3 reasons why you need a professional headshot!
Do you run your own business? Work as a freelancer? Do you have a LinkedIn profile? Are you on Facebook or Instagram?
If you've answered yes to any of those questions then it's time to put the selfie stick away and book a professional headshot photo session.
Here's 3 reasons why you need a proper headshot:
1. You need to look professional
Whether you run your own business, work as a freelancer or work for a company, you will need a decent headshot. A good headshot will convey your professionalism at work and portray you in the best light. A professional headshot will stand out amongst the array of cropped and blurry selfie images. It will also will show your potential employers, clients and colleagues that you value yourself and that they should too.
2. You can use it in multiple ways
A photographer can work with you to create a set of images that you can use across a number of platforms. You might need something formal for a conference brochure or something informal for a magazine interview. Or, you might be asked for a portrait image for a presentation or a landscape image for an online article. You can use them as profile pictures on Facebook and LinkedIn or on Instagram to introduce yourself to followers. The possibilities are endless. One thing is for certain, it's an investment that you won't regret.
3. It will make you feel good
Having a selection of professional images that you can use will make you feel good. You'll no longer panic when someone asks for a headshot as you'll have a variety of images to choose from. Having a set of great images will raise your self esteem and give you one less thing to worry about.
This year already I've taken lots of professional headshots for local business people, from physiotherapists to dentists, actors to freelancers and consultants to writers. Each session is tailored to create a set of images to portray them in a way that makes them feel professional and proud. In the next few weeks I'll be photographing a ceramics artist, a harpist and a therapist - each session will be totally bespoke for their needs. Keep an eye on my social media platforms to see them!
Have a look below at a selection of my favourites images from this year. What does your profile picture say about you?
Book your headshot session today!
See my headshot & commercial portfolio.
Find out more about a headshot & business photo session.
Why is personal branding so important?
Why do you need a personal branding photo shoot?
In this day and age branding is super important. You'd have to be living in a cave if you weren't aware of the impact of brands. It's not just big businesses that rely on branding to get their message across. It's equally important for small businesses too - it runs through every aspect of a business. How you want to portray your business to your clients, the look and feel of your products and service, your logo, your website and your web presence.
Personal branding extends to include not only your business but yourself as well. If you provide a service then your clients will want to get to know you. They will want to see what you look like, perhaps see images of you at work as well as just a portrait of you.
Running your own business is a very personal undertaking and so it's important to be able to have images that portray you - do you want to be seen as corporate, arty, relaxed, fun, serious, creative? Do you want to include where you work, the tools that you use on a daily basis etc.
If you don't run your own business, it's still important to have a set of images that illustrate your working life. You many need images to feature in a programme, for a conference, on the back of a book, for your LinkedIn profile, CV - even your dating profile!
I really enjoy working with local businesses and business folk in and around Cardiff to get the images that they need. Over the years I've photographed businesswomen, businessmen, writers, actors, graphic designers, builders and even a mermaid. I've included a little selection of images below.
If you need to update your personal branding images - drop me a line to find out more. Visit my headshots & commercial pricing page and headshots & commercial portfolio page.
Siriol needed some headshots for her radio and acting work.
Scott needed to update his LinkedIn profile.
Rhiannon uses her images on her blog and Instagram account.
Kate uses her images on her Instagram account for her ceramics business - Skratch Ceramics.
The Home Physio Company
Newbridge Software
Mermaid Adventures
NKG Construction
Business Headshot Photography
Business headshot shoot on a weekend away! I recently went away for the night with my very good friend Sheila. She lives in London and I live in South Wales so we don't get to see each other very often.
She needed to update her headshots for her new website so we took the opportunity to nip into the beautiful restaurant at the St Bride's Spa Hotel, Saundersfoot (where we stayed) to take a few shots. It's a fantastic hotel with spectacular views and the service there is exceptional. I highly recommend a visit.
The views from the restaurant are gorgeous - I've included a shot of the view out of the window for you to see.
If you need to update your headshot or need images for your business, have a look at my headshot and business photography packages and my headshot portfolio and then drop me a line to arrange a bespoke session.
Headshot sessions are 1 hour and include a selection of images for you to choose from and use. Commercial photography shoots are longer and include staff headshots as well. You can see lots of examples of my work with businesses in South Wales on my blog.
If you want to find out more, drop me a line for a chat.
Commercial Photography Shoot, South Wales.
Commercial photography shoot, South Wales. I first photographed this wonderful group a couple of years ago. I was asked to go back again in August to do a commercial shoot for them to refresh their images for their new leaflets. With Music in Mind is a singing group for people aged 50 and over to get together, to socialise and have fun! And boy, do they have fun! I absolutely love going to the group and hearing all the singing, it's so uplifting and heartwarming. I'm such a softie, so hearing this lot belt out a ballad is just wonderful. They have groups in Cowbridge and Barry and two new groups starting this Autumn in Llantwit Major and St Athan!
There's a great atmosphere amongst the group, lots of chatting, tea drinking and we even had an impromptu poetry reading at this session too. You can see from the images how much fun they are having and the WMIM team are a lovely bunch as well - very welcoming and caring. If you're interested in joining a session, check out their website for more information.
If you're a local business and you're interested in a commercial photography shoot, South Wales, get in touch for more information. If you need some images for your marketing material - print, website, social media - then have a look at my commercial photography package. I offer commercial shoots, as well as personal branding and headshot photography. See more of my headshot work in my headshot portfolio. There's also a post about my commercial work with local businesses over on the blog too.
This session included a full set of digital images and a bespoke designed banner for their website too!
Gem x
Mermaid Adventures Photo Shoot
Mermaid Adventures Photo Shoot
I'd never met a Mermaid before, so when Mermaid Sandy got in touch to ask if I'd be interested in a commercial shoot for her business Mermaid Adventures I was very excited! We love all things Mer in our house and I could quite happily spend every second of the day on the beach or in the water so it was a perfect fit. Mermaid Adventures is a local business that offers Mermaid experiences to all. You can book in for a Mermaid swimming lesson or have a Mermaid birthday party!
We had a group of fabulous kids who volunteered to help out on the shoot. They soon learnt, being a model isn't as glamourous as you'd think! They spent a long time at the shoot, with plenty of waiting around, but they all got to have a mermaid swimming lesson and photoshoot, so it wasn't too bad.
Above water, there was plenty of splashing and wearing some awesome hair accessories. Below the surface there was diving for shells, swimming through hoops and of course lots of posing.
As this was a commercial photo shoot for Mermaid Adventures, it was really important for me to focus on getting images that they could use on their new website and social media platforms over the next year or so. I focused on getting some action shots and showing how much fun the kids were having. They do so much in one lesson, I don't know how they fit it all in! Wall to wall fun with a touch of magic.
If you have a local business and are interested in my commercial shoot packages, then find out more on my pricing page or get in touch for a quote.
There were over 200 images from this shoot, so I can't feature them all, but here's a few of my favourites. Starting with the lovely Mermaid Sandy...
