Great Headshots Require Self-Confidence And Trust

You need to feel self-confident and have trust in your photographer in order to create great headshots. So, what do you do when need a great headshot but hate getting your picture taken?

I love to work with people who know they need a new headshot but would rather do almost anything except stand in front of a camera. In most cases, photographers do not want to work with people who have not bought into the process. But in my experience, I have found that the people who begin the headshot journey with doubts and apprehension become the most confident subjects and end up with the best headshots.

Conversely, bad photographers destroy self-confidence and erode trust. They often are better suited to photographing landscapes than people.

The Problem

Standing in front of a camera in an unfamiliar environment, with lights close to their face and a lens pointed straight at them. It is no wonder most people feel like they have zero control of the situation. Without any control, feelings of apprehension and self-doubt overwhelm them. They are resistant to direction and the resulting images leave them looking stiff with unnatural expressions. That is the exact opposite of what a headshot is supposed to do for you.

If you are instructed to just show up for your photo session without receiving any preparation information from your photographer, the chances they will create great headshots for you are low. Additionally, if your session duration does not allow you the time to get comfortable in front of the camera, chances are significantly lower that you will like the results.

The Solution

Through many years of experience, I have found that nothing does more to instill confidence and trust in my clients than our communication both before and during our sessions.

Pre-Session Preparation

All my clients receive information about how to prepare for their headshots. That includes guidance for what to wear and, more importantly, what not to wear. I provide guidance for hair and makeup (though I recommend taking advantage of my in-studio hair and makeup artist) and encourage them to set aside a few minutes for a quick conversation with me.

Your Background

I want to understand what has led you to the decision to have a new headshot created. Is there a business, or even a personal, story that will give me some insight that can lead us to more meaningful images?

What You Want the Images to Accomplish

When I know why you need these headshots, we can create images that not only look great, but make an impact on the audience you want to connect with.

Collaboration

I am creating these images for you, not my portfolio. Your feedback and an exchange of ideas are critical to the process and creating amazing images.

Pressure Free Sessions

We Have Got Plenty of Time! I set aside four hours for my headshot sessions with the average session lasting between ninety minutes and two hours. That gives us the opportunity to review your images as they are created, make any necessary adjustments, allows you to try as many different outfits as you would like, and be able to relax during the process.

Guided Image Selection

When the photography is finished, most photographers put all the images into an online gallery, send you the link, and leave it to you to figure out which images to select. That might sound like a great idea, but the reality is this method of selecting images can be overwhelming, leaving most people unsure about the images they have chosen.

Instead of dumping all those images on my clients, the image selection is part of your session! Once you feel you have a great group of images to select from, we review and select them together. Based on all the information you have provided me during the process and observing how you have reacted to the images as they were created, I am able to provide unbiased recommendations of the images that would work best for you. Of course, the ultimate decision on which images you select is yours. But together we are selecting images that both look great and will work as effective marketing tools for you.

Start Instilling Confidence And Building Trust

You might begin the headshot process with a lot of apprehension. But it does not have to end that way. For a more successful headshot session, be sure to select a photographer who specializes in headshots and goes that extra mile to make sure you are going to be comfortable with and who will help you to enjoy the process. You are welcome to setup a free 30-minute consultation with me to instill confidence and build trust.

Citations

• Charles Cotugno Photography – Seattle Headshots
• Charles Cotugno Photography – Corporate Headshots.