Staff Group Portrait for Salem Law, Winston-Salem Estate Law | On Location Brand Photographer | Headshot and Branding Photographer | Jasper & Fern

The hot sun glanced against my cheek, breaking through the dense overhanging pine needles. The citrus-y musk of the pine tree sap wafting through my open car window. It always feels like returning to my mountain home when I visit the Salem Law team. I could easily see why Daniel, the founder of the business and an avid outdoorsman himself, would be drawn to this location for his small business.

Pinecones crunched underneath my tires as I ascended the blacktop drive up to the Salem Law office building. Not much had changed since I was here last time taking their brand photographs. I breathed the sap and earthy smells into my lungs, closing my eyes so I could memorize them and revisit their scent later. Moduled light danced across my closed lids as a warm “Hi!” met me from across the parking lot. Smiling, I opened my eyes, greeted by Lindy and Caroline’s sunny dispositions.

”Is it okay if we do the headshots out here like last time? Daniel really liked having the trees in the background,” Lindy said as she stopped to greet me. “Oh, and is it okay if Daniel’s dog joins us for the group shot?”

My eyes lit up in excitement and I couldn’t hide my glee, “Wait, Daniel brought his dog?! AAAH! YES, PLEASE!! I’d love to meet him and have him be part of the portraits!” I was already excited about taking new headshots for Daniel and his team and getting to spend time with them. Adding his dog to the mix was the icing on top of the cake!

Re-focusing from my excited dog distraction, I surveyed the shadows in the row of pine trees behind where I wanted to take their headshots. I knew I’d be editing the tones in their photographs to compliment their brand colors and getting the right shadows was key.

As always, we had lots of laughter, fights with the wind blowing hair about, and a careful avoidance of the pokey pine cones on the ground. The heat quickly warmed us all as we swiftly moved to capture the best body language and expression for everyone - pupper included.

Sad to leave the covering pines and good company, I packed my gear back up to head to the next location. Waiving goodbye to Lindy, Caroline and Daniel - and sneaking a few last puppy pets - I headed back down the blacktop, the crunching pine cones and citrus-y musk softly drifting further away.

Brittney’s favorite headshot from her session | Women’s Professional Portraits | What to wear for your headshot session | Womens headshots | Makeup for Brunette Hair | Best colors for winter skin | Winston-Salem Headshot Photographer | Jasper & Fern

A pitbull mom just like me, the sweetness in her voice rang true over the phone as she answered me. "I'm a caring, compassionate person that's easy to get to know. It's important people can see that." We were discussing her updated headshot and making sure her goals were going to be met.

Brittney had just taken a new position - working with rescue animals none-the-less - and needed to replace the headshot she'd been using since college.

"It takes people looking past an outward appearance," a twinge of sadness entering her voice as we discussed our love of pitties. As she spoke, I knew that deep love in her eyes was what I wanted to capture.

After many more enjoyable paths of conversation, together we planned her session and discussed how she could best prepare.

Here's what we captured!

P.S. Check out the video below to be a fly on the wall of our studio during Brittney’s session!!

Corporate Headshot of Lancome Team Leader | Winston-Salem Headshot Photographer Jasper & Fern

“Corporate,” in terms of headshots, doesn't have to equal boring or blase. I hear “corporate” classified this way quite often with photography. There are a few reasons I’ve gathered that this type of headshot has a more negative connotation from someone aspiring to look good in their new company headshot. In my experience though, corporate can actually be glamorous, sleek and beautiful.

Unfortunately, I think that most of the time when larger companies hire out for headshots, they’re looking for a machine-like approach. Efficiency is wonderful and necessary, however, I feel like the individual gets lost in the mass - especially if the person is introverted, quiet or uncomfortable in front of the camera. Corporate and team headshots do, indeed, need to be efficient but they also need to showcase each team member in a positive light.

Along with the static experience, a lot of people think of corporate headshots being like school portraits - a flat light with a modeled grey backdrop or a plain stark white backdrop. These backgrounds can work and, keeping consistency across departments is important, but there is a way to make this type of set up flattering.

When we work to do corporate and team headshots on location, we make the time to create a private space, free of distractions and people. It’s important that the person being photographed can focus on themselves and us, the photographer and style team.

We also value lighting each person in the most flattering light. While we typically stick to one lighting setup, we make adjustments for each person who comes in.

Best of all, adding these personal touches and minor adjustments doesn’t add more than a minute or two to each individual headshot. In the grand scheme of things, that’s such a small amount of time to sacrifice helping people feel comfortable and achieving a headshot they’ll love that is sleek and beautiful.

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Rebecca’s Professional Headshot with Winston-Salem Headshot Photographer Jasper & Fern

She came in poised, intention in every movement. She was the kind of woman who automatically commanded a room with quiet leadership. She smiled as we exchanged greetings and then sat on our dark velvet grey couch, setting a folder squarely to her side and then briskly folding her hands in her lap. Meeting her expectant air, I began to ask her about her needs.

Upon determining her need for portraits was specific to her profession, I asked “What do your portraits need to achieve?”

”I am not sure what I need. I know what I don’t want. I don’t want to be too corporate,” Rebecca replied swiftly. She was always straight to the point.

As I continued learning about her, I determined that, with her move to a director’s position at a new company in a new state and the different leadership and potential speaking roles she would be filling, she needed branded headshots to represent her fully. After expressing my assessment, she then handed me the folder.

I smiled. It was clear upon opening the folder that she had been assessing me much as I had been assessing her. She’s the perfect fit for her new director’s role. Inside the folder were magazine clippings of professional women’s portraits that were professional and just corporate enough without crossing into rigid territory. Off-handedly, Rebecca mentioned that there was a clipping in the folder of a pose which we had already discussed. I was glad for her scrutiny to make sure I was the photographer she truly wanted.

Her session ended up being wonderful! We achieved several different headshots to be used in a variety of forms, from her speaking gigs to her everyday office use.

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