Posted in Corporate Photograpy

They say, "Do not judge a book by its cover." While this proverb is ideal, it is not entirely possible. After all, we are humans. Our attention span can only sustain so much. The reality is, often, we judge things including people by their external qualities. While people try to appear as one thing, we may see and perceive them differently. After all, beauty is subjective. Consequently, we tend to assess each other based on our perceptions. Hence, investing in how we look and making a good and lasting impression is crucial, especially in the professional world.

Aside from our limited attention span, the world is getting more fast-paced. Plus, the competition is tighter than ever before. We only have limited opportunities to showcase our talents and a short time to make an impression. Hence, one should seize every moment and do their best for every corporate interview or meeting to network with potential and dream clients or brands alike.
2020 has all but forced the world into one that is virtual, business interviews and conferences  have transitioned to online.  Screening applicants, making judgements and narrowing down to a short list is now very much an on-screen process. It's probably fair to say, regardless of your industry and profession, having a professional and presentable online presence is a must which includes professional imagery and video (where applicable).

A professional headshot is the new handshake. Displayed on your LinkedIn account, social media profiles, and other professional websites, this image is the first thing people will see. Presenting your brand, which is why your profile photo should communicate credibility, a sense of trust, and confidence to your audience. If you are looking for a professional headshot photographer from Sydney who can deliver such results, consider Marzo Photography. With an extraordinary talent for visual representation and extensive experience working with professionals, Peter Meagher and his team have mastered the art of capturing headshots, giving them a natural feel. Take it from us or you can check out his portfolio!
Now, the puzzle is, how "firm" should a professional headshot be? The key is to have a professional hair and makeup service for your shoot. It can make or break your image. Here's why you should hire professional hairstylists and makeup artists:

They can Make You Look Your Best

Makeup artists are experts in their craft. With just one look, they can identify what kind of additional touch will suit your skin. Not only are they well-versed in different professional makeup tools, products, and applications, but they also know how lighting works. They can easily recognize which parts of the face to emphasize and to conceal-and most importantly how. Understanding that you seek a corporate style, they make sure that your face will grab the attention it deserves while still going for a natural look. Hence, expect that they will strike a balance between hiding dark circles and blemishes as well as smoothing your skin colour by applying the right amount of light touches-nothing more, nothing less. Plus, they know how to make your face shine while minimizing the natural oil on your face.

They can Get You the Right Hairstyle

Are you tired of your stubborn hair? You might have tried different products and solutions but still, fail to no avail. Fret not! In addition to straightening excessive curls and fixing bangs, professional hairstylists can always bring flyaway hair under control. They will take advantage of your locks to complement your face, depending on its shape. They can curl or straighten your hair or tie it in a knot, always focusing on that 'right look'.

They Simplify & minimise the 'Photoshop' Efforts

Aside from making sure you look dazzling by giving additional outfit styling, professional hairstylists and makeup artists reduce the amount of retouching effort your photo editor will do. As ironic as it sounds, in this sense, your photographs would look as natural as possible. Hence, your pictures will have a quick turn around. This is an advantage if you want to get your shots as soon as you can!

You will Feel Your Best

Aside from knowing that you look your best, you will feel relaxed from the pampering that you experience from a professional hair and makeup session. As a consequence, this can boost your mood and confidence-making you ready to face the camera in no time. Many clients attest that the special treatment gives off a VIP feel and adds up to their overall headshot photoshoot experience!

Finding a professional hairstylist and makeup artist is one, but having the best with a talent for capturing your professional photographs is another.

If you are looking for one, we got you! Simona Janek is your go to hair and makeup artist for professional headshots.

As a professional, with a passion for hairstyling and makeup, Simona will guide you through it all.

Use Natural or Professional Lighting  

As any photographer will tell you, proper lightingis essential to any good image. When it comes to taking portrait photos, you'll want to either have natural light from windows on multiple ends of the room, or a professional lighting setup.

Use a Long Lens

It may seem strange that you would use a long lens to take a photograph, but there are a number of reasons why you should, firstly it flattens the image and you minimize the distortion that you would get with a wider angle, it easily allows you to blur the background which helps the subject stand out and you can do this without getting in the subjects face.

Keep the Backdrop Simple

You want to keep the backdrop simple so that it does not distract from the person.   A good photograph will naturally cause the viewers eye to the person not the background.

Dress How You Would When Meeting a New Client

You should also take care to present yourself in a positive light in terms of the way you dress. Again, this can vary depending on the brand. But a good rule of thumb should be to consider how you'd want to present yourself to a new client and then dress accordingly.

Have Good Posture

No matter what style of photo you end up going for, good posture is essential since it exudes confidence and professionalism. Simply sit with your back straight and your shoulders back while remaining relatively relaxed.

Loosen Up

However, you don't need to look completely stiff and boring in your headshot. Especially if you want your brand to seem fun and unique, it may be beneficial for you to keep the atmosphere at your photo shoot loose. Then you can take some images where you have a very natural smile and show some of your authentic personality.

Bring a Friend

One way to ensure that you're able to relax and show off your real personality could be to bring a friend or co-worker who you're close with so that they can make jokes, keep you loose and even let you know if you need to sit up straighter or change up your smile.

Get Shots in Your Natural Environment

Another strategy could be to have your photographer meet you at your office or another location where you're especially comfortable. Getting some images where you actually work could help them appear especially unique and authentic to your brand.

Look after yourself

In order to have a fresh and happy face in your photos, you need to take care of yourself. Get a full nights sleep the night before to avoid dark under-eye circles and other features that can lead to you looking tired and uninspired in your photos.

Get Multiple Shots

No matter what style of photo you're going for, you'll want to have plenty of options to choose from at the end. Even if you're sure of the style, angle and backdrop for the photo, you should at least have a horizontal and vertical version so that it can fit with different mediums and publications. So make sure you set aside enough time to get enough good shots.

Hire a Professional

Another absolute must for a great headshot, a professional photographer can help you turn your headshot vision into a reality. It might be tempting to save a few bucks by simply having a friend snap a photo on your phone, but the quality of a professional image will show and help your brand make a positive impression.

Research Their Style

When you're looking for a photographer to shoot your headshots, don't just go with the first one you come across. Instead, take a look at the portfolios of a few different options and contact the ones who have a style you'd like to emulate in your own images.

Get to Know Them

It's also a good idea to get comfortable with your photographer so you can look happy and relaxed in your photos. So have a friendly conversation with them, ask them questions and be yourself when you go to meet with them.

Get New Headshots Regularly

Finally, once you get your business headshots taken, you might find that they no longer represent your brand in the way you envisioned after a couple of years. So it's a good idea to have new business headshots taken regularly to reflect how you actually look and how you want your brand represented throughout the life of your business.

If you want more information about taking good head shoots, check out this below link. 

https://www.pixpa.com/blog/headshot-photography