Tag: Headshots

November 2, 2018

9 Business Headshot Tips to Look Your Best

Business headshots are a great way to make yourself look more professional in your career. Hiring a headshot photographer to come to your workplace or photograph you in their studio can give you an edge in the business world if the shots are done right.

There are times when people get their headshot done without considering important details of the shoot, such as clothes to wear, makeup, background, hairstyles, and more.

Feel free to see some of our own business headshots here for some ideas on how you’d want to look in your photoshoot.

Continue reading for some useful tips on looking great in your business headshot.

9 Business Headshot Tips To Look Your Best

Wear appropriate clothing

Think about the look you are trying to convey to people who are going to see your business photo. Do you work at an insurance corporation, veterinary clinic, or are you a Realtor? Many people dress up for their headshot like they would for a day at the office, but wearing a suit or a nice shirt is common for men who don’t normally wear one at work.

Also, be sure to iron your clothes and look for stains and pet hair before you arrive at the shoot.

If you are planning to get just the top half of your body in the photos then don’t worry too much about about your pants and shoes, but if you want a full body portrait then remember to wear nice shoes as well.

Make your hair look nice

For women, try brushing your hair right before your shoot or bringing a brush with you. If you want it looking smooth and silky, try using some conditioner in the shower or using a leave-in conditioner the day of the shoot. It is handy to look in a mirror or a selfie camera to see how your hair is sitting right before the shoot starts.

For men, try styling your hair with some gel or putty and even a blow-dryer to give it the look you’re going for. If you have a beard, make sure to shape it with your razor, and consider combing it if it has been growing for a while.

Tell your photographer how you want to convey yourself

Headshot photographers are experts at bringing out certain looks in people. You may want to portray yourself as “fun and approachable”, “dedicated and serious about success”, “creative and deep-thinking”, or “goofy and unique”.

The possibilities are endless, but if you have a specific demeanor in mind then be sure to talk to your photographer about it. They can set the tone with different music and backgrounds, while using different angles and lenses to portray your custom look.

Going into a shoot without any idea of how you want to look can still result in great images, but it is then up to your photographer to come up with different poses and looks for you to try out.

Don’t worry though, that’s what business headshot photographers do best. If you’ve got a really good photographer they’ll make sure you get some amazing headshot photos regardless of whether you had a certain look in mind or not.

Know your best side

Most people don’t have perfectly symmetrical faces. Perhaps your hair looks better from one angle over another or you have an imperfection on your face that you want to hide.

There are a lot of people who know which side of their face they prefer to take a picture of.

If you don’t know you can try taking a couple of selfies from different angles and find out which you prefer.

Alternatively you could get your photographer to take pictures of you at different facing angles so you have different choices.

Relax

It’s not hard to tell when a smile is forced or if you look tense in a photo. People often feel nervous in front of a camera, especially when they don’t get their picture taken often. You have nothing to worry about when getting your photograph taken though.

Headshot photographers are aware that people can feel nervous during photoshoots and they are experienced at helping them feel more calm. To help feel more calm at the shoot, start off with some photos of you doing goofy faces to relax the face muscles.

If you have a certain song that makes you feel confident or relaxed you can request to have the song playing. Once you are warmed up and realize that you have nothing to be nervous about then you can express yourself freely and your shoot will go smoothly!

Consider wearing makeup

It’s up to you whether you want to wear makeup for your headshot session, but it can help make you look your best for the shoot and minimize the amount of editing that the photographer does afterwards.

Makeup can be useful if you didn’t get much sleep the night before and have bags under your eyes, and also can help with covering small details like crow’s feet or blemishes.

Additionally, makeup can make people feel more confident, which results in better pictures. It’s up to you how you want to convey yourself!

Push your chin up and out

To avoid having the double-chin effect in your headshot try pushing your chin just slightly up and forward.

This will elongate your neck and make the skin underneath your jawline tighter, which can eliminate the appearance of a double chin.

You should also roll your shoulders back and stand up straight to improve your posture and appear more confident.

Use the right background

Corporate headshots can be taken indoors or outdoors depending on the look you are going for. As you can see here, both can look good, but they convey different first impressions.

Indoor headshots with white or mono coloured backgrounds are best for the formal business appeal. It looks professional and can be used for business cards or any other promotional material easily.

Outdoor headshots give a more casual look, but they allow for more creativity and unique portrayals of your personality.

Smile

Smiling makes you look more open and inviting and can also show off your facial features better. People like to work with happy, confident professionals so don’t be afraid to show off your smile.

