A Special Guest Appearance For Headshots

You never know what’s happening outside the frame. For example, see this calm, poised headshot of Dr. Richa, a dentist for Four State Dental Care.

Now we see another factor contributing to this expression - Dr. Richa is also a Mom.

  • It’s ok if plans change and your four-year-old comes in with you.

  • I have kids of my own and I’m used to someone nipping at my heels while I work.

  • It’s just a stage and they won’t always cling so tightly. One day, you’ll look back and smile at the memory.

PS: Kids usually spill the tea while they’re here: Direct quote from Dr. Richa’s daughter: “My mom has food in her purse.” 🤫😆

Vertical, Horizontal or Square for Headshots?

If you don’t have company specifications, it’s useful to choose headshots that can adapt to various cropping.

  • Profile pictures for platforms could be square or might be circular.

  • Business cards could vertical, although mostly likely horizontal (and some need dead space for text).

  • Social media, depending on platform, displays certain ratios to better advantages.

I keep all this in mind when I shoot. Your headshot should meet your expectations in every situation, even the ones you haven’t imagined yet! When you book, tell me about your business and I can help you brainstorm possible scenarios to be prepared for.

Here’s Nikki, with a perfect range of photos for her new role as realtor serving both Missouri and Arkansas.

What To Expect in a Calotype Christmas Portrait Session

It’s traditional for many families to celebrate Christmas with an annual photoshoot. I dearly love my faithful patrons who come to Calotype, year after year, to make sure their kids have these childhood memories.

When I knelt down to greet these kiddos as they came in, the youngest put her tiny, slender arms around my neck right away in greeting. It had been a year since she had been to the studio, but she felt right at home.

We start out with a traditional, elegant family portrait.

Naturally, the personalities of the kids come out quickly.

Mama and Dad look fine, so let’s document that…

Next, I photograph the kids together.

And separately ⬇️

Little sister watched big brother being photographed, and when it was her turn she ran up to copy his pose.

But she had a few poses of her own, too

I coaxed them together for one last image.

Ready to make your own family memories? Call the studio at 417-658-8865 or email me.

Feeling Uncertain About Headshots? Calotype Brings Clarity!

Not sure what kind of headshot you need? That’s completely okay! Many people don’t know exactly what they want until they see it.

If you don’t have company specifications that dictate what background or pose we use, let’s be creative and have fun! I tell my clients- “Let’s try it. No one else will see this but us. If you don’t like it- delete. ”

I’ll guide you through different poses and expressions. I suggest a quick shirt change or two so you can see what colors give the best result- you might be surprised!

You’ll come back in an hour to see all the images I created. We’ll sort through them by initially removing the immediate “nopes.” Then we’ll compare the remaining images, one by one, until you have it down to the best of the best. Instead of wondering “I wonder what it would have looked like if …” now you can know!

You don’t have to come in with all the answers—just come as you are!

Client Spotlight: Updated Headshots for Returning Customers

I just had a tough request: Newton Co. Public Administrator Joy Williams needed a new headshot and challenged me to create an even better one than the last one I took! 😬 🫣

Here is a photo of the headshot she's currently using- I agree, it’s lovely and I’m proud of it. I love how her angled pose works with the text on the card. Her skin tones reproduced well, even though the printing lost much of the original contrast of the image.

(If I could improve, I would have added more separation light on the hair, but this was taken several years ago when I was in the phase of “all or nothing” regarding separation light. Your hair either glowed like an angel announcing the birth of Christ, or tried its best not to be noticed by anyone).

Back to 2024, where Mr. Separation Light and myself live on easy terms (when I remember to invite him over), Ms. Joy is back at the studio for her update.

She recently won an award, so we included that as part of the Session!

This minimal, strong pose (above) ended up being her top favorite. It can be used as shown, or cropped closer for profile pictures (or business cards).

I appreciate my loyal clients who come back for more headshots! Ask and I have a special offer, just for you!

How Are My Headshots Going To Turn Out?

  1. If you’ve seen my work on my blog or LinkedIn, you already have an idea.

    If you like what you see there, we’re a good fit. If you want something different, you’re welcome to reach out and ask- but for the most part, I have a certain style and “way to see the world” that is not going to drastically change overnight.

  2. But here’s the catch: your photos will naturally be different—because no two people are the same.

    Every person is different and I can’t do the exact same thing twice. I’m terrible at copying. If you want me to freeze, show me a Pinterest picture and tell me recreate it. I will hyper-focus on things like lens focal length and lighting pattern (even though people are most likely only seeing the outfit or photogenic subject). There’s something inside my brain that always panics about doing something exactly like the source- this is true for my music, my writing and my photography. If I have to play a piece exactly like it’s written, I dread it! (Which is humorous, because I’ve heard many people are the opposite and panic when they have to come up with something on their own. This is a subject I’d love to explore over coffee with my creative-loving friends!) Back to the original topic of this paragraph: “Your pictures will look very similar to work in my portfolio, but a little different because you’re a little different.”

