For many of us online presence is everything. Social media continues to grow
as more of us are e-connecting and having that strong Linked In profile may
land you that perfect job. Whether you are a CEO, actor or personal trainer,
headshots are key to strengthen your branding. If you are on the look out for
some professional headshots here are my top tips:
Portfolio
A portfolio is a photographers C.V. Head to a photographer's website to check out their work as the images used will reflect their style and experience.
Quick tip – no matter how many cool images a photographer may have on their website this doesn’t mean they are a good headshot photographer, so make sure the photographer provides this service.
Studio/Location
When booking a headshot photographer, check if they offer what you are looking for. Are you wanting a location shoot with a blurred office background, a touch of greenery in a nearby park or a studio-based shoot with plain or coloured backgrounds to match your branding?
Quick tip – check images below for some examples.
Studio examples:
Location examples:
Reviews
Checking reviews can give you an insight into a photographers work and what customers are saying. Whilst some photographers like to show their reviews on their own website, double check that they are genuine.
Quick tip - check Google Reviews and Facebook.
Pricing
Before you agree to work with any photographer, check their pricing. There is nothing
worse than thinking you have a bargain only to be massively disappointed.
If it’s too cheap, it’s probably too good to be true. Anything less than a couple of hundred pounds for half a dozen headshots is probably not worth it and you will likely be disappointed.
Make sure you check what’s included. Lots of people assume that editing is included but be warned that most photographers will only include basic editing (light and colour correction, small blemishes and cropping). Often additional and more complex editing services (such as hair, body shapes, skin and make-up) will cost you more.
Don’t be surprised if pricing for headshots is not available on photographers websites, most will charge by time and quote you individually, depending on your requirements – after all, every headshot is unique!
Finally, check if the photographer includes high and low-resolution digital copies of your headshots.
Quick tip - remember, high-resolution images are great for printing whereas low-
resolution are perfect for online platforms and social media as it loads faster.
Booking
Once you have a couple of photographers in mind don’t hesitate to get in touch and ask for quotes and more information, as at this point you are not committing to anything. Allow a couple of days for a response as most photographers shoot all day. If you wish to book, many photographers will take a deposit which is often deducted from the final payment and should send you a booking confirmation, including T&Cs.
Quick tip – try to arrange a phone/video call before committing, this will help you to create a connection and work out if they are the right photographer for you.
The Shoot
The thought of having your headshots taken may seem daunting but a good photographer should be able to put you at ease and guide you through the whole process. The better the rapport you have with your photographer the greater the results. If you have something in mind, don’t hesitate to make a request during the shoot as at the end of the day the photographer will want to give you what you are looking for.
Quick tip - allow a couple of hours for the shoot as the photographer may be able to show the images straight after so you can choose your favourites.
Post-Shoot
Now that all of the images are taken, sit back and relax. Allow some time for your images to be edited, as often photographers have more than one shoot to work through, having said that headshots are not very complex, so you should get your images in no more than 7 days.
Once you receive your images take a good look and give feedback to the photographer, as sometimes little things can be missed.
Quick tip – leave a review after your shoot. This will not only help future customers but also
support the photographers’ small business.
I hope you found this helpful, please leave a comment and let me know your thoughts.