The right answer is yes. The answer is always yes. Now that quarantine regulations are slowly being lifted it may be a good time to get ahead of the curve And get some new headshots especially if you have been furloughed or out of work for the last few months. You may want to rebrand or rejoin the work force. You would certainly need some new shots for yourself and or your LinkedIn page, social channels, or applications. We have been put in an unfortunate situation with millions of people being impacted on a daily basis. Not only do we have to think of our own well being; we must think of others during his time as well. When you book a shoot at my studio I have current Covid protocols in place meaning a temperature check at the door, a clean shooting environment (regularly disinfected plus air purifier) and hand sanitizer available upon request. I also wear a mask during the shoot. Between March and September my studio was closed. I was only taking outdoor portrait gigs. Now that I am back in studio I want to ensure that your portraits are done right.
Headshots are an extremely important part of getting your presence out there. Folks like to see who they are working with, working for, and hiring. A client recently shared a story about how she was hiring for a new position at her firm and it came down to two candidates. Both were extremely qualified and their resumes were for the most part equal. My client wanted to find out MORE about who she could potentially hire so she found her prospective new hires’ LinkedIn pages. One of the prospects had a professional headshot for her photo. She looked put together, professional, and ready to engage. The second prospect had a photo of her at an outdoor party wearing a tank top and holding a drink. Not only wasn’t the photo professional; it didn’t send the right message to the person who was now looking at her resume. After I asked my client what she did after she saw the photos she turned to me and calmly said “Oh, I threw her resume out. That’s a great photo for instagram but she’s not for us.” And just like that POOF. If she had a professional headshot she may have gotten the job. You may not think you need a new headshots but you do. Comparatively it’s a small investment in yourself for what could be a career with plenty of upward mobility. When you get to a certain point in that career your office would pay for your new headshots and not you. You’re moving up in the world.
A few things go into getting your headshots done. I always recommend that my clients bring a couple of outfit changes. Usually two to three with accessory combinations work wonders for someone’s photo shoot. We are creatures of comfort and with that being said I always suggest bringing something that looks great and feels great. It makes a world of difference to a photo. I recently had a client who came to my studio decked out in a freshly pressed suit. He looks fantastic but he was completely uncomfortable, which never makes for a good headshot. I made the suggestion of ditching the jacket and it was like a switch was flipped. His photos came out even better because he was comfortable in his button down without jacket. Again; we are creatures of comfort and part of my job is to make you as comfortable as possible when it’s time for your headshots.
You can find out more at nyphotony.com/getintouch
A lot of my clients will pop by my studio or I’ll show up at their office and I’m sometimes met with this statement; “They’re making me do this.” I think any photographer anywhere will agree that they hear that more often than not. I also hear “I don’t know why I need this.” It’s like when Ralphie had to wear the rabbit costume in a Christmas Story. At first, I was taken aback. Say about seven years ago when I first started shooting full time; I’d think to myself “Wow. who doesn’t like to get their picture taken!?” (This is also coming from a dude with slight ME complex) As it turns out A LOT of people don’t like getting their picture taken. As a photographer, that has informed me to create as comfortable a situation as possible so folks can come away happy with their photos. I’ve seen and worked with plenty of photographers that straight up act like divas around their clients and guess what? That doesn’t help. The other thing we hear a lot of is “I hate myself in pictures.” I personally take that as a challenge and do have a pretty good track record of shooting something my clients are very happy with. Not to toot my own horn; but toot toot mother f****.
Headshots are important. They show your best self and let people know who you really are. The eyes are the window into the soul and the face is the rest of the house – right? I just made that up. Your face is a house. Does that make sense? Anyway, we live in the age of crazy connectivity where once your photo gets posted online – it’s literally everywhere in the world in less than seconds. The instantaneous transfer of data is so unreal sometimes that it gives you pause! I have shot for clients that had to real-time have their photos shot, edited, and sent to their main office overseas to be posted on their website. That’s just mindblowing to me. Headshots are a necessity, and I’m not just talking about headshots for the corporate environment. (I do really love doing corporate headshots) I’m talking about headshots for yourself. I have done photos for many folks who just wanted to overcome that tinge of anxiety that may lie within so that they can feel confident about themselves by getting in front of a camera, getting great shots, and saying “Hey, I DID that.” I love that. I feel like a proud papa when I can help someone make that happen. I have also done headshots for people to use on dating apps, which I love doing too. Folks gotta step up their dating game somehow, right? They are also great to remember yourself a certain way. Folks are afraid of their own ego but I say to heck with that and feel yourself! Be confident, proud, awesome, and know your worth!
