HEADSHOT WARDROBE: What to Wear

January 13, 2024

It’s a new year and maybe you’re thinking about updating your profile headshot. Or maybe you don’t even have a decent headshot and you want one. Whatever the case you will most likely need a little guidance on what to wear.

Here are a few pointers:

Choose the Right Colors

Choose colors that complement your hair as well as your complexion. Take color psychology into consideration. What message do you want to convey using color? Not sure which colors look best on you? Look at old photos or ask people you trust.

Make Sure It Fits You Well

Your outfit should fit you well. An oversized jacket or baggy blouse simply looks unprofessional.

Add Layers

If you want to make your headshots interesting without using patterns and big jewelry, layer your clothing instead. Just do this in moderation if you want it to have the right effect though.

Keep It Wrinkle-Free

Even though your schedule is busy, showing up to your headshot session in wrinkle-free clothing is non-negotiable.

Consider Your Niche

If you want your headshots to appeal to employers and clients in your sector, factor this into your outfit choice. If you're a creative, find ways to add a touch of fun to your headshot outfit without it being too distracting.

Event Headshots in Colorado Springs

November 30, 2023

If you are holding a larger corporate event or even convention getting great event photos is a must. We provide coverage for corporate events from a few hours to multiple day conventions. From one photographer to multiple we’ll make sure your event has the coverage you need.

But what if you want to go above and beyond for your event attendees and offer complimentary headshots—maybe at the event expo or other central location. We can provide a headshot station or multiple stations depending on the size of your event. Often we suggest that having a corporate sponsor for the headshot station helps the event host defray the cost of providing the headshots to attendees.

5 Tips To Make Your Headshot Session Successful

July 11, 2023

First: Makes sure you bring enough clothes for choices. And make sure they’re ironed! Nothing worse than lots of wrinkled clothes or great clothes but only one outfit and you wish you had more options. Sometimes it’s best-especially in the summer—to not wear the outfit you’re going to be photographed in—so there won’t be sweat stains on it. We have lots of A/C and a changing room at the studio.

Second: Bring accessories—extra ties for men; women-extra earrings and necklaces for more options.

Third: Bring entire outfits. This means pants and shoes. Yes, it’s a headshot session but often we like to provide you with a three quarter length option or even full length, like sitting. So just in case bring those dress pants and shoes.

US and Foreign Passport Photos

June 8, 2023

Getting a passport photo can be a frustrating experience. Especially if you need an international passport photo which many places cannot do. We now offer custom passport sessions at the studio. You can review the images as we take them, choose the one you want and we’ll size it correctly for you. We do not however make the prints, we’ll set it up so you can get 2 images up on a print and you can get your prints made anywhere that has printing services.

While it is quite a bit cheaper to get a passport photo made at various locations in town we offer personalized service, no waiting, professional portrait lighting which is flattering and we’ll shoot until you’re comfortable with the images.

Many of our clients just add on this service while they’re in having their headshots done.

If you’d like a custom passport session click the clink below to book.

Headshots With The U.S. Flag

June 7, 2023

We often get requests to have the U.S. flag in headshots. Most that want this are either active duty military or they work for a branch of the government such as the Department of Defense. Though we can do a full or three quarter length portrait with the flag most prefer using the flag with a tighter headshot.

During the session you will get a chance to do a quick review of the images so we can tweak the placement of the flag to your preference. We understand the standard flag placement on the left side of the portrait but some prefer showing a bit of the flags’ stripes while others prefer just the blue star field.

Active duty military members who are photographed in their uniform will get a slight discount on their headshot session (and additional digital file at no cost—so purchase one image and get a second at no cost). We get requests for military portraits without the flag as well. Sometimes these are for use on base but mostly they are portraits the military members wish to send to their families.

Business Headshots and Group Photos

May 3, 2023

If you have a staff or a business team you work with many times you’ll get headshots for your team. More and more companies like showing off their staff or teams on their website. So in addition to headshots—either in studio or on location—we will take a group photo.

Now group photos can be hard to plan for. With a headshot if someone misses they can always come to the studio to get a headshot and add to your other headshots on the website. But did you know that we can do team photos the same way? If fact we prefer to shoot teams individually then composite in post. Even if the whole team is gathered same day on photo day.

Why do we do it this way?

Actor Headshot Looks

March 21, 2023

Actor headshots are a bit different from business headshots and a long ways from a family portrait. We work with a lot of actors-both adults as well as children. An actor needs a series of great images for their book and we work to help them achieve that.

If you are just starting out you might only need one image to submit to see if you are a good fit. Most times however, even beginning actors want a more rounded book to submit to acting schools, coaches as well as casting directors.