You’re not the first person to worry about your headshots will look.

It’s natural, and I have a plan to help you.

  1. First, make sure you like the pictures you’ve already seen. I tend to be classic and more formal, more so with my lighting if not all my poses. If you don’t care for my take on headshots, keep looking around until you find a photographer that resonates with you.

  2. If you like what you see but are still uncertain about how yours will turn out, help me by bringing some “raw material.” By this I mean “clothing options.” Different blazers, different colored tops, sleeve lengths, necklines, etc. Three to five should be good. Bring only what you love- if it’s a shirt you hate you won’t suddenly love it just because I photographed it. Don’t bring three things that are exactly alike except different colors- for example, men bringing one suit with one white shirt but three different ties. That won’t make much of a difference.

  3. Let me shoot some bad pictures. Yes, I’ll take some pictures that will make you shout, “Heck, no!” And I’ll take at least one that will make you laugh out loud. Do you know what horrible thing is going to happen when I take a bad picture and you see it? We’re going to delete it. And no one will ever see it again. But afterwards, you’ll be left with portraits that look really, really nice. You’ll smile when you see them.

    There’s a story of an art class that was divided into two sections. One half had the goal of making a piece of art every day for a semester. The other half only had the goal of making one incredible piece of art for the semester deadline. At the end of the class, the group that made art every day had produced several beautiful pieces (albeit several crumpled, rejected flops, too). But the group with the pressure to produce only one, beautiful work never did come up with anything. They couldn’t agree on what to create, and the dissension caused by the strain of perfection produced zero results. The group that actively practiced produced far more superior than second class pieces. Nothing bad happens if you let me take my shots while I look for your best angle. It’s my job to show you different perspectives so you can sort through and pick the best of the best!

Now let’s look at pictures. Here is Lacie, who brought me plenty of raw material in the form of clothing AND facial expressions. She gave me the freedom to explore and create something unique for her. Did she have any “bad shots”? You’ll never know! ;)

My Current Satisfaction with LinkedIn, Plus a Few Posting Ideas To Promote Your Small Business

One summer activity I’m currently enjoying is increasing my LinkedIn connections. I’ve had LinkedIn for years but didn’t take the time to understand it. It seemed boring and came across as slightly insincere because I despise vague corporate sayings like “Dynamic solutions.” 🥴

However, I’ve found that LinkedIn has some aspects that are agreeable to my current stage in life.

1️⃣ The user experience. It’s not visually overstimulating.  I enjoy clean lines and restful graphic design.  Obviously, you can’t beat a book 📖 for this experience- ha- but in the social media category, LinkedIn does well with this.

2️⃣ The pace. It’s not frenzied. You can like and comment on someone’s post from three weeks ago and we’re all cool with that. There’s no pressure to always post what’s on your mind.  (I really don’t want to know what’s on everyone’s mind at every given moment! I wish folks would weigh their thoughts carefully before posting- maybe even leave me lost in the mystery! I am truly ok to go a few days without hearing from you).

3️⃣ The mindset. We’re here to connect. I believe all humans crave connection, in one way or another. Real-life interactions are still the most effective way to connect, but it’s neat to have an online “Connection Bank” with photos and descriptions to review accordingly.  I enjoy seeing the occasional achievements, photos of a networking lunch, a new building addition, etc.  I can look at your work history if I’m curious. Then I go on out about my life and don’t feel the compulsive need to check for new dopamine candy. This seems a sustainable social media mindset to me.

I’m also full of care with whom I choose to connect. 

I don’t necessarily want a big network, I want a real network.


Robin Dunbar, a psychologist, has proposed a mental limit to the number of meaningful, stable connections we can have- he says it’s around 150. Beyond that, he believes we see diminishing returns. I can see why he proposes his theory, because we all know we don’t have the mental bandwidth to have real relationships with every single person on the planet.

Regarding this, writer and business coach Naomi Dunford says, “In a minimalist business, we focus on mindful, generous, mutually beneficial relationships, and we connect in ways that matter and feel good, not in ways that drain time, energy and attention.”

Currently, LinkedIn does not drain my time, energy or attention.

Do you have your profile set up? If you’re just starting or re-awakening a sleepy profile, I’m happy to share a few quick tips I’ve learned.  Shoot me an email and I’ll tell you a few things I’ve gleaned so far- as a small business owner NOT seeking to be employed elsewhere. Even though my tips are few, it’s still more than I want to mention in this blog post because you’re here for photography news and updates, not LinkedIn coaching, ha. 

