Opening doors

Relationships are the key to making a business work so any advantage we can bring to develop a working relationship is a useful tool. A warm and inviting expression in a professional portrait works on a few levels to serve your business. A corporate headshot is the means for the outside world to know who they are dealing with and it may also be the key to creating a strong first impression. Professional photography is a key part of your brand and every part of your branding is trying to trigger a trust response towards your business from your audience. And, it’s a very public document that may be in circulation for years so it should represent you looking both professional and approachable.

So we have established that a corporate headshot is an important resource for doing business but the process of being photographed can seem a confronting experience. Unless you have natural flair, love being the centre of attention or have training in modelling or acting, you may feel pretty much out to sea. 

The experience can feel a bit like this;

You get pulled away from your work and told, this is important. 

Stand here! 

Look at the stranger! 

Now, RELAX!!

What is your motivation?

You can’t evade the experience but you can have some control over the sense of vulnerability you feel. Actors are capable of managing their feelings to produce a “performance” and one of the main tools they use is a ‘through-line’. A through-line is a short phrase they repeat in their minds to help them focus on the underlying emotion they need to bring to their performance; it’s their key motivation. If it’s an uplifting scene they might be repeating; “I just couldn’t be happier.” When a good actor brings this intent to their words and expressions, their performance becomes emotive.

Well? How did I get here?

How did you get here? You may have just landed on your feet in a dream job but more than likely, it took a great deal of effort to get to where you are, and there was almost certainly a bit of luck involved too. 

If you have worked hard to get established, then you are more than entitled to have pride in your progression. It doesn’t hurt to throw in a bit of gratitude to balance things out. So your through-line could be something like; ‘Well done, look at what I’ve achieved.‘

Now consider standing up in front of a camera with a through-line of; ‘This is going to be a complete disaster…’

Think about how your intent could affect the outcome. Positive through-lines are an extremely useful tool in your day-to-day life as well. I can’t recommend them highly enough.

The desired result

The goal is to have a cohesive set of beautifully lit portraits of a group of confident, approachable folk, who appear keen to be of service. A set of photographic portraits that look like they were made together, with cohesive backgrounds and lighting will act as another step to show that your business is organised. Professional portraiture is an important part of your branding. Different lighting and a mishmash of backgrounds are not in service to a consolidated-looking brand.

The rules 

This is your step-by-step guide to giving a good performance.

1. Give yourself the best chance you can. Obviously, you will need to be well presented. Appropriate clothes, no logos unless they are directly related to your business and don’t wait until your name is called before you check your hair. If you are fashion challenged like me, in advance, consult someone who understands good presentation and get some advice.

2. Run your through-line which combines a balance of pride and gratitude.

3. Breathe and relax.

4. DON’T PULL YOUR PHOTO FACE!

5. Get out of your own way. You don’t need to try too hard. With digital photography, there is no cost for each frame so you can’t really make a mistake. If you blinked, we just take another shot.

Ideally, you are using an experienced, professional photographer who themselves is relaxed, fun and above all, sensitive to other people's apprehensions about being in front of a camera. Anyone I am photographing should feel that they have my undivided attention and they can relax, as I have everything completely under control. For me to leave with the images I need, my subject should have a really enjoyable time. Retrospectively, being photographed should be a stress-free and enjoyable process.