Headshots and portraits

  • A headshot is a tightly framed photograph that focuses primarily on your face and expression, typically including your head and shoulders. Its purpose is to present you professionally and authentically for business profiles, company websites, LinkedIn, marketing materials, acting portfolios, and other professional uses. A great headshot creates a positive first impression by highlighting your personality, confidence, and approachability.

  • A portrait is a photograph designed to tell a story about the person being photographed. While the face is often a prominent feature, portraits may include more of the body, surroundings, lighting, clothing, and posing to express personality, emotion, or lifestyle. Portraits are created for personal, family, artistic, editorial, or commercial purposes and focus on capturing who you are, not simply what you look like.

  • A headshot is a specialized type of portrait created primarily for professional identification and personal branding. It emphasizes your face, expression, and connection with the viewer. A portrait offers greater creative freedom and often includes additional elements such as location, lighting, wardrobe, and composition to tell a more complete story. While every headshot is a portrait, not every portrait is a headshot.

  • A LinkedIn-optimized photo is a professional headshot created specifically for your LinkedIn profile. It features your face as the clear focal point, with direct eye contact, a natural and approachable expression, professional lighting, appropriate attire, and a high-quality image. Combined, these elements create a polished first impression that helps you appear confident, credible, and approachable to recruiters, clients, colleagues, and potential employers.

  • That depends on how you’d like to present yourself. Some professions benefit from a warm, approachable smile, while others call for a more serious and confident expression. During your session we’ll create a variety of expressions so you can choose the image that best represents you and your professional brand.

  • You’re not alone. Most people tell me they feel uncomfortable being photographed. My job is to make the experience relaxed and enjoyable by coaching you through posing, posture, and expression. You don’t need any previous experience—I’ll guide you every step of the way.

  • A good rule of thumb is every two to three years, or whenever your appearance changes significantly. If you’ve changed careers, received a promotion, updated your hairstyle, grown or removed facial hair, or simply want your professional image to better represent who you are today, it’s probably time for a new headshot.

Your Session

  • Choose clothing that reflects your profession while making you feel confident and comfortable. Solid colors generally photograph better than busy patterns or large logos. Neutral and classic tones tend to keep the attention on your face, while layering with jackets or sweaters can add variety. Most importantly, wear something that feels authentic to you and appropriate for how you want to present yourself professionally.

  • I do not provide hair or makeup services as part of my sessions. However, you’re welcome to bring your own hairstylist or makeup artist if you would like professional assistance before or during your session.

  • Get a good night’s sleep, stay hydrated, and arrive with your clothing clean and wrinkle-free. If you’re wearing makeup, keep it natural unless your profession calls for a more dramatic look. Bring a few wardrobe options if you’d like variety, and don’t worry if you’ve never been professionally photographed before. I’ll guide you through every step of the session, from posing and expression to selecting your favorite images.

  • Professional headshot sessions are almost always photographed in a controlled environment which provides consistent lighting, neutral backgrounds, and eliminates distractions so the attention stays where it belongs—on you.

    Studios serve this purpose perfectly, but this can also be achieved at a customer site. Studio lighting also produces flattering, repeatable results that are ideal for business profiles, LinkedIn, company websites, and marketing materials.

    Portraits and personal branding sessions, however, may be photographed outdoors, at your home or office, or another location that complements your personality, profession, or the story you’d like your images to tell.

  • Most individual headshot sessions last between 30 and 90 minutes, depending on the session you choose and the number of wardrobe changes or image styles you’d like. This allows plenty of time to relax, experiment with different expressions and poses, and create a variety of images without feeling rushed.

  • Bring two or three clothing options if you’d like different looks, along with any accessories that complement your professional image. If you wear glasses regularly, bring them. A hairbrush, comb, and basic touch-up items can also be helpful during the session

  • Absolutely.

    Multiple wardrobe options allow you to create different looks and increase the variety of your final images. Depending on your session, changing jackets, shirts, or accessories can often create a completely different appearance without adding significant time.

  • Pets are not photographed during studio headshot sessions, as the goal is to create a clean, professional image focused on you. However, pets are certainly welcome during on-location portrait and personal branding sessions if they are an important part of your story.

    If your session is taking place at your home or another client-selected location, we’ll discuss how to incorporate them naturally into your portraits.

  • If your session is scheduled outdoors, we’ll monitor the weather together. Depending on conditions, we may move the session to another location, reschedule for a better day, or, if appropriate, move the session indoors. My goal is always to produce the highest-quality images rather than simply photograph on the scheduled date.

After your session

  • The number of finished images depends on the session package you select.

    After your session, you’ll review your photographs and choose your favorites for professional retouching.

    My goal is to provide you with a collection of images you’ll be proud to use for years to come.

  • Absolutely.

    Selecting your final images can be one of the most challenging parts of the process.

    I’ll help you evaluate each photograph based on expression, eye contact, posture, and how well it supports your personal or professional goals, making the final decision much easier.

  • Yes.

    Every selected image receives professional retouching that enhances your appearance while maintaining a natural look.

    Temporary blemishes, minor skin distractions, and other small imperfections can be minimized while preserving the features that make you look like yourself.

    The goal is a polished, authentic image—not one that appears overly edited.

  • Final images are delivered as high-quality JPEG files, professionally cropped for their intended use, such as LinkedIn, websites, social media, or other digital applications.

    High-resolution print files are not provided directly because every print product requires specific sizing, cropping, color calibration, and file preparation.

    When you order prints or artwork, I work directly with the professional print lab to ensure your finished piece is produced exactly as intended, including proofing when appropriate.

  • Absolutely.

    Professional prints and wall art are available in a variety of sizes and finishes.

    Every piece is produced through a professional printing lab to ensure exceptional color accuracy, image quality, and longevity. I’ll help you select the products and sizes that best complement your home or office.

Business services

  • Yes.

    Corporate headshot sessions can be scheduled for businesses of all sizes, from executive leadership teams to entire organizations.

    Sessions may be conducted at your office or another convenient location, providing employees with a consistent, professional look across your company’s website, marketing materials, and internal communications.

  • Yes. I regularly photograph clients at businesses, offices, homes, and outdoor locations. Travel outside my normal service area may include an additional travel fee, depending on the location.

  • Absolutely.

    Your professional headshot is intended to be used wherever your personal brand appears, including LinkedIn, company websites, email signatures, business cards, speaker biographies, social media profiles, and marketing materials.

    Using the same professional image across platforms creates a consistent and recognizable personal brand.