FAQ

Do you take photos for professionals, like realtors, lawyers, doctors, etc.?

Yes! The majority of our headshots are for business professionals who need a headshot for their company website, print media, and professional profiles online. My goal is to create the best portrait for the line of work that you are in, in order to create the best look to represent you, your personality, and your business.

Do you take headshots for actors, musicians, and entertainers?

Yes! The look of a headshot for an entertainer is usually going to be different than a corporate portrait/business headshot. Check out tips for both looks.

What’s the process?

The first step is scheduling a date and time for your portrait. Contact me to get the ball rolling.

The day of, come dressed for your session. If you are uncertain about clothing choices, let's chat beforehand. You can also bring some clothing to choose from and we’ll go over options and choose something together. We’ll take the photos, coaching you into the best smiles and poses possible, making sure we’ve got enough photos to choose from. I shoot most sessions "tethered", which means you can see the result real time and we can review and tweak as we go. By the time the session is done you'll have picked your three (3) favorites.

Typically 24-48 hours later I will email you your professionally retouched images. If you would like to see more options, I am happy to make an online gallery available one un-retouched images to review. Additional images may be purchased for $50/image.

How many photos do you take?

I’ll keep taking photos until both of us feel you have plenty of photos to choose from. We’ll look through them briefly during the session to make sure we both like the posing, smiles, and that there’s enough variety in order to pick your three (3) final images.

How long does it take?

Since we keep taking photos until we’re both happy with the results, it can depend on how quickly that happens: for some people it’s 10 minutes, for others 30 minutes of actual shooting. Give yourself about an hour for the session so we’ll have enough time to chat, choose clothing and backdrops (though, we'll discuss backdrops beforehand too!), and take the photos. We may finish early, but it's better to block out time versus running late and conflicting with your other commitments.

Depending on location and type of portrait, I may need 30 minutes to setup before we begin.

If we are doing headshots for multiple employees or team members, a safe bet is to allow 30 minutes per person. I will need

How long until I get the photos delivered to me?

Finished images are usually emailed to you within 24-48 hours. A rush fee of $75 per image applies for a same-day turnaround.

How much is it? Can I create a custom package?

You can see detailed pricing information here. Please contact me for special requests and group pricing.

Do I need a make-up/hair artist?

It’s totally up to you. Your headshot needs to look like the your best everyday you -- these are not glamour shots! -- so do your hair and makeup like you normally would. Some people are more comfortable with the idea of having hair and makeup professionally done to get them feeling more camera-ready than the regular/daily makeup they usually apply themselves. If this would be your preference, I can help you select a hair and makeup artist for your session.

Do you use natural or studio light?

Both! I mostly use studio light, and often a backdrop for better control and consistency, but can use natural light if the space and light allow for it. We’ll talk together at the session about the best look for the photo and what would work for you. Let me know if you are looking for more of an "environmental" portrait (think an architect at their drafting table, for example), or are looking for a consistent and repeatable look for a team  of employees.

Do I get different poses and facial expressions? Will you coach me into different poses and facial expressions?

Yes and yes! You will be coached into several different poses and smiles from different angles to make sure we’ve got some great photos and lots of options. I will be give you lots of helpful direction, and hopefully it will be fun and not too uncomfortable!

How much retouching is your retouching?

My retouching is done to look natural and not heavy handedly. Retouching a headshot should be done in a way that looks like you’re just naturally photogenic. When retouching, I first correct anything that’s temporary, such as redness, blemishes, etc. Then we’ll minimize anything that’s distracting in a photo but most people don’t notice in person: such as under-eye circles and lines, whitening teeth, etc. Tweaks to this can be make once you receive your images if you need anything adjusted!

Where does the session take place?

For the convenience of my clients, all sessions take place at a location convenient for them, in most cases that's their office. If a specific look of location is needed, we will try to make that happen, and perform location scouting to find the perfect space.