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.

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! ;)

"But I Always Wear Black!"

Black is classic. It’s timeless. It’s sexy. Confident. Sophisticated.

Easy to match. Safe. Predictable.

BUT HAVE YOU TRIED COLOR?

Let’s look at one of my clients who came in for a headshot. She’s efficient, goal-driven and gets things done. What better uniform to wear, than black?

The safe, dependable black blazer.

The soft upgrade

Her long-time friend recommended she wear this blue blazer because it brought out her eyes.

Hmm. Looks like her friend was right!

See the difference? Black is not always the better choice!

“But, Julie! How do I know what my color is?

Easy. Bring a few different tops with you and I’ll photograph you in both! Then you can decide for yourself!

I can also help with recommendations, if you’re still shopping. Color can make a powerful statement! Call me and I’d love to share a few things I’ve learned about wearing the right color for your headshot.

Professional Headshots With Possibilities

Maybe you need just one great image. But how do we get there? What do YOU call great?

This client needed a dark background and wanted to wear dark clothes. Using those parameters, I made different looks with subtle changes in hair, face angle, etc so she could pick the best one. Flip through these and you’ll see how many are similar, but not exactly alike.

Nervous about how you’ll look in your headshots? That’s why I take several and make changes as we go. We’re guaranteed to get one you’ll love!

Looking for Ideas On What To Wear?

Getting headshots taken is a breeze!

The only excruciating work is getting ready for them, ha! (Did you expect me to say that?)

My most asked question: “What do I WEAR??”

I used to say- “Black.”

Now I say: “Bring me some options and we’ll decide once you’re here.”

There are a number of reasons why it's important to be fashionable and look your best. Here are a few of the most important:

• Fashion can boost our confidence. When we feel good about how we look, we're more likely to put ourselves out there and take risks. This can lead to new opportunities in our personal and professional lives. The easiest way to NOT feel frumpy? Don’t BE frumpy. Sign up for Daily Look. Join Outfit Formulas. Read Color Me Beautiful.

• Fashion can help us make a good first impression. In today's world, appearances matter. That doesn't mean we have to be perfect, but it does mean that we should take some effort to put our best foot forward. I used to be uncomfortable about taking time to look good until I realized how it affected others. When I look good, it’s a delight to others. We all love looking at pretty things! Improving ourselves is way to make others feel better!

• Fashion can be a fun and creative outlet. Expressing ourselves through fashion can be a lot of fun. It's a way to be creative and experiment with different looks.

• Fashion makes for fabulous photos!

It may not come easy to you. (If it were easy, everyone would do it).

Start with the sources I recommend above- Daily Look, Outfit Formulas, Color Me Beautiful.

OR:

Bring me some outfits. Some shoes and a t-shirt or accessory you love. Sling it over your shoulder and I’ll sort through it at the studio and pick out something perfect for you! A small-town extra included at no additional charge. ;)