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Having a professional headshot is essential for various reasons. First and foremost, it creates a positive and lasting first impression. When people see your headshot, whether it's on your website, LinkedIn profile, or business card, it immediately conveys professionalism and trustworthiness. A professionally captured headshot showcases your best features, highlights your personality, and presents you as a confident and approachable individual. It helps you stand out from the crowd and makes a strong visual impact that can leave a lasting impression on potential clients, employers, or collaborators.
Equally important is the need to keep your headshot up to date. Our appearance changes over time, by ensuring your headshot reflects your current hair style or age, you maintain authenticity and avoid any potential disconnect between your online presence and your in-person encounters. You’ve heard of “cat-fishing” on dating apps? Same applies to an outdated headshot which can create confusion or disappointment when meeting someone in real life who has formed an impression based on an older image. By regularly updating your headshot, you demonstrate that you are actively investing in your professional image and staying relevant in your industry, enhancing your credibility and keeping your personal brand consistent across different platforms and interactions.
BEFORE THE SHOOT: Before your headshot session, we prioritize understanding your desired look, feel, and brand image. We discuss your vision and preferences, whether it's a studio backdrop or utilizing your own office space or other environment as the background. We specialize in on location portraiture, but if you dont have an office youre welcome to come in studio for a session. We want a setting that perfectly aligns with your professional image and brand identity.
SHOOT DAY:During your headshot session, we aim to make you feel at ease and confident. Arriving ahead of time, we set up lighting and background (if necessary) and take a few test shots and show them to you, allowing you to approve the lighting setup before we proceed. Throughout the session, we capture a series of headshots, providing immediate viewing, which empowers you to gauge the results and request immediate retakes if necessary. Your confidence and contentment are paramount to us.
AFTER THE SHOOT:After the shoot, we promptly deliver the finalized images. Within a 1-2 week turnaround time, we provide you with either retouched final image(s) or a gallery of samples to choose from. However, if you have a specific deadline for needing your headshot, we are flexible and committed to meeting them. Our goal is your utmost satisfaction, and we guarantee that you'll be thrilled with the results. In the rare event that any concerns arise, we address them promptly and ensure that we exceed your expectations. We don't consider our job complete until you’re satisfied because having you love your headshot is our ultimate priority.
• How far in advance should I book my headshot session?
—> We recommend as soon as you decide to go with us you let me know. We operate as a first come-first-served business. Most of our clients are booking 4-6 weeks in advance.
• What should I wear for my business portrait?
Here are my top 6 tips!
1. Dress as if you're walking into an important client meeting. Consider what you would wear to make a strong, professional impression on potential clients or partners. Dressing appropriately for your industry and personal style is key. What message do you want to portray?
2. Gone are the days of being too stuffy! While a suit and tie can still be a classic choice, it's no longer necessary for a business portrait. The focus now is on showcasing your authentic self.
3. Embrace your personal brand. Your business portrait is an opportunity to express your unique personality and style. Opt for clothing that aligns with your brand identity and represents you in a positive and professional light.
4. Choose outfits that make you feel confident. When you feel good in what you're wearing, it shows in your posture and demeanour. Confidence is an essential element in creating a strong and impactful business portrait.
5 Pay attention to colours and patterns. Solid colours, especially in neutral or professional tones, tend to work well in business portraits. Avoid distracting patterns or overly bright colours that could take the focus away from your face.
6. Don't forget the details. Ironed clothing and being well-groomed are all important elements to consider. Pay attention to accessories, such as ties, jewelry, or scarves, to add a touch of personal style without overpowering the overall look.
- Remember, the goal of your business portrait is to present yourself as approachable, professional, and trustworthy. By dressing thoughtfully and authentically, you'll create a portrait that captures the essence of who you are and leaves a lasting impression on your audience.
• Where do you shoot?
—> Our studio is located within the Cotton Factory in Hamilton, Ontario. However, we specialize in on location sessions and most of our clients prefer to shoot at their business location / office. We also know of some great spots to shoot in your area, so a conversation is needed to find the perfect location.
• How long does a headshot session take?
