Headshot tips from a Professional Cleveland photographer.

Business head shot, executive portrait, corporate portrait, business image, professional image, whatever you want to call it, whatever you need it for, Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter, Match.com, business cards, your website... whatever....make sure it looks Professional! Make sure you look the best you can for that first impression. We all know it matters. A selfie outside by a garage door? that's just lazy. Do you want your first impression to be that? No way. In this digital age you are the face of your brand. As a result, every professional needs a good business portrait, headshot. All corporate photography is not created equally. Simply put, businesses are made up of people. Having a fantastic headshot can really tip the scales for getting that dream job from your LinkedIn profile. Take the time, it will be well worth it. With the right photographer, it's easy and painless.

Here are some interesting quotes I found {I guess I'm not the only one that feels so strongly about self image :}

"A professional crafted headshot portrait is the silent yet ever present ambassador to business and community connections. If you’re going to emphasize any area of self-promotion, let it begin with the image you present to the world."

"It is vital to hire someone who can capture an individual’s essence in a professional context, capturing and forwarding your strategic message."

From LinkedIn -Look the part, be the part

Think about how your image can support the message or content of your profile. There is an old saying – ‘Look the part, be the part’. If you work in an corporate environment, present yourself as such.

Love it!! LOOK THE PART, BE THE PART!!

Take the time to read my tips and it will be smooth sailing.

Tips for professional women

Structure: A structured neutral outfit translates well on camera. Make sure to get a well-fitted one as you don’t want to look like you’re wearing a man’s jacket. A cardigan can work as well for a slightly more casual office environment. Ruffled blouses, blouses with a bow to be tied and short sleeves, are not recommended. Stick with long sleeves.   

Color: A blouse or top of a different color than the blazer. Don’t be afraid to try a fun pattern, as only a little bit will be showing under the blazer or cardigan in a tight head shot. A bright pop of color can also be nice. Stay away from white and fluorescent colors.

Accessorize: A fun way to add some femininity to your corporate look is with jewelry such as a necklace. Perhaps even try something a little bolder than you might normally wear. Earrings can be a nice touch but may or may not show up depending on your hair length. Don't go too crazy, you do not want distraction.

Glasses: If you sometimes wear fun glasses with personality you may want to bring them to your shoot. They can make for an interesting yet still professional accessory. We will need to adjust the lighting a bit to eliminate the glare that they catch. Head to the bottom for more eye glass information.

Make-up Tips: Wear a little extra make-up then you would normally wear to work. Nothing crazy, but a pop of color on your lips and some blush can add a lot of vibrancy. Powder powder powder, tone down the shine. Bring with you to the shoot to apply right before the session.

Headshot tips for professionals. Head shots, professional portrait, give yourself a professional image. Here is what a few of our clients had to say.

“We have used Michaelanglelo’s Photography for our brochures, business headshots, and events. Their work is professional and precise. They are easy going and focused, listened to what our needs were, and delivered right on point. I would highly recommend them for any photography service.” Robert J. Klonk, CEO Oswald Companies

“Working with Michaelangelo’s Photography has been a first-rate, professional experience. The photographer went out of her way to get each employee relaxed and comfortable to get the best shot. Setting the appointment was easy and we were able to send example shots prior to the shoot. We love the photos and hope to reschedule to get additional work done soon.” Mackenzie Snyder, Somat Engineering of Ohio, Inc.

“It was a great experience for our professionals; the process was efficient, easy, and relaxed, and we ended up with plenty of great shots to choose from.  We are very pleased and would recommend Michaelangelo’s Photography to anyone considering having professional portraits done.” Cathy Morse,  Administrative Assistant |  Applied Business Strategy LLC

 Whiter teeth may help :) Crest 3d Whitening Strips

 Puffy Eyes? Baebody Eye Gel 

Tips for Men 

 SHIRT

Style - Collared shirts are imperative for a professional look. Non-collared shirts (t-shirts) can work in certain scenarios and usually work best in conjunction with a sport coat. Turtlenecks are also acceptable.

Pattern - A plain, non-patterned shirt always works best. If patterned, a very subtle one is acceptable.

Material - Shirts that work best do not easily wrinkle and bounce-back when scrunched.

Color - An off-white or color shirt is much preferred over white. If a colored shirt is available, it’s your best option. Patterns seem to be the style these days.

Fit - In general, a slightly looser fit is preferable over a tight fitting shirt. Choose a snug fitting shirt only when there are no weight concerns. The main concern is for collared shirts with buttons to the neck. The top must button easily, allowing for a loose fitting collar (i.e. skin must not be pressed tightly), making head turns a breeze.

JACKET

Style - Think “professional” and you should do just fine. Again, simplicity is the key. Also keep in mind the audience you wish to attract and narrow your focus to speak to your target market.

Color - By far, darker colors tend to be your best choice. Darker tones are not only viewed as being more professional but engender a healthier and slimmer persona:

TIE

Style - Think “professional” and you should do just fine. Again, simplicity is the key. Also keep in mind the audience you wish to attract and narrow your focus to speak to your target market

Pattern - We recommend keeping patterns simple and colors subdued. Again, the idea is keep the viewer’s gaze fixed upon your eyes/face, not an abundance of colors and patterns.

Colors - Colors to avoid are orange, pink, and iridescent hues.

TIPS FOR EVERYONE in need of a business head shot in Cleveland

EXPRESSION

Bring a happy heart and your smile will take care of itself. Remember, your session should only take a few minutes. It’s a short enough time to turn off the outside pressures of the day and simply be present.

Smile Challenged? If so, practice in front of mirror, remembering the feeling of a natural smile.
Also, a helpful technique is something we call “Lifting Your Apples.” The roundness of our cheeks are referred to as “apples.” In those instances where a smile is required but it’s challenging to do so on cue, simply “lift your apples” while placing your tongue in the roof of your mouth and a smile will emerge.
We will not only capture a range of expressions, from wide smiles to soft, but also capture both sides of your face. This way you can evaluate not only which expression you prefer, but from which side of the face you feel best expresses it.

Do you tend to close your eyes for photos? Please let the photographer know right away so they are prepared to work with you to get the best results.

EYEGLASSES

ALL glasses present two essential challenges:

Glass glare
Distortion (eyes and temples)
BOTH aberrations can be remedied with judicious retouching. However, for best possible results, we recommend either wearing Non-Glare glasses, or arranging with your Optometrist to remove your lenses prior to your session, if you can.  Eye/temple distortion is much easier to restore than eyes being obliterated by glass glare.

Glasses without non-glare coating are problematic, and therefore we do not recommend regular glasses for portraits. 
Non-glare glasses work wonderfully and generally are no problem. However, non-glare can still present a challenge depending on the degree and where the soft green glow appears, as well as distortion eye, face and temples caused by thicker lenses.
NOTE: Contact Lenses work well, though they can cause a bluish ring to appear around the iris. Our professional photographer will work with the lighting to get the best results possible. 

Black & White vs Color

It would be more typical to find a colour image these days but as a fan of Black & White, I would say that a well lit Black & White can look striking and very forgiving and the more drama the lighting can inject, the better the Black & White image will be. This might be a less appropriate option if you work in a corporate environment like Banking or Law but a great option if you’re in the creative fields like Architecture or Media. There is no right or wrong answer to whether you use Black & White or Color it’s really just a question of preference by you or your company when you get your business head shot cleveland.