Madison’s headshot.

Skilled hands and a grounded presence are paramount in the world of medicine. That’s where Madison, one of our most recent clients, is venturing with her life. She is currently heading into her residency. With her love for working with her hands, she wants to end up somewhere in the field of surgery. In order to put her best foot forward with her residency applications, she came to us for a professional headshot.

From the moment Madison stepped into the studio, her body language communicated authenticity and grace. Her warm, easy-going nature and smile - which reminded me of the beloved character Winnie from The Wonder Years - exuded a sense of approachability and professionalism. Her personality, coupled with her choice of a classic navy blazer in a modern cut and paired with a minimalistic ivory satin blouse and simple gold necklace provided cohesion to the personal brand Madison wanted to exemplify. By avoiding distractions in her clothing choices, the focus remained on her captivating gaze, which mirrored her determination and enthusiastic dedication to her craft. These elements helped highlight her refined elegance and would, most certainly, appeal to her industry directors. The resulting headshots beautifully portrayed her as a skilled professional with a commitment to excellence and a strong desire to build trust with her employers, peers and future patients.

Madison's headshot session was a true reflection of her unique qualities and aspirations. With her grounded presence, love for working with her hands and warm demeanor, she epitomizes the ideal candidate for surgical residency. As she ventures further into the world of medicine, Madison's headshots will serve as a visual representation of her remarkable qualities and inspire confidence in those she encounters along her path of healing and care.

I am feeling so guilty!

My old headshot.

I’ve recently started utilizing LinkedIn to connect with more people. You know, build my network and such so I can meet more amazing small business owners and professionals like you! Now, as a professional headshot and small business photographer, one might think I am constantly up to date with my own branding photographs and headshots.

[Nervous laugh]

Vulnerable truth? I’m not.

I’ve had the same headshot on my LinkedIn profile for a few years now. I love that headshot. As much as I love it though, so much has happened professionally in the three years since I changed it.

I’ve moved to a new studio.
My brand voice has shifted slightly.
I wear different styles of professional clothes now.

On a personal note, I’ve changed physically too. I have a new scar on my forehead, more freckles, more weight, a filed tooth. I look more mature.

I’ve let my headshot stay because I like it so much. It feels fresh and happy and a bit wild. So, whenever it came to changing my headshot out, I easily told myself I could wait a little longer - wait until I lost a little weight, learned how to style the right side of my hair, found a shirt in my favorite shade of green that didn’t make me look chesty, felt more rested. I had all the reasons.

I’ve been in plenty of behind the scenes captures from my team and social media clips but those were all of me working. That extra action of having a task to do inside of the photograph served as a safety blanket. It’s been a long time since I’ve had photographs of me that are a true portrait - where the content of the photograph is the totality of who I am.

That kind of vulnerability is intimidating.

Well, I finally did a session for myself with a good friend - (because we’re working on something really, really awesome together and we needed photographs to share our collaboration!) ! I embraced myself as best I could, taking time to breathe, shake the nerves out of my arms, mentally encourage myself and let my walls down, I acknowledged that I wasn’t going to like every photograph of me but had the goal to be authentic. Because, so long as I was authentic, I would enjoy seeing Me and I know that the people I love most in life are the ones who see the person behind the body. So, if I could see Me, I knew others would see Me.

It was refreshing to treat myself this way but also incredibly nerve-wracking. My self confidence isn’t at a high point right now and I didn’t want to battle my inner critic. But I did it. I did it and I’m proud of myself for the inner work I had to do to show up fully me. In the end, there were some not-so-great images to cull out but, there were a surprising amount of photographs I did like!

This whole process of photographing myself made me all the more sensitive to how some people may feel when they have their photograph made. It truly hugs my heart that you trust me to photograph you - especially if you’re like me and don’t like having your photograph made.

Thank you. I am so grateful for your trust!

Who knew that updating my LinkedIn headshot would be such an important opportunity for growth?? Certainly not me. It was a rollercoaster of emotions - from guilt and hesitation to vulnerability and self-empowerment. I both hated it and loved it. I am glad to have experienced my own growth and heightened my sensitivity to the feelings of others who may share similar discomfort with being photographed. I am deeply grateful for the trust that others place in me as a photographer and appreciate the opportunity to capture the essence of those I work with.

The guilt is now lifted. My LinkedIn profile reflects the current me – a slightly less traditional version, but one that feels genuine and empowering. So, to everyone who, like me, might have been postponing updating their headshots, I encourage you to embrace your authenticity and take that step. It's worth it!

And if we haven't connected yet or you simply want to see what my fresh new LinkedIn profile looks like check it out! Make sure to send me a request while you’re there. I’d love to keep in touch with what you’re up to!