Graduate Cap and Gown Headshots and More

March 14, 2023

If you have a graduate in your world-high school, college or even for an advanced degree we offer in studio cap and gown headshots for your grad.

We got a lot of requests for this having had grads book our headshot sessions. No they have their own session.

We offer two types for your graduate—cap and gown sessions and a little longer senior session. These are both done in studio.

The cap and gown sessions are quick sessions for the purpose of getting a great shot of your grad in their cap and gown. We will work to match the coloring of the background to your grads gown. While most gowns are black we do get some seniors in with colorful gowns reflecting their school colors.

Headshots: The Process

February 6, 2023

Of all the people coming in for headshots roughly 50% have never had a professional headshot taken. One of the most frequent questions we get is how does this work?

The Process

First you book your session online. We make it as easy as possible for you to access the studio calendar and select the day and time of your choosing. The session fee is due at time of booking. This is what covers the time for photography at your session. You will have options of backgrounds and wardrobe changes. We offer unlimited time so whether you need a quick LinkedIn headshot or a longer multiple outfit session we have you covered.

Headshot Prep

A few tips to prepare for your headshots: be well rested—if you’re tired it will show in the headshots, well hydrated helps as well. We’re in a very dry climate so staying well hydrated is important. It will also help your skin look great in the headshot.

Make sure you have clean pressed clothes. Wrinkled clothes will make anyone look sloppy in a headshot. Bring a few outfit changes—even if you want just a quick headshot we suggest a few choices—at least ties (men) or a few blouses for women. Solid mid to darker toned colors work best. The focus needs to be on you not the wild patterned tie or dress you are wearing. We recommend 3/4 to full length sleeves. Even if your arms are super toned it’s too much skin—usually a lighter color—and a distraction in the final portrait.

Throwing a Successful Business Event: Tips and Tricks

December 5, 2022

There's a lot that goes into throwing a successful business event. From budgeting to venue selection to hiring entertainment and deciding on a menu, there are a million different things to think about (and that's not even including promoting your event!). In this blog post, we'll give you all the tips and tricks you need to make sure your business event is one for the books. So let's get started!

Budgeting for Your Business Event

One of the first things you need to do when planning a business event is set a budget. You need to determine how much you're willing to spend on your event as a whole, as well as how much you're willing to spend per person. Once you have a budget in mind, you can start looking for venues and vendors that fit within your price range.

Headshot Backgrounds

October 31, 2022

The question we get the most is what color backgrounds are available? The answer is pretty much any color you choose. In addition to several standard background colors like: gray, blue, black and white we can digitally create any color you can imagine to use as your background. We can even shoot you in studio and use an outdoor background.

Below are some of the examples of existing and digital backgrounds.

GRAYS

Same paper backdrop-different amount of light on each

BLUES

These are existing backgrounds we have at the studio

VARIOUS

OTHER: LOCATION AND OUTDOORS

Actor Headshot Tips

September 2, 2022

The Headshot is the single most important marketing tool for an actor

It’s a crucial step to getting in the door

An actor headshot is created strategically for each actors market

An actor headshot is NOT: a glamor portrait, a corporate headshot or a fashion shot

A great actor headshot will capture the character in one strong image

The actors type and style drive the session—not the photographers style

Actors need a commercial headshot and a theatrical headshot—each is created differently with wardrobe, color, lighting and environment

Actors need to look trustworthy to sell a product in a commercial headshot; theatrical headshots will show more emotion and depth

You have literally seconds to make an impression with your headshot-you must instantly communicate your type and personality

An actor headshot can have poor results with excessive makeup, large jewelry or distracting patterns on clothing

Your headshot should be current and look like you not 10 years younger or with different hair color

Headshot should be tight and eyes should be the point of focus

Nothing should be seen that would distract the eyes of the viewer—no hands no hat

Your headshot should give a sense of who you are and roles you might play

Clothing should be simple and relate to your brand—no loud graphics or patterns to distract from your face

Makeup is not necessary for men and women should keep it simple and light or work with a MUA who knows actor headshots makeup

Company Matching Headshots

September 1, 2022

Matching headshots for a company across the board is important so that the website will look uniform. Whether we shoot it on location at your office or your staff comes to the studio we work to match the background. Often we will shoot on location but not everyone is there on photo day so they can arrange to swing by the studio at their convenience and we’ll photograph them with the same lighting setup and same background so they’ll all match uniformly.

We also do quite a few headshots for remote employees—those living in the Colorado Springs area but working for a company across the country. We will work with the company to make sure that the headshot matches those others in the company —often shooting on white for a more uniform look but we will also match other backgrounds or use a company supplied digital background.