If you aren’t comfortable with how you teeth look you can still smile with your lips closed. Smiling activates chemicals in your brain that make you feel better, allowing a more positive side of you to shine in the images.

Some people may choose not to smile in their picture because they want to portray a more serious look. Everyone is different, but in most cases smiling is the best option!

Consider these tips prior to getting your business headshot done and you’ll be much happier with the photos. It’s an opportunity to look your best and have a professional photographer show you off, so make sure to get it done right.

If you liked this article consider checking out 5 Ways To Look More Photogenic In Portraits or 5 Tips On What To Wear For Fall Family Portraits.

Looking for a Business Headshot Photographer in Ontario?

If you live around Southwestern Ontario we invite you to come to our Guelph studio and get some professional pictures taken. We can also travel to your location!

Create a powerful first impression with your headshot – Contact us today

September 5, 2017

Headshots After Labour Day

The end of Labour Day means lots of people have to go back to work and school. The good news is that it’s a great time to do a new headshot photo.

Whether its for your social media accounts, your website, or business cards, the end of summer is when your skin will be glowing and you’re feeling more relaxed.

We have 3 different headshot packages available to choose from, ranging to 1 to 10 high quality images for you to keep.

Your headshot session at our Guelph studio will be comfortable and enjoyable, and you can be in and out of the studio in as little as 15 minutes. Whether you’re a chiropractor, plumber, lawyer, or Realtor, having an awesome head shot is a great boost to your personal brand.

To see some of the headshots we’ve done, visit our studio headshot portfolio.

We also do headshots for companies at their location. See our on-location headshot photography page for more info.

We are located at 54 Preston St, in downtown Guelph.

August 20, 2017

Author Photography

Congratulations to Marion Reidel for getting her book We Drank Wine: And Other Stories published last month. We just ordered our copy of it and can’t wait to read it!

We Drank Wine: And Other Stories is a comedy about four women who face life’s challenges and fight to keep shame at bay. Parenting issues in the book include biting toddlers, adolescent pyromaniacs and entitled brides.

Marion is a prize winning author that enjoys creating stories that evolve from everyday life.

We took the picture that is featured on the back cover of her book, which you can see here.

Author photography is important to get done right since the picture on your book will be seen from hundreds to millions of people.

To see more headshots, visit our headshot gallery.

August 15, 2017

Headshot Photography at Our Guelph Studio

Summer is the perfect time of the year for headshot photography.

Your skin has a better glow to it, gardens are in bloom, and people generally look better in the summer.

Whether you’re looking for outdoor headshot photography, studio headshot photography, or indoor natural light headshots, our Guelph studio has perfect areas for all 3 looks.

To see different looks you might want, check out our headshot gallery.

Headshot Photography Indoors With Studio Lighting

This is the classic way to get your headshot taken. You have the choice of traditional background colours such as white, grey, black, and brown, or you can go with a unique colour like a yellow-orange gradient, as seen in the photo here.

We also have a variety of different styles of light that can be used to produce different looks.

A great thing about headshot photography with a conventional white backdrop is that you can easily crop your headshot so it can be inserted into a range of different media with varying backgrounds. Great for doctors, chiropractors, or any other professional.

Headshot Photography Indoors with Natural Lighting

Inside of our studio is a sunlit room with big windows, couches, hardwood floor, and a brick wall background.

This area is a nice location for more casual headshot photography with a relaxed vibe.

This option is great for the colder months when you want natural light but don’t want to be standing outside.

Headshot Photography Outside

Summer is a great time for outdoor headshot photography.

Our garden is in full bloom with perfect textures for a beautiful backdrop. We also have a bamboo backdrop as you can see in the picture here.

Outdoor headshots provide a unique look and a relaxed feel that is great for showcasing yourself in the warmer months.

Headshot Photography Packages

We offer 3 different headshot packages to accommodate your needs: The One & Done, The Double Double, and The Works.

The Works is a popular option because of the deal that you get from it. The package provides 3 different locations for headshots (studio lighting, natural light, and outdoors), 4 different looks or outfits, 3 different shot lengths, and 10 of your favourite shots digitally retouched.

This option is perfect for a professional who needs a lot of different photos to promote themselves with. In one shoot you’ll have different photos for social media platforms, dating profiles, business cards, and even a personal portrait to give to a loved one.

View our headshot pricing chart below, or see our headshot pricing page for more details.

Headshot Photography Studio Location

Our studio is located at 54 Preston Street, Guelph, ON and we are open Tuesday to Saturday. To book a head shot session, contact us at 519-767-2948.