I’ve often rejected the cultural use of the word “photogenic.” Mostly, because this term is used negatively ninety-five percent of the time. I hear, too often, people cutting themselves down for not being photogenic, stating their face will break my camera. While I can appreciate the ease that laughing at this self depricating joke can bring, it also comes with a sensitivity. The reality of the situation is, anyone can have a bad photograph taken of them. Just as equally, everyone can look good in a photograph. The good news is that looking good in a photograph is a simple formula. Of course, I’m chuckling at using the term “simple” because there’s actually quite a bit of personal work that goes into this two step process.

The one element that makes the biggest difference is believing yourself. If you want to appear confident you have to believe in yourself. Body language and your wardrobe will help but, if you are feeling insecure, it will show up in your expression. Whatever your belief about yourself is, it will radiate through the details - be it the corner of your mouth, slight tilt of your brow, your smile not reaching your eyes, a slight falling of your muscle in your temple instead of a lift. These details have the power to transform how we appear in front of the camera. When we feel self-assured, it positively affects our body language, facial expressions, and overall demeanor, resulting in more captivating and authentic photographs.

The second element is vulnerability. In order to show up authentically, you have to be willing to let your mental walls come down. A lack of vulnerability mostly shows through muscle tension, though it can also show up in the same locations a lack of confidence will. Just check out the three photographs of me below. While this session was one of my recent favorites - because I was feeling good about myself and the results showed it - there were still moments in the session that I could see my mentality falter.

The three stages of getting my confidence to show through. The furthest left image of me shows my confidence faltering. The second shows me slightly more confident but a bit stiff because I’m not fully engaged mentally. The last photograph shows my confidence in my expression and body language.

It's essential to remember that comparing ourselves to others can be detrimental to our self-esteem. In a world where culture often showcases only highlights and successes, it's easy to fall into the trap of feeling inadequate or "less than." This makes it all the more important to recognize that we rarely know the full story behind someone's seemingly perfect “photogenic” image. Give yourself - and them - grace, remembering that we don't always see each others struggles, insecurities, or challenges we might be facing. We all have our moments of vulnerability. The next time you step in front of the camera, give yourself a pep talk, recall what you are good at and what you like about yourself. Do your best to put yourself in a positive mindset and let your confidence and authenticity shine through. Feel the relief in realizing that your strengths are not only genuine but also inspiring to others. Embrace yourself, for you are truly valuable, and your portraits will reflect the incredible person you are.

Recently, I had the opportunity to work with Joan creating personal branding portraits for an upcoming talk she was giving with a peer. While Joan holds an esteemed position in her field, she was struggling with her image. Her peer, whose photographs would be next to hers on all the marketing material for the event and who would, of course, be standing on stage with her - in a word - polished. While Joan knew that her personality was different than her peer’s, she still felt like she wouldn’t measure up to her peer's pristine appearance. Determined to feel like she belonged beside her companion both in her own eyes and the eyes of the audience, she decided to invest in portraits that would elevate her presence while building her confidence, helping her feel like a true equal.

Often, when I speak with someone and they are vulnerable with their insecurities, I anticipate body language that matches the mindset. Body language is more of an opportunity than an issue, as I know we can work together to establish an authentic, confident presence. As we began Joan’s session, however, I was immediately struck by her poise. She exuded confidence - in every angle and expression. I was a bit baffled, wondering if I’d accidentally mislabeled my consultation notes. The empowered woman I saw before me was nothing of what I expected. She effortlessly settled into herself.

Bemused and smiling, I showed Joan the photographs on the back of my camera commenting on how stunning and confident she was, expressing how assuredly she moved. She couldn't believe it. She looked at the photographs with a mix of relief and disbelief, exclaiming, "Really?! That's a relief. I feel so fake and vulnerable." It was a moment that spoke volumes.

Imposter syndrome is a sneaky creature that affects so many high-achieving individuals, regardless of their talents and success. We all have moments when we compare ourselves to others, thinking we fall short. But here's the thing—we rarely know the full story behind someone's seemingly perfect image. We don't see the struggles, the doubts, and the insecurities they may be grappling with. We're all on our own unique journeys, and it's essential to remember that.

So, as Joan smiled in front of my camera, I couldn't help but admire her tenacity and determination to overcome her self doubt. She was a reminder that true beauty and strength come from embracing our potential, not belittling it; from seeing who we are and what we have to offer and moving towards being the best of ourselves despite what insecurities may be gnawing at us. It's about recognizing our worthiness, celebrating our accomplishments, and showing ourselves some much-needed compassion.

In the end, Joan’s portraits showed a woman who was resolutely overcoming her doubts and fears. They were a testament to her journey and a reminder to us all that we can have success in every opportunity that comes our way if we allow ourselves. Each of us has our own unique brilliance and inner strength, waiting to be discovered and shared with the world. Embrace your confidence, embrace your authenticity, and embrace the beauty of your own remarkable journey. It is through embracing our true selves that we shine the brightest.