Friday, February 12, 2010

Etiquette of a Photo Shoot

By Wendy Houser Blomseth
InBeaute Photography

“What can I expect at my photo session and will there be fans blowing?,” is a two part question we heard recently at InBeaute Photography. I answered with, “If you want fans blowing, we can arrange that, but business clients usually expect another type of service.”


Step One - The Studio: We realize that most people do not make a habit of visiting a professional photography studio so here's a brief overview to get you acquainted:

  • At the very least you should be safe, warm, comfortable and trust the photographer and the environment.
  • We recommend you arrive 10 minutes early so you can get both physically and mentally composed. Your exterior should be camera ready.
  • I recommend a 2-3 minute meditation where you visualize yourself with a tall, strong spine and an inner feeling of strength, power and abundance with all the joy that you bring to your business and your life. Radiant eyes, smile and overall dynamic expression will go miles further than spending $1,000's on clothes.

Step Two - The Clothing: It is easy to search the web for clothing, hair and makeup tips, but here are my favorite tips:

  • Put simply: clean, classic business formal attire will look best and attract your best clients/employers/prospects.
  • Avoid big stripes, plaids, polka dots, etc., as they distract from your face.
  • If you discover that you need help to transition from where you are now to where you want your image to be, attend an image enhancement workshop or hire a professional image consultant or makeup artist. They are experts in helping people improve their image to get the best jobs and best clients.

Step Three - The Session: Your business portrait session itself has several variables but typically:

  • Session is scheduled for 30-60 minutes in front of the camera.
  • Results can be 5 – 50 high quality photos that are well posed, well lit and show a variety of professional expressions.
  • Generally clients purchase 2- 9 portraits for their business needs.
  • Photo retouching is expected in almost every picture today but only to the degree that you still are recognizable as the same person.

Before making your final purchases think about:

  • what is your objective with your pictures – what do you want to attract;
  • where they will appear, e.g. in print or on the web;
  • how they will be used, e.g. job search or advancement, marketing materials.

Most important is the image you want to display on social networking sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Meet-ups and the myriad special interest groups online.

We recommend you select one “best image” that is consistently seen on your LinkedIn profile and your printed business card picture. Other, second – seventh best portraits can be layered throughout your materials to create a visual story of you, your business and your personality. If you believe in the “laws of attraction” you may find that your best portraits attract your best life opportunities.

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© Wendy Houser Blomseth
InBeaute Photography
say “in beauty”
www.inbeautephoto.com
651-225-9002
wendy@inbeautephoto.com