We do ALOT of headshots around here, and every single one of them has one thing in common: the subject HATES having them done.
Sometimes I feel like an IRS agent – nobody likes seeing me! Whether I’m at an event or in my own studio, people REALLY hate having them done. They will begrudgingly sit down, grumble about how they hate having their picture taken – or if I’m at an event, they will try to get out of the frame. Literally hundreds of people, scrambling like mice away from the camera. But then I take a few, I show them to them – and they do a complete 180.
See? You don’t look so bad after all! And I haven’t even airbrushed you yet!
We hate seeing pictures of ourselves for many reasons, but typically:
- the person in the picture seems a bit older than the person inside us
- the lighting is usually unflattering
- the picture was taken with a point-and-shoot or smartphone camera
- picture was taken at an unflattering angle (like, lower than your eyes)
- clothing was too bulky
I know this because I hate having my picture taken too. So, being in the same boat as you, we try to make things fun. Here are some things to think about before your headshot session:
- Relax. We’re going to have fun, it will be over before you know it.
- Don’t overthink it. Sometimes when we try to look perfect, or sultry – the end result is kind of wierd.
- If you find your face starting to stiffen, look away from the camera and turn back – I usually have people say “Heeeey!” or “Ayyy” like the Fonz… One it puts your mouth into a smiley position, but two, you laugh after because you feel like a dork doing that – it works!
- Wear your favorite things, your best colors, no loud patterns, something you feel great in. We don’t need many changes – personally, it’s all about the eyes, i don’t even notice what you’re wearing, but we may need to pay attention to the colors so that marketing materials have a certain feel.
As for me, after your session, I select the best images from your shoot and give them some tlc. I don’t tend to over-airbrush people because it starts to look phoney, and one thing you should appear in your headshot is the authentic you. But, I do want you to look refreshed. I even out skin tones, remove minor lines, wrinkles, spots, etc, brighten eyes and under the eye. I can do more upon request.
In the end we want you to have a headshot you love and are happy to use on your blog, social media feed, LinkedIn, business cards, signs, you name it.
We look forward to seeing you in the studio!