—> It takes 15-20 minutes to set up initially, 5-15 minutes for your portrait and another 10 or so minutes to pack up, ready to leave.
• Can I do an outfit change?
—> Most people are looking for one single headshot and your package generally comes with one final image. However if you need headshots for various uses then we recommend an outfit change for each use. Let us know if this is your desire up front so we can quote you accurately.
• Do you offer hair and make-up?
—> Yes, we work with a great make-up artist. Let us know if you want this service.
• I’m super nervous in front of the camera, how do we work with that?
—> We understand that not everyone loves having their portrait taken, in fact, most people we photograph are feeling the same way you are. We operate in a non obtrusive fun way, cracking a few jokes along the way to help you feel comfortable. We’re also not in a rush, so if you need a break, that’s all good. Add some music and most people feel comfortable pretty quick. We do this all the time, our job is to help you feel comfortable in the spot light.
• Can I see my photos as we take them?
—> Yes, we photograph your portraits directly to a laptop computer so you can view and approve photos throughout the session. This not only helps save time but is instrumental in helping you feel confident and secure we got the portraits you’re looking for.
• How do I see my portraits after the shoot?
—> Following your branding session we will create a private online contact sheet / gallery of images for you to choose from. You will choose your final images to be retouched from this gallery. Depending on your specific shoot, you may be able to choose your favourite photos immediately following the shoot and skip the gallery viewing process.
• Do you retouch my headshot?
—> Yes absolutely. All final images are retouched to our high studio standards (you will have the opportunity to make comments about your retouching if you choose). Once you receive your final images, if you’re not completely happy with them, let me know immediately and if we can make changes we will!
• When will I receive my edited headshot(s)?
—> Unless you have a deadline that we’ve agreed to, your photos go into the queue and are completed within a two week window.
• Should I bring anything with me?
—> If you want more then one photo, you may consider an outfit change or two. We recommend a clothing change with each scene.
• Do you shoot video interviews?
—> Yes we do. If you need an interview style video or something else with motion, we can help with that. Let us know at the beginning of the conversation if videography is something you’re interested in discussing.
If you're a team of 6 or 600, having a consistent look for your company’s headshots is a great way to show your teams professionalism across a united front. Headshots can be photographed at my studio or your office. We specialize in on location portraits and bring the studio to you, setting up in a board room or other area so your team can stay productive longer. Most clients prefer if we set up at their location. Images below are part of the current City Of Hamilton City Counsel, shot at Hamilton City Council.
By utilizing a seamless studio backdrop, you can achieve a consistent and professional look for your team. Whether we conduct the shoot in our studio studio or I bring the background to your boardroom, we can establish cohesive headshots for your entire team.
To stand out and give your business headshots a personal touch, we can also use your office environment as the background. Whether it’s incorporating specific brand elements, a feature wall, or even artwork that represents your organization, we strive to create headshots that go beyond the traditional to become a powerful representation of your brands personality leaving a lasting impression on clients.
Sometimes in order to get the shot that truly represents your vision, we need to get out of the office and in to the community. By venturing beyond the office walls, we can create visually compelling images that not only highlight your team’s professionalism but also convey a sense of engagement, and a genuine connection with the community.
We’re experts at creating beautiful composite portraits. Sometimes the best option is to photograph everyone on a neutral background and then digitally insert them into a new environment, saving our clients time and money. This environment (or background) can be a stock image or we can create custom backgrounds unique to you using your office or facility (similar to the images below).
Click the links below to see what we shot for Grosso Hooper Law. Rather then having a traditional headshot on their profile, they opted to have a short video clip. After a few seconds the subject looks at the camera.
link—> Mary Grosso
link—> Robert Hooper
link—> Kimberly Jossul
We also shoot for large firms with offices across North America. To facilitate a complicated photoshoot like this, Jon will manage photographers in other cities to capture consistent on-brand portraits. Using a detailed style guide and controlling post production in-house, we work hard to get the best possible results regardless of how far apart your team is.
Going beyond headshots and branding portraits, we also enjoy photographing your corporate culture and office space. This gives the viewer a sense of what it’s like inside your firm.