The Look for your Headshot - Putting it All Together

How do the various elements play together

We’ve talked about each of the key elements that create a look for a brand, but how they play together is also important. Let’s take that criminal attorney law firm - their branding centers around the fact that they take on only the most difficult/challenging cases, have a staff of attorney’s with many years of experience - a powerhouse firm. You’d likely want all the male staff to be wearing suits/ties (likely darker suits), use a darker background, all with expressions that emphasize experience, battle tested, confidence. A slight smile perhaps along with a body/head position that is direct and powerful. If those attorneys were wearing just a shirt (no tie or jacket) against a white background with a big smile – well, that just doesn’t convey the same message.

Of course, within these options there are a myriad of combinations of clothing colors, styles, etc. that will work. Today’s well equipped and skilled headshot photographer shoots “tethered” – meaning the camera is connected to a computer. When the shutter button is pressed, the files are immediately download to the computer and can be viewed during the session – this allows for both the photographer and the subject to immediately see how a particular outfit, lighting setup, and background look. I also position a monitor connected to the computer, positioned near where the subject is standing, making it even easier to shoot, review, adjust, and shoot some more. It also is a great tool so subjects can see how a certain expression, head/body position looks – I love seeing the progress people make from the early shots to the later ones as I coach people how to look!