Make money doing the work you believe in
Warm Greetings from the Studio,
Imagine you get a call from a podcast or a T.V. show producer who has seen your work. They love your message and how you help people. They want you to appear on their show.
A client calls to tell you she has an “in” with an industry magazine that’s releasing an entire issue on the subject you specialize in, and they want to feature you on the cover.
A big convention wants you to be one of their key speakers. They are creating a poster to promote the event.
All these scenarios are asking for your biography and a quality headshot. The magazine is pressed for time and unable to do a proper shoot with you, but would love some fashion-forward full-length images of you to feature on the cover and to accompany the article.
Do you have a nice selection of quality photos in your arsenal as an entrepreneur to seize this chance to be seen and recognized?
By investing time and money in the first thing that will get you noticed, when people come across your offerings and content, you show that you prioritize your business enough to invest in quality and pay attention to detail.
After having spent the last 30 years in front and behind the lens, I want to share with you some of the most common mistakes I see when people DIY their headshot, how to avoid them, and how to create the perfect DIY promo photo all on your own:
Lighting is # 1. If the headshot is not properly lit, and by properly, I mean a balanced light that flatters your skin tone, is not too cool or too warm, is large enough (i.e., professional quality), and angled properly to light the entire face and body, a person ends up getting nasty shadows on their face in the photo. Shadows give us raccoon eyes and add lines to our face that age us by about 10 years. To avoid this, for the DIY option, head outside on a warm day, or shoot by a large window in the winter during “golden hour”, which is a time of day Mother Nature offers us a soft, flattering light during sunrise and sunset. Note: The worst time to shoot is at noon when the light beams straight down on your head.
With a professional photo taken in a studio, you get “depth of field” that a homemade “backed by a wall” headshot can’t offer. At home, “against the wall selfie” reads flat and gives off a “mug shot” vibe. But taking that selfie during those “golden hours” will also help you solve this problem.
A background that is the same colour as the subject’s hair turns them into a floating head. If you are a magician, this look might work for you, but for anyone else, it just reads “odd”. Art direction and background selection are just as important as styling and lighting in a headshot. If shooting outside during “golden hour,” pick a background that’s not too distracting, and set your phone to a blur setting to focus only on you.
A stiff pose or a “deer in the headlights” look that says “Get me out of here now” is going to make our potential clients read that discomfort and feel it. The feelings we want to generate with our photo are trust & warmth. It is absolutely natural to feel trepidation when the camera is pointing at us. It’s a vulnerable experience to be thrust into the spotlight. But a professional photographer who knows what they are doing will have a supportive, nurturing vibe about them, which inspires the subject to soften, relax, and be themselves in front of the lens. That softness shows through in the eyes and helps put a genuine smile on the face. This is also why I don’t ever recommend anyone use AI to generate a business headshot. There is no life present in an AI photo. People want to work with a real human being they trust, so only a real headshot, crafted by real people, can showcase that “trust” and authenticity. So, for the DIY option, have a friend or a loved one you really trust and feel playful around help take your photo.
For clothing, choose to wear one colour in the photo that aligns with your brand messaging and flatters your skin tone. Clothing selection is important for the headshot because it cues very subtle messaging. For example, if you want your brand messaging to announce “effortless joy,” but you are wearing a stiff grey, brown, or black blazer, the messaging clashes because there is nothing effortless or joyful about a grey suit jacket.
Speaking of that stiff suit jacket. It cues “I work for someone else, and I’m just another employee.” Nothing wrong with that. There are plenty of people who love the stability and balance that being an employee brings, but when you are the boss of your own business, you want your outfit to say, “I have a clear vision of how I can make this world a better place by uplifting and supporting others with my offerings.” The stiff suit doesn’t cue originality, unfortunately. It cues, “I’m stuck in the corporate world.” So, for the DIY headshot, make sure to wear something that speaks to your character and authenticity, but also showcases your values and cues your expertise.
It’s important to remember that as an entrepreneur, you are at the very forefront of your business. You are the head of the army, so to speak. A marketing photo in which you come across as rested and powerful is a game-changer for building your empire.
Look up any famous entrepreneur you admire, Jenna Kutcher, Danielle LaPorte, Mel Robbins, Nischa Shah (these are my favorites), and they all have a small portfolio of images they turn to to market their webinars, books, workshops, podcasts, group calls, you name it. And I’m not talking about a supermodel’s portfolio of pictures here, either. Just a handful of quality, well-thought-through photos.
A good photo promoting your offer means those who come across your teachings can feel assured you are rested enough, clear enough, and capable enough to trust you with the transformation they are seeking.
If you live in Toronto and are tired of DIYing, book a half-day or full-day branding shoot with our studio to get all your promo materials in order. So when podcasts, magazines, and event planners come calling, you are all set to send them what they need, elevating the final look of the promo piece, bringing even more attention and opportunities your way.
You are putting in all this hard work to grow your business, don’t let your marketing materials hold you back.
Our studio also does virtual consulting. Book a call if you need advice on what to wear for your next branding shoot, and to get a referral to an excellent makeup artist and photographer in your area.
Send our team an email at littledailygem@gmail.com