Headshots are a necessity. I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it. Book yours now.
nyphotony@gmail.com
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Headshots Can Help
We all have dreams. Some of us follow those dreams. Some of us don’t. That’s a fact. If you ever wanted to be an actor, model, or entertainer and decided to quit your day job to pursue your dream full time then more power to you. That one solitary spark of ambition already sets you apart from the pack. There are tons of great resources out there for a young actor,model or musician to get their foot in the door and many great websites, podcasts, blogs to steer you in the right direction. However, the one thing anyone breaking into the entertainment industry needs is a good headshot.
Headshots can help. Why? Well, there are a thousand reasons. They show casting agents that you are serious about putting your face out there. They are a great way to get attention to your social profiles (which ever one you use), and they are a tool to get you where you need to go. Don’t think of headshots as a luxury. Think of them as a vital part of your process to fulfilling your dream. They are also a great add on to your website, which you should have regardless of what field you’re in. If you have founded a niche company and want folks to get to know you a bit with a personal touch then add a photo to your “about” page. Investing in professional photography for your personal headshot goes a long way in this day and age. We live in the future and everything is a click or swipe away. You need that image to have an impact that people will remember.
Once you have a photo or set of photos; those images will be your go to for a surprising number of connections. If you subscribe to a site like helpareporter.com many times the writers looking to interview you for a specific topic will require a headshot. That means don’t send them the photo of you from Halloween that you think looks sexy. It means send them a professional looking photo that lets everyone know that you mean business. What do headshots mean for business? It means clients can attach a face to brand. What do headshots mean for an aspiring actor or model? It means they now have a way to communicate their money maker to potentially interested parties.
If you’re starting your entertainment career, leaving an old job to start your business, or even if you just want some photos to reflect yourself to others then I suggest getting some professional headshots done. It’s part of the experience of going out on your own and saying “Here I am.”
Professional headshots? What!? Most people hate having their picture taken. That’s a fact. It can make my job very interesting at times. However, you need at least one solid professional headshot in this day and age more than ever. Why? Well, professional headshots not only make you look like you take yourself that much more seriously but it puts a face to a potential hire, colleague, or client. That being your best face. We live in the digital age, which is a very visual age, it’s a very tap/swipe/snap age. How many apps do you have that let you scroll through photos? In those apps you have the ability to judge those photos if you like them or not. Think about that when you start your LinkedIn profile and decide to use the photo you took last summer at the keg party. The photo is a bit blurry, maybe grainy, and doesn’t show you in a professional light. Most folks go with THAT picture. That random party picture, a cropped group photo with your face as the center, or photos so old that you aren’t even recognizable. You can stand apart from the pack with a nice image. Professional headshots are a window into your personal brand, who you are, and what potential connections can expect. An engaging photo makes all the difference.
When you hear the word “headshot” you automatically think about actors, actresses, and models. The word “headshot” is closely associated with agents, agencies, and entertainment, which makes the average person think “Why do I need a professional photo? I’m not an actor!” That’s where you’re wrong. Everyone needs professional photos taken because this is a professional age. There is a renaissance of entrepreneurship, self starting, small businesses, crowd funded companies, and global personal projects. And because of social media we are all interconnected. Why not show whoever is looking for you a face to attach to your brand? You will get a few great photos to show people and that never hurts either. It doesn’t mean you’re self absorbed.
Of course I want you to get new photos because more business never hurts! But do them for yourself. It doesn’t matter where you work or what you do for a living. That profile photo speaks volumes of who you are. When you see someone’s professional headshots you automatically think to yourself that this individual means business and that means you WANT to do business with that person. I encourage you to book a shoot with me and make an impact with a great image as part of your personal branding.
As always you can catch me on Twitter @nyphotony
Hello, everyone! This page is dedicated to articles I have written for other websites as well as places nyphotony.com has been mentioned.
Mentioned on MSN Career Builder
Shooting from Home tips on PhotographyTalk.com
Dealing With Flakes article for PhotographyTalk.com
Starting a photography company
Review for F-Stop Magazine: Noel Kerns
Mention on B2B Community: Social Media Predictions
Mention on The Hound: Why Is My Job Sexy
Mention on Self Employment King: How To Increase Sales
Review for F-Stop Magazine: Robert Herman’s “The New Yorkers”
Mention on National Federation of Independent Business
CarolRoth.com Advice For Entrepreneurs Starting New Businesses
Mention on Granted.com “What are the worse reasons for taking a job.”
Review for F-Stop Magazine: Dolce Via by Charles H. Traub
Mention on Self Employment King: How To Use Instagram For Business
Review For F-Stop Magazine: Paul Chesley: A Photographic Voyage
Mention in an article for NFIB.com
Review for F-Stop Magazine: Moon Viewing
Photo for “Tamed Lightning” by Susana Acosta
Contribution to Connect: 100+ Mind Blowing Strategies to Use Social Media and Drive Business Growth
Review for F-Stop Magazine: Bronx Boys by Stephen Shames
9 Tips to Propel Your Personal Brand