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
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
South Wales Stage School Photo Shoot
"The images all look fantastic! You have captured the children's energy, focus, fun, effort and joy so well. And some real crackers in there - that I'm sure Head Office will ask me if they can use! " Helene Reynolds, Principal
Get your jazz hands ready! It's the kids from the South Wales Stage School - Stagecoach Performing Arts Bridgend & Cowbridge!
I was contacted by Stagecoach to take some group class photos and rehearsal images to celebrate their upcoming 30th Anniversary and couldn't wait to get in there! I visited the school over 5 days and got to see all their classes in action. It was SO much fun. I was really impressed by the whole ethos of the school. The teachers were brilliant and the kids were so focused and really enjoying themselves. It was hard not to join in with the dancing but you can't take photos when you're jigging about to show tunes so I had to control myself.
There's so much joy, focus, passion and power in these images. The children have an hour each of singing, drama and dance. I really wanted to portray what I saw in the classes and to show how much the kids enjoy it and how hard they are working. Each class was full of energy and it was a real pleasure to see all the dancing, singing and acting from each stage. So from stag jumps to singing - here they are!
Note for Stagecoach parents: A full set of all the images from the rehearsals are available for you to view in a password protected online gallery. Printed class and rehearsal photos will be available to purchase, so please see the programme from the show to get more information or get in touch with me for the details.
Gem x
Note for Stagecoach parents: A full set of all the images from the rehearsals are available for you to view in a password protected online gallery. Printed class and rehearsal photos will be available to purchase, so please see the programme from the show to get more information or get in touch with me for the details.
Commercial and headshot photography
Commercial and headshot photography with Gemma Griffiths. Whether you have products to sell or a service to offer, I can help create beautiful images to promote your business. Do you have a decent headshot to use on your website or social media platforms? Don't struggle with doing your own selfie - book yourself in for a professional headshot session and we can sort out your personal branding.
I've got a variety of packages available and I can also create something bespoke for your business to cater for your needs. If you just need headshots, great, I have a headshot package. If you need a combination of staff headshots and product / service photography, you can book a full day commercial shoot which includes all the high resolution images to use on your website and printed materials.
I've worked with lots of local businesses over the last few years including; product and headshot photography for local gifting business Money Kissed which was featured in Cardiff Life Magazine this month, staff headshots and contextual images for Newbridge Software, a photo shoot on the set of Channel 4's Ugly House with George Clarke for local building contractors NKG construction, a new season of jewellery for Sharon McKinley Designs, headshots for Helen from Heronsbridge Consulting, Sian from Step up Social Claire from Claire Marks Dance and Nikki from Seriously Stylish Business and also had the pleasure to photograph Lauren England when she entered Miss Wales. As well as photo shoots for businesses, I've also photographed staff and contextual images for St David's School in Colwinston and Cwrt Rawlin School in Caerphilly.
I've already got some exciting new projects lined up for 2018 and I'd love to meet you too and have a chat about what you need for your business. I'm happy to help with styling and throw ideas around together to create just what you need. Find out more on my business headshots page, or get in touch for a chat.
Gem x
Product and headshot photography for local gifting business Money Kissed as featured in December's Cardiff Life Magazine (page 5 & 18).
Staff Headshots and contextual images for Newbridge Software.
A photo shoot on the set of Channel 4's Ugly House with George Clarke for local building contractors NKG construction.
Images for a wall collage at St David's Primary School.
Headshots for Helen from Heronsbridge Consulting.
Sian from Step up Social.
Claire from Claire Marks Dance.
Nikki from Seriously Stylish Business.
Lauren England when she entered Miss Wales.
