You need to find a good headshot photographer in Tampa. Either you’re launching a new website, revamping and updating your social media presence, or your boss just gave you a directive – “Find a headshot photographer and find them fast!”
Many phone calls from executives needing a good headshot or business portrait simply don’t know who to call, what to ask, or where to start. Here are a few of the questions that an experienced photographer should be asking YOU.
- Where will the image be used? It may be anything from a business card to a billboard, but knowing that will assist a good photographer in helping you design the best presentation of YOU, and work to the advantage of your desired end result.
- Close up, 3/4 length, or full length? Even though we often refer to executive portraiture as “headshots,” the fact is, we are quite often tasked with creating an image that may be used in an ad piece that requires far more than just photographing their head and shoulders.
- Horizontal or Vertical? There is a distinct trend in today’s “headshot world” to favor horizontal images over vertical ones. This is particularly useful to know, should an image be destined for a billboard or an banner image on a newsletter.
- Facing left, or facing right? Occasionally, an executive has been instructed to get a photograph taken to be used in an ad piece that is being designed by a graphic artist or art director. It’s useful to know which side of an ad the image will appear, because, as a general rule, they will want the subject facing INTO the verbiage, not AWAY from the verbiage. If the subject is on the right, then they should be facing to camera left, and vice versa.
- What type/color background is needed? Most times, a simple solid or graduated color is requested. Sometimes, they need a company sign or logo to appear in the background, requiring the image to be taken at their office or place of business. If their ad or web designer is working with a particular color scheme, then we need to take that into consideration as well.
- Posed or Action Photo? Do you simply need a head and shoulder photo, looking at the camera? Or an “action” photo, taken at your desk, interacting with a client, or candidly taken in your occupational environment? An action photo will require more time and equipment, and usually taken on-site.
- Individuals, groups, or both? If more than one person are needing an executive headshot, it can be financially advantageous to the client if they can all come in together as opposed to being spread out over several days.
- Color or Black & White? We photograph everything in color, and can digitally convert an image to B&W when requested. However, if we know going that an image is destined to be B&W and color is not necessary, we may elect to light it differently to help create a better contrast when converted as a black and white image.
- What is your deadline? As is usually the case, you probably needed it “yesterday.” Fortunately for you, in most cases, your image can be delivered digitally on the same day, depending on how early in the day we create the image.
- What is your “end result” need? In nearly every case for a corporate headshot, the client needs a high resolution, printable, digital image. Your fully retouched image will be delivered via email or electronic download (Dropbox), as a high res JPEG.
If, when you call a photographer and ask them the price of “a headshot,” and they simply state a price without responding with questions like these, they may not possess the experience necessary to provide you with the quality image you really need. You can easily waste your time and your money paying someone to simply push a button, forcing you to then go somewhere else and have to do it again. Your photographer should be working WITH you to create an image that meets your desired result and needs.
For more information on how Newsome’s Studio of Photography can assist you with creating your business or executive headshot, call 813-968-2810 today.