July 31, 2017

Company Headshots at Your Location

This staff portrait was taken at BDO Canada in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario. BDO Canada provides assurance, accounting, tax, and advisory services to clients in Canada.

It was a pleasure to do a photo shoot at the BDO building because it has a really interesting architecture and it provided plenty of different areas to take photos.

Company headshot days are convenient, economical, and also a great staff bonding event. See our on-location headshots here.

Companies we’ve worked with loved how fast the process went, allowing them to be in and out within a couple of minutes and get on with the rest of their busy day.

Getting headshots done for the whole company at once is also useful because the headshots all look consistent with the same background and lighting.

We’ve done work with companies such as Linamar, Compusense, Meducom, and Investors Group, providing professional headshots that portray the right look for each company.

We also love to work with personal trainers and can come to your gym to photograph everyone at once.

If you’re looking to get headshots for your company in Southwestern Ontario, contact Trina today.

Be sure to check out our business headshot tips so you look your best in the photos!

July 22, 2017

Why Contractors Need Headshots

Headshots can be very beneficial to your business if you are contractor doing work like plumbing, landscaping, roofing, or construction. You can see some of the headshots we’ve done here.

People want to put a face to a name, so having an updated photo of yourself and your employees on your website will be likely to increase your conversion rate.

For new small businesses it is particularly important to put a face to your name especially if you have not established a reputation for your company yet.

Guelph plumber Wil Boardman got his headshot taken with us last month for his company Will B Plumbing as you can see in the picture here. This helps people better understand who is behind his company name and form more trust for it.

Customers form first impressions very quickly. If they see an unprofessional picture of you on your website they may make the assumption that you aren’t a professional businessman/woman.

Brand consistency is key for websites, so if the rest of your website is designed nicely then it’s important that all of your images look crisp and professional as well.

Whether you are a carpenter, a plumber, or a painting company, be sure to have photos of you and your employees on your website. If not, you are hurting your chances of getting conversions from your site even if you had a professional web designer make your site look nice.

If you need a headshot for your business contact Trina Koster and setup an appointment today.

You can also learn how to look your best for your headshot session with these headshot tips.

July 13, 2017

Actor Headshots

If you are an actor and trying to build a reputation for yourself, having a proper headshot taken is a must.

It can be tough to compete with thousands of other actors in a city when you don’t stand out from the crowd. As an actor, headshots should be an investment in your future, which means you should spend the money to get it done professionally so that your investment pays off.

We’ve been doing actor photography for many years in Guelph, Ontario, which you can see on our headshots page.

Stephen Graybill, pictured here, is one of many actors we’ve photographed at our studio. He’s starred in the critically acclaimed TV show Big Little Lies with Reese Witherspoon, and also in Law and Order: SVU and The Wire.

When having your headshot taken you need to make sure you look your best so that you can showcase the headshot proudly for years to come. Think about what you want to wear and how you want to portray yourself to the world. Good headshot photographers will be able to offer their opinion on what looks good for you so be sure to ask them when getting your photoshoot done.

Its generally a good idea to bring a couple of different outfits to a photoshoot so that you have choices on which look you like best afterwards. For actors it is usually best to dress casual with a nice non-wrinkled shirt. Actor headshots can also be done outside for a unique look.

The point of getting your headshot done is to show off your true personality to the world in an photograph. That means you should relax and just be yourself. Smile or don’t smile, its up to you, depending on how you want to portray yourself.

If you live in Ontario and want your headshot done, contact our studio to book an appointment at our Guelph studio.

Be sure to review our article 9 business headshots tips to look your best before getting your headshot done!

July 13, 2017

How Professional Headshots Help You Land Your Dream Job

Finding a professional headshot photographer can greatly improve your chances of finding your dream job.

The first thing people see when they view your business profile is your headshot. Having a high-quality headshot portrait makes you appear professional and gives employers a strong first impression of you. For reference, see some our professional headshots.

If you work in the entertainment industry then you understand that actor headshots and model headshots are vital for landing a job. Agencies are looking at hundreds of images per day and you need to be able to stand out from the others.

Finding the right actor headshot photographer can take you from being unknown to successful within days.

Take for example this testimonial from Jake, an actor from Ontario, Canada who saw success within a day of posting his new professional headshot by Trina online:

“I had an audition last week for the World Championships of Performing Arts, which is basically like the Olympics but for performance, and the first thing they said to me at my audition was that I had a great headshot. I got an email back from them yesterday, and I was picked to represent Canada in the acting category at the competition! So that means I’ll be going to Hollywood this summer to compete with countries all over the world!”

