With the extreme automated, mass-produced, mega-DIY culture we’ve become used to, some are perplexed that a good headshot takes more than just a decent camera and someone against a wall or in front of a tree. Finding a photographer who really nails the craft can be tricky. For instance, a photographer who specializes in events, racing, and product photography may know the basics, but if he/she isn’t in practice, there are many things one can overlook to get a clean, sharp corporate or actor headshot … (read more on LinkedIn)
Category Archives: Blog
There was a time this was true when digital cameras first came out. At .5mp, 2mp, etc., digital didn’t have the resolution of film. However, that era is long gone. Most consumers and professionals alike are fine with 10-20mp, which seems to be the minimum you can purchase. It takes just 6mp to make a great 8×10 print, and considering most people only stick to smaller prints or phone / web based viewing, even 6mp is more than enough for most consumer needs. The exception to this is when serious cropping is needed, very large prints are being made, or both. […]
We make a lot of resolutions to better our personal and professional lives every New Year. What about starting off 2015 with a FRESH image? As a professional, your headshot is among the most important things, and it’s often what people see first — especially in our online world. Why have a LinkedIn profile that just doesn’t sell who you REALLY are, simply because your profile photo doesn’t match your level of professionalism or personality. Or perhaps it does, but it’s been WAY TOO LONG since you’ve had your headshot taken? We all change, and so does headshot trends. During the […]
More and more, social media is becoming a bigger part of business and prospecting. For a lot of my clients, LinkedIn is the most widely used social site, and a genuine, engaging, top-notch profile is essential to making quality connections. There are many helpful resources offering advice on social media, but I recently found this video by Kevin Nichols of The Oechsli Institute to be a good, straightforward guide for LinkedIn. What was THE MOST important item on his do’s and dont’s of LinkedIn branding? Your headshot, of course. Hey, it’s the first thing prospects see, and as the video points […]
Judy Wade of Wellpoint Inc., Indianapolis Lots of elements make for a great headshot, and it’s always a collaborative effort between subject and photographer. Photographer technique aside, though, the most important thing is how comfortable and relaxed the subject is. Whether it’s at the client’s office, or at the studio, tension in one’s demeanor will show through every headshot. I joke with corporate clients that I sometimes bring stuffed animals to make my subjects smile. I don’t, really, but I do engage with my subjects to get us there. Having fun at the session by listening to music and having […]
Why oh why does the tools vs skills debate still continue? In so many debates, I’ve noticed people taking extreme views, all or nothing, dismissing balance for the sake of needless arguing. After all, a balanced perspective is boring and it often ends the discussion, but that’s no fun, is it? For photographers, it’s pretty simple: a “really good camera” isn’t going to do much for someone lacking skill and vision (it COULD even hamper them). Likewise, the most skillful photographer in the world, confined to the wrong tools or shabby equipment, will likely come up short in the final […]
I recall generations before me commenting about the gadgetry in cars in the 80’s and 90’s, preferring vehicles with less toys. They would say, “More electronic gadgets means more to go wrong.” This rings truer today than ever. With the current app craze, I often think we should step back — both for mental clarity, and time efficiency. I was once enthused by it all before apps came along. I was always called upon by the family to hook up the home entertainment system or troubleshoot the family computer. And now, as a web designer and headshot photographer, gadgets and […]
This subject above was very skittish at first, but became the happiest child in the room, with her sister and mother on-hand, supplying cookies and smiles. I recently photographed a few families in a very special way. I usually photograph corporate headshots, and I love what I do, but when Bethann Buddenbaum from Indy Photo Coach asked me to participate in this year’s Help Portrait, I immediately said, “yes!” Help Portrait, founded by Jeremy Cowart, is a global community of photographers “giving,” instead of “taking” pictures of those in need. The subjects were families and individuals without ability to pay […]
Choosing the right photographer for your project is incredibly important. This is something too many prospects don’t realize when hiring, and knowing who to hire is a fundamental aspect of good project management. Of course, this is true for any market. While it’s tempting to hire a hobbyist photog friend to save a buck—or that photographer who did an amazing portrait of your dog—to photograph your new office’s aerial, you should be focused on what photographer fits your goals and budget. While a GOOD photographer who knows their f-stops can often adapt to specialties outside their own, hiring a photojournalist […]