Headshots: Taking Comfortable & Confident Photos That Look Like You
Headshots. Oof. The bane of many a professional existence, the very word conjures memories of awkward, unnatural poses and perennially disappointing results (only to you, of course, as we’re all our own harshest critic!).
We get it––most of us hate getting our photo taken, especially when your professional appearance is the subject matter. Headshot sessions can all too often feel forced, and not a true representation of you or your company culture. We want to provide you with the true self-confidence that comes from being able to show a photo of yourself that you are proud of––not just an image you had to take because your boss made you!
What should you wear? Should you invest in professional styling? (Hint: It never hurts! And yes, we have recs…) Fret no longer, because we’re here to make the experience easy, quick, comfortable, confident, and dare we say, fun?! But most of all, to simply take beautiful photos that look like you.
Feel awkward in front of the camera? Welcome to the club! But while being in front of the lens can be unnerving, it doesn’t mean that your headshots have to show it. Let’s take a look at our headshot process, and how we’ll do our part to make you feel comfortable and confident.
“I just wanted to say, I got to see the photos and they are AMAZING. Wow. You’re really great at what you do.”
Pre-Session: Setting You Up for Success
Before having to get anywhere near a camera lens, we’ll arrange a time to connect for a chat to introduce ourselves, learn about your goals for the session, and build the rapport that turns good photos into great ones (yes, we want to actually know you as a human!).
“I ADORE [MY HEADSHOTS]. I look so pretty! I never feel this pretty in photos of me!!”
- Ellen, Photographer
We’ll help you pick the clothes that are best for the type of photo you want and will flatter you best. All in all––we’ll do everything we can to set you up for success when it comes to the day of. Speaking of which…
During Your Session: Wait, Taking Headshots Can Be Fun?
Anyone can have a photo taken of themselves. But we know that the experience matters is what matters most. And it shows! (Don’t believe us? Think of your passport photo versus that perfectly-candid photo a friend snapped….) If you’re having a good time and feeling empowered, your photos will represent that.
So now you’re probably thinking, “That’s great and all, but how exactly could you turn this less-than-eagerly-anticipated event into the highlight of my week?”
Great question! First of all, we take our job (making you look good) very seriously, but know that too much seriousness doesn’t always make for an enjoyable time. We love to keep it lighthearted during our sessions, and infuse a bit of silliness into the process to draw out real smiles and confidence. We are very kind, yet authoritative enough to keep things on track.
Forget awkward, unnatural poses––we’ll pose you in the ways that flatter you to make you feel respected, comfortable, and powerful. We get you moving around and feeling silly. Then it feels more normal to stand or sit still and smile (because by this point, you’re usually laughing for real). Whether seated and serious or jumping for joy, we’ll communicate to conjure the pose that feels true to you.
Taking team photos? We want to make sure the dynamic of your team comes through. We’ll coordinate your group to help you and your brand come across as cohesive and clean. Your next company branding photo session will feel like a team bonding experience, rather than a chore.
“I have actually never loved a headshot of myself before, and now I do!”
Post-Session: Getting You Back to Business
No need to twiddle your thumbs in anticipation of long-overdue professional photos––a quick turnaround time is central to every session we book.
Your images are delivered to you in a convenient online gallery within 2 weeks so that you can promptly share your new favorite headshots with the world, feeling confident and renewed by photos that say, “This is me!” Our high-res imagery will be delivered quickly and concisely for you to get right down to communicating your brand.
(And yes…we are able to offer natural retouching so that a pesky, once-in-a-blue-moon blemish doesn’t keep you up the night before your photos! With that said, we’re after the real, beautiful you, and entire photo-facelifts are not on the menu…)
You deserve to show the most comfortable and confident side of yourself, particularly with regard to your professional presence. We hope that with a peek into our process, you believe us when we say that we are here to help you make this idea a reality.
Click here to learn more about Michaela Joy Photography headshots and book a consultation call!