Jake goes on to say:

“I posted my headshot on a website frequented by agents last night, and I got a phone call less than twelve hours later from an agency asking if I was interested in doing background work with them! So a lot of stuff is happening, and a large part of it is thanks to you”

Employers will form stronger impressions of you once you have a professional headshot to showcase. Trina is experienced in doing headshot photography for various professions, from business and corporate headshots to model and actor headshots.

If you live in the Guelph or Kitchener-Waterloo area, call Trina’s studio and book an appointment for a quick and stress-free headshot session that will benefit you for years to come.

July 6, 2017

Corporate Headshots Guelph

When you’re a busy professional it can seem like a burden to get corporate headshots taken. If you are unhappy with the time it takes or you dislike being photographed, you may not get around to doing it.

Corporate headshots are one of our specialties. We’ve photographed hundreds of corporate employees at our studio and at their location, making sure the process is quick and easy. We use lighting and posing techniques to bring out your best features and capture your true personality.

Corporate Headshots At Our Guelph Studio

Our Guelph studio is a beautiful, relaxed setting designed to make you feel comfortable and actually enjoy the experience. Depending on how many photos and different looks you want, you can be in and out within 15 minutes.

We get many repeat customers because they feel good about getting their headshot taken after their first experience with us.

Corporate Headshots At Your Location

We can visit your company and set up our equipment on location so everyone can get their photo taken within a few minutes.

Corporations such as Linamar and Investors Group have chosen us for our stress free, professional headshots because we deliver excellent quality photos with a consistent look for the whole company.

Book a corporate headshot session at our studio or at your location. You can reach us at 519-767-2948.

Our studio is located in Guelph, Ontario, but we do company headshots in most of Southwestern Ontario.

June 29, 2017

Musician Photography

At Trina Koster Photography, we have had the pleasure of working with many talented musicians here in our studio. The beauty of two artists working together on a photoshoot, is that it is a very creative experience, which results in unique and expressive images.

The photo above is from a 2016 shoot with Andrew McPherson, a producer, artist and remixer from Guelph, Ontario. Andrew used one of the images from our photoshoot for the cover of his new album ‘Bardo’. We felt this image really captured the moody feel of Andrew’s music.

Also seen is Jesse Bell Smith, an indie, alternative gospel singer also from Guelph. When photographing Jesse, we placed emphasis on the strong connection between a musician and their instrument.

We can work with musicians to come up with creative ideas for their next album cover or promo material based on your style of music and artistry.

June 19, 2017

Professional Headshot Tips

Headshots are a challenge to get right. There are many factors that come into play when taking the perfect headshot and it is important that you know what you are doing before deciding to become a professional headshot photographer.

How your headshot looks can have a huge impact on your chance of finding a job, so getting the right photographer for the job is crucial.

For examples of professional headshots, see Trina’s Guelph headshots gallery page. To get some tips on becoming a better headshot photographer, read on.

Tips for a Professional Headshot

Get the right equipment for professional headshots

Being a professional headshot photographer is an investment. The equipment required to take crisp and high-quality indoor studio headshots requires thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment. A camera capable of capturing every detail for a headshot could cost you between $1000 – $7000 depending on the level of quality you’re going for. You’ll also need a proper lighting kit and a backdrop to pull off the perfect headshot.

Know what look you are going for

Depending on how you want to portray yourself, different lighting, props, and outfits can be used. If you are an actor or model, indoor headshots and outdoor headshots can be equally effective in their own way. Studio lighting can make your good features stand out more, and provides even lighting across your whole face. This is typical for business professionals who want a formal look. Natural light from outdoor headshots gives you a more creative look and can come across as more casual.

Find the client’s best side

Nobody really has a perfectly symmetrical face and hairline. When taking a headshot of your client be sure to get them to turn their heads slightly to different angles so you can get an idea of which side of their face should get more exposure to the camera. Understanding each person’s most attractive angles will allow you to get the most flattering headshot. You will also have to adjust the lighting according to which parts of the face you want to accentuate the most, and which features you want to conceal.

Make the client feel comfortable

If the client isn’t feeling comfortable during your professional headshot session, it is going to show in the photos. Some people are naturally skilled at getting their photo taken and enjoy the shoot. Many others will feel nervous or uncomfortable with the process of getting a photoshoot done and you must learn how to put these clients at ease. Engaging the clients in conversation and putting them at ease is a skill that you develop over time when doing professional headshot sessions.

Following these tips will help you to improve headshot photography! If you live near Guelph, Ontario and need your headshot done or want private lessons in learning how to use you camera better, contact Trina Koster.

Part 2 of professional headshot tips coming soon!