This is a very short post but a deeply heartfelt one. I’ve been a photographer since 1999 and with all the challenges of having a business, I still love being a photographer and I am beyond grateful that I get to do something creative. I love painting with light. I love the people I work with. And , I love hearing each person’s story and their journey. To my all clients: past, returning and future, I say THANK YOU!
Thank you for allowing me to keep doing this job!
Tell me, what you do love about your job and the people you get to help?
I’m gonna be brutally honest here…I absolutely hate when a client copies and saves an image from their online gallery then uses that low resolution, unretouched image on Facebook or somewhere else online. The big problem here is that the image has not been retouched. Not retouching a headshot is like peanut butter without jelly, meatballs without spaghetti, mac without cheese, Tom without Jerry…fries without…ok, ok, so you get what I mean here — digital photography and retouching just goes together!
You’re probably thinking how you never retouched your photos in the past when using a film camera. Well, there is a big difference in film and digital quality. The different characteristics of film, for the most part, produce grainer and more forgiving images. So, you could very well skip retouching and still have a pleasing photo. Digital, on the other hand, records more detail and magnifies it, making images extremely crisp and clear. What you see in a digital photograph (every line and wrinkle) may not even be visible to the naked eye in person . Therefore, retouching IS needed.
“But I want to look like myself” you say. And you should! Headshot retouching should be natural. The idea is to soften, enhance and polish the image, not give you plastic surgery. But, beyond the face, retouching can fix wrinkles in clothing, flyaway hair, correct or change makeup and backgrounds, enhance overall color and so much more. So, don’t ruin your photo shoot by using unretouched photos. The next time you have your headshots taken, make sure retouching is part of the plan.
What do you think about retouching? Are you using any unretouch photos online? I’d love to know what you think.
Nowadays your thumbnail headshot is used many places online, from social media profiles to articles to avatars. Make sure your thumbnail grabs attention with these 5 tips:
1. Give Good Personality
Although your photo is small, you still want your personality to shine. Use a shot with a great expression: warm, friendly, approachable, fun etc.
2. Wear Something Colorful
Wear a bold or bright color but stick to a solid color, nothing busy. This will help your image stand out.
3. Use a Close-up Shot
Keep the focus on your face and eyes by using a close-up image, and stay away from shots with busy backgrounds.
4. Crop
If you have a headshot you just love but it’s not close-up, or the background is a little busy then crop. Cropping is a great way to create a better thumbnail by putting more information in a smaller area. The idea is more face, less body.
5. Sharpen
When you upload your thumbnail double-check to make sure it’s not fuzzy. It should look clear to you on your screen. If not, use your image editor to sharpen the photo.
That’s all folks! Does your thumbnail headshot jump off the page? I’d love to know your thoughts.
It’s been a long time coming, but it’s here. Yaaayyy, I’m finally launching my new website. I’m really excited because I have a few new things happening this year. For one, this blog. Now, as you may know or not, it’s hard out there for a blogger (and a pimp apparently). Coming up with ideas, topics and headlines, getting it all down then repeating 2-3 times a week is no easy feat. Some bloggers write daily, some write twice a day, some write 2-3 times a week…whew, this is already overwhelming me.
My goal, for starters, is to update this blog once a week and gradually work my way to twice a week. My question to you is, what do you want to read about? Please let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below. And, don’t forget to check back in weekly.
