Where Should We Shoot Your Headshot?

I get that question a lot--where should I have my headshot taken?  My answer is dependent on the look you are trying to convey or the business you are in.  Are you in a traditional business environment? A more casual business?  Do you want to help tell the story about what you do and who you are or simply focus on you?

Many companies that I work for like to show their office culture or tell a story about what their business is.  I often shoot in or around their offices and this works well, especially when I'm shooting larger numbers of people in a day.  I come to the office, find my location and it's a breeze to schedule multiple employees.

However, when I'm shooting individuals, we have more flexibility with locations.  I do limit distractions in the background while still giving the viewer information about the subject.  Last week, during a conversation with a city council candidate, I recommended a couple of well known locations in the city for his background, which would show the viewer this is a candidate of the city.

Several weeks ago, I shot an IT executive at her home.  I like shooting in my client's homes or offices because they feel comfortable in familiar surroundings.  Most people are already apprehensive about having their portrait taken and this takes the element of unfamiliar surroundings out of the equation.  As usual, I brought both backgrounds and portable lighting with me, just in case.  While I do come prepared,  I also know that in most cases, I'll be able to find simple light or dark backgrounds in most home or office situations.  It's not always the case to find those backgrounds with the right light, so I make sure I'm prepared to create my own if necessary.  In this case, I found a lovely bank of windows as well as the background.

A quick test shot with my hairstylist using the background I brought yields a more traditional portrait with absolutely stunning results.  For my client,  I wanted something a little less traditional with a little depth to the background.

Going outside lends a fresh and more casual feel.

Wherever we shoot, I'm looking to provide an engaging, approachable portrait and at the same time a fun and relaxed experience for my client.  

Where will we photograph your headshots?

New Year, New You: Time for a New Headshot?

Have you ever looked at a company website and wondered about the people that work there?  Do their head shots represent who they are as a company?  Do they tell the story about the company?  Or is a faceless website and in that case, as a customer, do you want to engage with them?  Aren't  the people who work at a company what makes the company most unique?

The web can make our world seem huge and impersonal, but seeing faces of humans can make it smaller, more personal, more friendly and more approachable.  Even the most traditional of companies can build more trust by showing dynamic and engaging portraits of their employees.

A professional headshot is the one of the most important elements in building your company brand--an important visual communication tool.  The more approachable, the more likely people will reach out to you or your business. Isn't that what you're looking for?

Is this the year you'll be updating your headshot?

Behind the Scenes: RED Capital Group--Columbus and Dallas

When I was little, I used to watch the sky to see planes overhead to give me a jolt of wanderlust.

Last Monday found me up in the air, traveling for the week, changing the world, one headshot at a time. My wanderlust was on. Travel can be exhausting and exhilarating, tedious and exciting, tiring and invigorating all at the same time but I feel lucky that I'm exploring the world and meeting so many different kinds of people. 

Here’s a few behind the scenes from my shoot for The RED Capital Group in Columbus and Dallas last week.  Many thanks to Lisalynne Quinn and Joy Selby Cain of RED Capital Group for their behind the scenes pics and their super duper assisting and Kimberly Boyenger for her fantastic makeup and hair artistry.  

My Columbus hotel: The renovated Buckeye Savings and Loan in downtown Columbus.  Now this would be a cool place to shoot in!

Downtown Columbus Sunrise

Makeup and Hair by Kimberly Boyenger (photo credit: Lisa Lynne Quinn)

One of my favorite parts of a shoot is finding my locations.  Loved shooting here!

Panorama by Joy Selby Cain of one the shoot spaces

Sometimes the smallest of spaces yields awesome results

My Mad Men pose.

I don't often have time to do much exploring while I'm in a city working, but took an evening excursion to find the Short North Public Art in Columbus, Ohio (photo credit: Joy Selby Cain)

On to the next stop: Dallas!

The Dallas shoot space next to the Clock tower of the Mercantile National Bank

Amazingly, Dallas was quite dark and overcast so I added a little of my own soft light by bouncing a diffused speed light off a white wall and ceiling.

 I keep everyone in stitches obviously.

Lisa Lynne braving the elements so I can get set up before the talent arrives.

A different look by facing my subject toward the window and using the white wall behind her to create a high key portrait.

I'm looking forward to seeing y'all soon!  (Whoops--A little holdover from Dallas!)