5 Tips for Choosing a Headshot Photographer
5 Tips for Selecting a Headshot Photographer
Selecting a headshot photographer can seem overwhelming, with so many photographers offering those services – and with good reason as it’s the fastest growing segment in photography. But as with many things, the devil is in the details. Here’s 5 things to consider, whether you’re a business looking for headshots for your team, or an individual looking to update your LinkedIn profile, website, publishing a book, etc..
1) Choose a photographer who specializes in headshots – every genre in photography is different, requiring a different set of skills. Headshots in particular are very much 1:1, and require a set of people and technical skills, along with a different “eye” for how what makes a great image vs. for example a wedding or product photographer.
2) Compare the work, looking closely at how well the face it lit and the expressions/overall look of the examples on the photographer’s website. Do the images draw you in, bring a smile to your face, or provide a great impression of the subjects? How natural do the images look in terms of expression – do the people look genuine? Be less concerned with the backgrounds and more with the subjects themselves.
3) Check out the photographer’s reviews, posts on the appropriate social media sites – LinkedIn (particularly for businesses), Facebook, Instagram, etc..
4) If you’re a business with multiple employees, does the photographer travel on-location as well as have a studio? The latter makes it easier (and less expensive) to add headshots for new employees or those who cannot make the time you may have scheduled for the on-location work.
5) What is the photographer’s process to insure you’ll get images you’re happy with – this is one of the most important aspects that can result in either failure or success. The process should include everything from preparation for the subjects before the shoot, the shoot itself, and retouching/delivery.
One of the most important technical developments in the last several years is shooting a mode called “tethered” – it has revolutionized the process, mitigating risk and allowing the photographer to work more closely and in depth with each subject. In this setup, the digital camera is connected to a computer, where the images are immediately downloaded and displayed – the computer can also be connected to a monitor near the subject so they can also view the images. Some implementations can even allow for remote team members (ie, marketing) to view the images remotely live during the session. It’s very cool!
Watch the short video below to learn more about tethered shooting.