5-10-18, Headshot Fun!

Tell me....  you hear 'headshots' and you think bor-ing!  Am I right?  Am I close?  Well, maybe- honestly, it depends.  Does your photographer love photographing headshots?  I do.  I really do!  In fact, when I came across the Headshot Crew a year ago, I was in awe that there was a whole community, a whole site, a whole Facebook group dedicated to this facet of photography.  I remember the moment vividly:  I was sitting on the floor of the Verizon store waiting for our number to come up for customer service.  I was killing time (Lord knows there is plenty of that waiting in line at the Verizon store on a Saturday morning...) so I decided to log onto the crew site.  I got SUCKED in.  I remember excitedly telling my husband:  "I can go here, day and night, and talk to people who are as crazy about this as I am!!"  My husband gave me a strange look like, "um, ok?"  He clearly did not get it.   He was, well, bored, and I was beyond excited.  There was a BIG group of photographers out there who also spent their time analyzing camera settings, light placement, catch lights, background colors, client connection, authentic expression, retouching, etc (etc, etc, etc, etc.......).  It blew my mind.  Finding the crew was like finally finding that golden nugget after years and years of panning.  

So, I ask you again, do you think headshots are boring?  Do you think the sessions are boring?  Do you think I, the photographer, am bored?  Let these snapshots from a recent session answer these questions for you.  Look how much fun we had!!!

So, all that fun and a final image like this?  Amazing, isn't it?  I LOVE headshot photography!!

4-10-18, Confidence is in the Eyes

What do you think is desirable in the appearance of one's eyes when you see a headshot?  Do you think wide, colorful irises?  Are you sure?  Take a look at the photo below of my son.  (Yes, he's my son so I can post this photo of him!  And, yes, he does have amazing eyes.). If this were a business headshot, what feeling would you be conveying to potential clients?  Confidence?  Nope.  Got it all under control? No, not that either.  How about "how in the heck did I get here?" or "I have NO idea what I'm doing!".  I think we can all agree that none of these vibes are ones that you want to put out into the world.  Unfortunately, this is a common reaction when people stand in front of a camera.  Discomfort.  Maybe even fear.  

How do we overcome this?  Together.  Together, the client and I work on expression, comfort and distraction so you don't remember the camera in front of you.  Another common tactic that was made famous by premier headshot photographer Peter Hurley, is the 'squinch'.  Not a 'squint' and not a 'smeyes', but a squinch.  Have you seen the images of actors and models where they appear to be staring off into the distance with this total, complete look of coolness?  Yep, they're nailing the 'squinch'.  And, in effect, confidence is oozing out of their pores.  This is what we strive for in a headshot:  confidence and approachability (more to come on approachability in a later post).  If you want to pursue the methodology of the squinch further (which I whole-heartedly recommend), please view the corresponding video in the tips section of my site.  

For comparison purposes, taking a look at the first 'deer in the headlights' image.  Now, scroll down and look at the second 'I'm a teenager so I'm automatically cool' image.  You've got to admit, the second image is where it's at.  Don't forget this the next time you're in front of a camera.  Feel the lift of the muscle under your lower eyelid, but try to keep the upper eye lid from lowering (that would just be a squint).  Practice this even, in front of a mirror, and you'll feel you'll coolness factor increase exponentially.   

For more information about the squinch, take a look at Peter Hurley's video!

Look more photogenic every time you step in front of a camera with this move PEOPLE! It's all about the Jaw started the series, so check that sucker out too!