These photos are givin ‘you cannot talk to me anyhow!’ I recently got new headshots because I was tired of figuring out what picture to send whenever someone requested my headshot. The fact that anyone wants a headshot from me is still mindblowing, but I digress. Once I got the edits, it was a big sigh of relief and just felt a little more confident. Also, I’ve been asking everybody if they needed a headshot from me. Lol. It also reminded that why headshots are important. Even if you don’t have a brand per se, having professional photos you can use is better than relying on the stuffy photos that the random work photographer takes with those weird backgrounds.
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PHOTOS BY: DORESE JENAE PORTRAITS
WHY YOU SHOULD GET HEADSHOTS
You’re probably thinking, I have a simple job at a 9-5, I don’t need headshots. But I’m here to convince you that you actually do. I don’t know about you, but I’ve wanted to redo my work headshot. However, whenever it’s time, I’m not wearing anything I like or completely miss it. Having professional headshots will prepare you to share them when the opportunity arises. And you know what they say, if you stay ready, you ain’t gotta get ready. Also, having photos outside of work gives you a little more leeway to be creative and portray the image you want – whether you want to be more casual or business professional. Either way, having headshots provides the cohesive look you need that will help establish your brand identity.
TIPS FOR YOUR NEXT HEADSHOT
WEAR CLOTHES THAT MATCH YOUR VIBE
I’ve seen headshots that looked really stiff and that’s not what I was going for. Knowing that these headshots would be used mostly for creative spaces, I want the photos to show that I’m comfortable in my skin. So I made sure that the outfits that I picked would be quintessentially me and what I’m typically known for – colorful looks and African prints. Being in clothes that are me made it really easy to not worry about what I was wearing and focus on the poses. If you need more inspiration on how to pose at shoots, I gotchu.
THE PLACE YOU SHOOT IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS YOUR CLOTHES
Not only should your clothes match your vibe, but so should your setting. For example, if you’re taking family photos, shooting in a studio that looks like an office probably isn’t the vibe you’re going for. Because I knew the looks would be more of an attention grabber, the black and white background would not pull away from that; instead, it would compliment it. As you can see, the outfit and my posing tell the story rather than the background. I have a few suggestions of places to shoot in Cincinnati (here, here, and here) and DC (here and here).
FIND A PHOTOGRAPHER THAT YOU’RE COMFORTABLE WITH
It definitely makes the shoot more effortless and fun when you can have photos that aren’t stuffy. When you have a photographer you’re comfortable with, it shows in the pictures. This is important because you want anyone who sees your headshot to know you’re confident. I’m a little biased, but I’ve worked with fantastic photographers. I highly recommend Dorese and Megan if you are looking for someone in Cincinnati to work with. Feel free to let either of them know that I sent you.
USE PINTEREST FOR INSPIRATION
If you don’t have a photographer you’re comfortable with, Pinterest is a great place to start. Pinterest is an excellent source of inspiration for almost anything – outfits, posing, creative direction, etc. So start here to help you figure out the vibe and posing you’ll want to try going for so it’s easy to share with your photographer so everyone’s on the same page.
WOULD YOU CONSIDER GETTING HEADSHOTS?
SHOP THE LOOKS!
Look 1 Tribal By N Set (similar top and pants) || Asos Mustard Blazer (similar) || Converse All Stars || Hoop Earrings (old; similar) || The Lip Bar Bawse Lady || Etsy Rings || Garmin watch
Look 2 Amazon Crop Top || The Drop Pants (olive available) || Rebecca Allen Two Strap || Necklace (similar) || Hoop Earrings (old; similar) || The Lip Bar Bawse Lady || Etsy Rings || Garmin watch
