It’s been an unsettling few weeks since Idaho was under a stay-at-home directive. When we all get ready to resume business, will you be ready with a headshot that captures you as the confident, skilled professional that you are? Social media searches of you and your business will be ramping up in the first few months of getting back to business and what will your headshot show prospective clients?
I’m here to help you with headshots or personal branding sessions at my Boise studio that will showcase you and your talents. The key to a successful headshot is to eliminate distractions so the focus is on you. What that means is I focus on producing studio headshots and then I coach you on ways to produce an expression that demonstrates confidence and approachability.
Some photographers do headshots outside but I steer clear of those for the simple reason that it comes with a few risks that can’t be dismissed: It lacks professionalism. It can be distracting. It doesn’t instill confidence among those that view it. Some photographers also will shoot people showing hands and arms or from the waist up; that is not a headshot. The focus should be on your face without, yup, you guessed it, the distraction of seeing more than mid-chest and up. Lastly, some photographers will have their camera up high and pointing down at you. I don’t do that either for the simple reason that it tends to diminish the person and capture them as more vulnerable. That’s not the way to get people to trust you.
I’ve worked with countless professionals _ from physicians and lawyers to real estate agents and life coaches _ with headshot sessions at my Boise studio. I never set a time limit on a session and I don’t jam my days with dozens of clients. I want to spend the time you want or need to produce the results that benefit you. While that’s often doable in about 30 minutes, I will never have you feeling rushed. I also want to give you tons of options. I’ve done business headshot and personal branding portrait sessions with not only the classic white or gray backdrop, but I’ve had some clients gravitate toward other colors available in the studio: shades of blue, shades of red, yellow, olive green and beige.
With each professional headshot session, you’ll get to choose the number of images you need to be edited. I often discuss with clients about what their current and future needs are: Will it be used for LinkedIn? A whole host of social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter and YouTube? Will you need it for a company website? Brochures? Billboards? Each platform may be better served by a different backdrop color or vibe. Do you think you’ll end up with speaking engagements? You might want a different image for that as well.
Lastly, if you’re a Treasure Valley business that wants to ramp up your social media presence, you may want to consider a personal branding photo session. With those sessions, we not only produce headshots but we also build a portfolio with tons of options, including portraits, action shots and product shots. If you have a key team of employees that need to be involved, we include them. If you’re best served with a session at your location, we can do that too. The best thing is to start with a consultation to craft just the right photography session that serves you best.
