Close-up photography can be a great first step towards becoming a professional photographer. Or if you have a few years of experience, they can be a great source of additional income besides your main field of photography.
Of course, the reason for this is that they are quite quick and easy to implement; for example, if you have served commercial clients with product or architectural images, you can provide headshots for those clients themselves. Or if you primarily shoot weddings, you might have a side business that shoots front-facing photos during off-peak seasons.
What are Headshots?
But what is a headshot? And how is it different from portraiture? Well, at least for me, the main difference is intent. Precise shots intended for use in a professional setting, such as on LinkedIn or a company website; so, in a sense, it is a kind of portrait with the aim of capitalizing on expertise rather than something separate from a portrait.
Generally, when we imagine a headshot, it will be on a simple background with business attire, whatever it is. But if we go back to professional use, different professions can rely on different degrees of relevance; for example, a photo taken for someone working in an office may be more suitable for a specific ideal of what an office person wants to represent, than a photograph for a musician or an artist. In addition, different professions may use certain images to represent the profession (for example, a scientist or doctor may want a head shot in a lab coat, in when the cameraman’s head shot might be them standing next to their camera).
When negotiating a portrait session with a client, you should discuss how the images will be used, as well as whether the client wants to rely on certain conventions or metaphors. And of course, consider that with the number of headers; so if you are photographing an individual you can provide several different types of images, but photographing a large company with hundreds of employees can mean that every employee has a head and pretty standard shoulder on a solid foundation.
Above, I have shared a list of potential items that I can ask customers to bring. Obviously, you’ll want to tailor this for your clients. So, for example, I work with quite a few professional models, and for them it’s appropriate to suggest fashion models wear things like lingerie or swimwear. This may not be a great idea for those working in the business field.
Conversely, asking customers to bring a few outfits can be effective if you are photographing an individual or a small group and are providing more boutique service, but if you are working with a Large company with many people to take pictures, you can limit the number of outfits to one.
Some Do’s and Don’ts
When styling a photo session, you want your clothes to reflect who you are as a person. This means wearing clothes that make them feel happy and comfortable.
In general, you want to avoid anything too busy with logos or patterns.
Anything too shiny (such as synthetic fabrics) should also be avoided.
So I advise my clients not to buy anything special for their photo session. If they buy new clothes, aim to buy pieces that reflect their style and will be cherished by them for a long time.
