Choosing the right photographer to do professional headshots can be quite daunting. The right photographer makes you feel relaxed and confident. Choose the wrong one and you feel awkward and uncomfortable. How tense you feel can make the difference between a great shot and one in which you look stiff and unnatural. Here is some advice for choosing a professional headshot photographer.
Look at previous work of a professional headshot photographer
When you go to a website, it should be modern and responsive. The website can help to indicate whether a photographer is professional, current and is not just taking headshots on the side to fill an income gap. In this day and age, your digital identity is like your calling card – it puts a face with a name, and you want a photographer who knows how to do this best.
Look at the online portfolio to make sure a photographer has experience doing the type of headshot you require. For example, ISA AYDIN photographers in New Jersey have taken countless professional headshots over the years. If you’re not exactly sure about what type of headshot you want, you can get inspiration by looking at a portfolio of headshots.
Find someone who is a professional headshot photographer
There are so many different types of photographers and headshot photography requires certain specific skills. It’s like an art form all of its own. Someone who handles all kinds of photos may not be your best bet. Your top choice should be someone who focuses on headshots and isn’t a jack-of-all-trades.
Read reviews written about headshot photographers
Reading testimonials and reviews written by previous clients will often give you a very good idea of what to expect from a certain photographer. You may be able to find these on the website or on sites such as Yelp.
Look out for comments about how well a photographer communicated, how he acted on the shoot and whether the editing and follow-up was good. Sometimes even positive reviews will tell you something about a photographer. If a client talks about the photographer’s high energy, for example, and you want a relaxed shoot, you may decide to go with someone else.
Communicate with a headshot photographer prior to the shoot
When you’ve decided on a professional headshot photographer, it’s often better to make contact by phone than by email. It gives you the chance to chat. You will often pick up in a telephone conversation whether you’ll be able to work well with the person or not. Is the person available and eager to discuss your needs on the phone with you?
If a headshot photographer is local, you may even be able to arrange an in-person consultation. You can use this meeting to decide on the style of your shots, what you should wear etc. You and your photographer should be on the same page in terms of aspects such as wardrobe and background color but also in terms of the style of working and communication.
Find out about pricing and make sure you’re happy
Before you agree to work with a certain headshot photographer, you should understand what you will have to pay and what’s included in the price. You may have to pay extra for additional images, high-res JPGs or a make-up session. Be wary of headshot photographers who ask for suspicious payment plans as you don’t want to be subject to a scam.
Email to confirm your time and expect a timely response
If someone takes more than a day or two to respond to an email, it’s not a good sign. You often have to pay quite a bit for your headshots, and you will to know that the person is truly interested in working with you. If the photographer doesn’t have the courtesy to respond in a timely manner, you probably would get better results using someone else.
Conclusion
Having professional headshots taken doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. A headshot photographer who communicates well, listens to you and knows how to set you at ease is able to bring out the best in you. If you don’t get along well with a headshot photographer, you’re likely to have difficult shoot where you don’t get good pictures. Follow the steps above you if you want to work with a true professional whose work is evenly lit and well composed. People who see your headshot should want to get to know you better as a person.
