Blog
2019 is just around the corner. While December can feel like a crazy lead up into Christmas, it is also time to reflect on the year and look towards your 2019 goals. Have you invested in the branding visuals and photography behind your business? Photography, headshots and personal branding (yes – images of YOU) are a big step in communicating with your clients. You are a business, yes, but ultimately:Â people connect with people. Have you told the world about you? […]
Market research is so important. As a photographer, I don’t really have the perception of a consumer when it comes to booking and participating in a photography session. I decided I wanted to get real feedback on these experiences, to help improve my service. So I put out a survey to small business owners in Melbourne to help with some market research. Specifically, I was asking about the expectations they have in regards to personal branding and corporate portraiture for […]
December is a great time to start reflecting on the year. In my 2018, I returned home from travelling – inspired and full of determination. I launched my business a couple of weeks later, with my new website up and running, sessions on the way, and my studio renovations started. I remember painting the outside of my studio on a 40 degree day. It was somewhat soothing. I changed up the entire interior, and the exterior, and since then it […]
Exploring Angles: It is really important to nail the angles in a headshot. I think this is what makes or breaks a portrait – especially in terms of you liking an image of yourself. So if you know what angles work for you, let your photographer know before you start shooting (or as you are shooting). I tend to ask my subjects if they have a ‘prefered side’. I get mixed responses – some are really sure of their preference, […]
Studio Portraiture: White Backgrounds I think a lot of people think of studio portraiture with white backgrounds. Studio photography can have a very distinct look, particularly when it comes to corporate portraiture. Often there is a reason for this. White backgrounds can be a great choice for a headshot or portrait. For companies, matching headshots with a white background can tie in nicely to a website, are easy to manipulate (add space, create banners, print out, replace the background), and […]
Retouching is an important part of my process. I think retouching in general has a bit of a bad reputation. When people think about retouching, many jump to the conclusion of airbrushed skin, blurred features, liquified bodies, picture-perfect and unrealistic perfection. But this isn’t always the case, and it certainly isn’t in my retouching process. I thought I would take you through photo retouching, and the difference between a ‘retouched’ and ‘enhanced’ edit. I want to show you my style, […]
Recently I worked with Jen, who is a small business owner local to me. She decided to bite the bullet and stop putting off getting some new headshots for her business. Like many business owners, Jen wasn’t super keen on getting behind the camera. While she knew there was value in it, it doesn’t stop that all too common dread or nervousness. “Where do I put my hands!?”, “How do I pose?” – these are the most common worries people […]
When I’m not photographing headshots for actors or business professionals, I’m possibly taking portraits of children. I absolutely love this, and while it can be challenging at times, capturing a child’s personality while they are in their element at childcare or kinder is an amazing feeling. I work with a small team of amazing photographers: Jenny and Linda. Jenny has built up her business, Suga Snaps Photography, and refined her craft and the art of children’s photography. She brought me […]
There are so many things to consider when taking a portrait. If you are only picking up a camera for the first time, or if you’re not sure if you need to hire a professional, there are a lot of things to consider. Simple mistakes really distract from the final portrait. So, I have written a list of ten common mistakes that are made when people take portraits. These can range from selfies taken with a phone, to a professional […]
Stock Photography It is one of those things that can be so convenient. There are so many stock photography libraries out there. If you’re out of the loop, photographers shoot and upload their work into these libraries, and they can be purchased with various licenses for others to use. It is common for stock photography to be used to accompany articles, or on brochures and marketing material. While it can be incredibly easy to access this photography, it is not […]