I will mention one thing that gains more impressions, and that is simply using photos.  Sometimes I use one, sometimes more if it tells a more satisfying story.  For me, I like to post a professional portrait or two that I took, then perhaps a behind-the-scenes or pull-back shot to give more detail about the circumstances surrounding the photoshoot.  The photos don’t always have to be professional- I have posted casual iPhone snaps that also gained traction.  I think the key is giving viewers quick information at a glance. 

Example of a pull-back shot showing more information about the circumstances surrounding the product- in this case, the photoshoot. Thank you to Arvest for sending their wonderful employees to Calotype for headshots!

Are you mildly stressed about what to write on LinkedIn?  Posting photos is an easy solution!  Gather a pile of images including:

  • your headshot

  • different views of your place of business

  • your office

  • you at a networking event

  • your happy customers

  • your product

  • you creating your product

  • you thinking about creating your product

  • your walking with your dog while you recover from creating your product

  • photograph a review someone left or a kind email response from a satisfied customer  

  • take a picture when you are delivering the product, or simply locking the door and heading out for the weekend

Start saving all these to a folder and drip, drip, drip them out slowly a couple times a week, over the course of a few months.  It’s sustainable and an easy way to stay in front of people without bragging, pushy-selling or claiming to be a thought-leader guru. 

Here’s a great social media picture captured by my friend and client, Sandra McMahan.  Many of you may know her- she loves to take pictures around Neosho and Bentonville and wherever else she goes.  I was photographing her for her 75th birthday and she took this photo of me in the camera room ⬇

Thank you, Sandra McMahan, for this photo of me in the studio!

Creating attractive portraits while being authentic intrigues me.   This is one reason I love the challenge of photographing headshots for ordinary business people. My clients have hired me to make them look their best, but my photography must be true and not oversell their image.  If you want me to take professional, interesting photos that you can proudly post, call me and let’s chat. (Or email me, if you’d rather poke your eyes out than call).

Need photography for LinkedIn or other social media?

Here are a few options I offer:


1. Headshots in my studio- very good and very fast turnaround; book online.

https://www.calotype-photography.com/photographer-headshots-joplin-mo

2. Headshots at your place of business- very good, not quite as fast- call to book because there are a. two levels and b. we need to determine the best choice.

417-658-8865

3. NEW PRODUCT FOR SUMMER 2024 :

If I’m already at your workplace for headshots, I now offer an add-on social media package to capture businesses in action! I showcase you and/or employees in action, your building, offices, and day-to-day activities—all from the most flattering angles. Depending on the size of your operation, this may take as little as 15-30 minutes and yield a few month’s worth of quality posting material!

Call me or email if you’re interested! Or… message me on LinkedIn. 😉

Client Spotlight: The Birthday Girl

This little curly head has been photographed by Calotype since her first birthday. (I know a lady is not supposed to reveal her age- but- I took her father’s senior pictures). 👵 🫢

Now in 2024, we photographed her along with two siblings that joined the fun along the way (pictures at the end of this post).

As I chatted with her parents about how fast time flies, it reminded me of all the fabulous images they are fortunate to have throughout the years. I went back through the archives to find some early pictures to share!

Here she is in her solo act, before the siblings came along.

Time marches on, and just when life falls into routine.... disorder arrives!

This particular Disorder had curly hair, too, along with beautiful eyes and her own personality. Enjoy these special photographs of the Original Birthday girl in her new duet role.

In 2024, this ringleted young lady steps into her latest performance as Mother Hen.

Little bro doesn't quite know what to think, but I’m confident he'll adapt. (Do you think he'll have curly hair, too? We'll find out next year when they're all back for more portraits!)

Plot Twist for Prom- But Not Really Prom

Just the facts:

  1. Weather forecast for Neosho Prom night was 🌧☔💦⛈

  2. I decided THE DAY BEFORE PROM to open up the studio and offer fun, fashionable prom pictures for parents who wanted something a little more elevated than just park snaps alone.

  3. I didn’t even have time to send out an email- sorry! I texted a few loyal clients that had prom-goers and asked them to tell their friends.

  4. I booked 16 kids and we had SO MUCH FUN. I mean, getting dressed up for prom is fabulous. When you feel confident in front of the camera, it shows!

  5. Oh, they canceled prom. Right while were taking pictures. ⁉ (Tornado threat). TECHNICALLY they rescheduled. But we have prom pictures anyway- all ended well. Let’s just call it a dress rehearsal.

Here are some of the kids photographed- they were fantastic!

YES- I plan to offer this again next year for Neosho.

YES, I WILL announce it more than one day ahead.

Email subscribers WILL know first THIS TIME because my social media presence is… lacking in conviction and vitality.

Sign up here!