Josh’s Headshots and branding portraits | Winston Salem Photographer Jasper & Fern

He cocked his head forward slightly and raised an eyebrow. The intensity and inquisitiveness in his eyes grew.  “This is GREAT! I’ve had all these thoughts in my head but have never bounced them back and forth with someone who understands” he said excitedly.I smiled. Brainstorming and vision planning is one of my favorite parts.

His shoulders shifted as he sat thinking, his linen blazer folded softly with each movement. Sweeping his tight curls back from his face and minutely adjusting his glasses, he shook his wrist. His mother’s bracelet caught my eye. It was jeweled and shaped with intricate gold patterns. Unique, I mused to myself, and it suits him well. 

Josh continued to answer my question and flow with his train of thought. I always find it important to let people think things out for themselves. I also like to observe people thinking. When we are caught up in our thoughts, we relax our guard and little nuances and uniquenesses begin to show through in our mannerisms and facial expressions. “It’s important that I’m a personality. I want to look approachable but be just out of reach - like an icon you like and relate to but can’t get close to.” He continued, “there’s the teacher appeal where mothers need to trust me to teach their kids and the rockstar aspect where the dads want to live vicariously through me.”

Josh’s last request was for the images to have the potential to be graphicized. His business plan included being able to market and advertise himself with stickers, t-shirts and other celebrity musician propaganda. 

Talking through the rest of his marketing plan, we finalized the details of his session and got to work creating a storyboard for his brand. 

Guitar in each hand, a glasses case full of a variety of eye-ware and his natural linen blazer donned, the day of his session, Josh was ready to go. To help shake out a few nerves, I asked Josh to play a little bit of music. Happily, he obliged knowing it would help him focus and calm. Getting further into his session, I work with Josh to get an authentic inquisitive head tilt as it not only lent to his attentiveness but postured his shoulders to translate more like an artist. Here’s a behind the scenes sneak peek at his mini headshot and branding session!