Headshots & Portraits
Headshots are like a visual business card: They represent you professionally and accurately. The lighting is consistent and straightforward, and as the name suggests, it’s shoulders and up. A headshot should make you think about the person, not the picture.
A portrait reveals an insight about someone’s personality or character. It can show any or all of the body (or none at all), and tells your story creatively. I draw on decades of creative exploration to make the picture itself embody a part of you. My portraits are also torso-and-up.
The Process
Planning
We start with a quick planning session on Zoom. I’ll explain my approach and ask some questions. This call turbo-charges our studio time.
If we’re making a portrait, we’ll zero in on the emotional center. I’ll send you a lighting mockup before our shoot. I do this to show you what I have in mind, and to make changes if you don’t like the direction.
Making Pictures
Preparation
- If you’re not already, drink lots of water and get good sleep for three nights before our session. This will help your skin to glow!
- If your schedule allows, finish eating an hour before we start. Hunger and food comas are no fun.
- Please come with hair and makeup ready to shoot. I do not provide them.
- Headshots: Hair should look like you’re going into an interview.
- Portraits: Hair should look like you’re going on a date.
- Both: Keep your makeup light—the camera emphasizes it a lot!
- Bring whatever you need for each look. There’s a private space to hang and change.
- To keep us focused and efficient, please come alone. Parents and caregivers are always welcome.
Arriving
I’m a block from the MacArthur BART. Parking is free on 39th St. and the BART garage (both a block away). Please text when you’re close.
If you can do stairs, please come to my door on Turquoise Way (plants on the landing). Otherwise, I’ll meet you at the front of my building on 39th.
I have a very large, very friendly, existentially depressed dog. His name is Blu and he will adore you.
The session
After I fine-tune the light we’ll do a practice round and review it together. Then it’s headshots first. For each look, we’ll shoot for a bit, review for a bit, and pick the images we want to keep.
If we’re making a portrait, you’ll change/break/snack while I set up lights. We’ll work in mostly the same way—shooting and reviewing—with a big review at the end.
Then a final review, tearful goodbye, and you’re off!
After the shoot
You’ll receive a gallery link within 48 hours with only the pictures you loved. Why only those? You’re busy. Big packages force you to sort to through hundreds of images, and we already did that together.
When you’re ready, pick what you need to meet your goals. I’ll retouch and deliver your final files in high resolution and social-ready.
Returning clients get a massive discount, so I hope to see you again!