission is needed.
I strongly advise against wearing patterned clothing for headshots and portraits, we want to keep the focus on you, not the clothes.
What retouching is done?
All the headshots will be retouched, including as a minimum where needed:
Colour grading to natural accurate skin tone
Editing on a colour-calibrated 2K pro monitor, saved in sRGB jpeg high quality. eye level straighten and uniformed.
Clothes 'de-wrinkled'
dust specks removal
highlight and shadow adjustments
cropped individually with the eye and bottom chin in line with each other for uniformity
eye vibrance adjusted
red eye vessels removed or reduced.
blemishes removed but not scars.
volumising techniques for the definition of jawline etc
red skin tone smoothing
teeth whitening
fly away hairs removed
Editing on a colour-calibrated 2K pro monitor, saved in sRGB jpeg high quality. eye level straighten and uniformed.
Clothes 'de-wrinkled'
dust specks removal
highlight and shadow adjustments
cropped individually with the eye and bottom chin in line with each other for uniformity
eye vibrance adjusted
red eye vessels removed or reduced.
blemishes removed but not scars.
volumising techniques for the definition of jawline etc
red skin tone smoothing
teeth whitening
fly away hairs removed
What should I wear?
For commercial headshots, I strongly recommend solid colours and not patterns.
Here is a general colour guide below...
Decide what skin type you are, darker warmer, neutral or light cool.
Hope to see you soon! Contact me!
Darker Warm Skin Tone Options: Orange, Honey, Amber, Gold, Olive, Turquoise, Cream.
Avoid: Vibrant tones like deep red and indigo
Very Light Cool Skin Tone Options: Emerald, Ocean Blue, Purple, Lavender, and brighter warm colours like Cherry Red.
Avoid: Orange and Yellow.
Neutral Skin Tone Options: Light and soft colours like rose, jade, grey, and sky blue.
Avoid: Neon, yellows, and reds.