When meeting somebody professionally (and sometimes personally) for the first time, most people will Google about the said person to get an idea of who they are and what they do. Most first impressions come from online information, and more specifically your online headshots. Headshots are a promotional tool for your brand whether that be a personal or corporate brand. For business owners, having the right headshot created near you in Phoenix will help engender trust with potential customers and prompt them to learn more by reading your bio and learning more about what makes your business, product or service unique. However, customers may not want to read further or take you seriously if you do not have a good headshot or lack a profile picture.  Some people may prefer to use kids, pets, or objects – but we discourage this as does most marketing advice. Giving people a glimpse at the person they are dealing with can start the professional relationship off on the right foot. A great headshot can do this for you.

Headshots are a fairly specialized form of portraiture. What makes a good headshot is a subjective question and varies from person to person. The idea of a professional headshot has changed a lot over the years. Initially, headshots were strictly standard. However, based on most people’s current online profile photos, headshots are a lot more personal as people try to get a bit of their personality to come out.

The Importance of Professional Headshots on Social Media Profiles

People tend to make judgments based on appearance. It is crucial to have a professionally taken headshot on your business’ social media profile, especially when you do not have a logo.

A headshot will help convey your professionalism to people who do not yet know you. Professional headshots will ensure that people take you seriously.

A headshot is a way of portraying your character to people. Various facial expressions will help a person understand a little about you. Smiling from ear to ear usually expresses that you are a fun, approachable and outgoing person, while a serious look will show that you are determined and driven. Both expressions are great options. Choose a look depending on what you want to portray to your potential clients.

A headshot can be a great reminder to people who have met you in the past. A nice close-up headshot leaves no room for guessing. People who are not new to you will be able to recognize you right away. However, ensure you update your headshot often to show people what you look like right now because your face will go through many changes over time.

What Makes a Good Headshot?

A classic headshot features the face and shoulders, usually with neutral and non-distracting clothing choices. Typically, you will have your head and shoulders straight into the camera and possibly a little turned away but not too far to give a mannered vibe. Headshots are almost always 10×8 inches. This size gives a good close-up portrait of the face while still giving a bit of body shape.

Modern headshots differ slightly from classic headshots: The difference between the two lies in the eyes, which are a crucial part of modern headshots. When evaluating a good headshot, always look for the catch-light in the eyes, which makes the eyes sparkle and conveys that you have an active thought.

Doing everything right is not enough if you do not present the right image of yourself or your business to potential clients. The most important part when creating a quality professional headshot is choosing the right photographer. Photography is an art: Like any other form of art, some people are fantastic at it while others are not so good.  A good headshot photographer is one who pays attention to the tiny details. You should clearly describe to your photographer the purpose of your headshot so that they can determine the ideal type; professional, business, or corporate that will serve your needs.

 At Duane Furlong Studios, we offer 5-star photography services, to ensure that your headshot is of the maximum quality. We also let you select a background of your choice and change your outfits, to ensure that you are comfortable and satisfied with your headshot. Contact us to get a headshot that says all about you.

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Duane came through for me at a crucial time! He is communicative, personable, professional and is great at what he does! His studio has all the latest equipment and the best lighting I have ever seen. He definitely wants his clients to feel comfortable and have fun. I highly recommend him and can promise you that you will LOVE your photos!
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As technology advances, professionals are racing to leave their stamp in the digital world through professional headshot photos for their profiles.

You should be prepared to pay a fair price for quality headshots. My pricing is available by filling out the form below – you’ll receive instant pricing and scheduling access.

Headshot photo costs in Phoenix vary due to several underlying factors. For instance, different photographers have various price ranges for their headshots. We are going to focus on the cost of a headshot photographer in Phoenix.  It is essential to discuss the factors that determine the price of a headshot to help us with this

What The Headshot Photo Is For

The use of your headshot photo also plays a role in its overall cost. Even if your face is on these photos, you cannot use professionally taken headshots for anything you want. The reason behind this is that the photographer owns the copyright to these images. Using the photos for commercial use means that a payment of loyalty and commercial fees should be made to the photographer.

Type of Headshot

The purpose of taking your headshot is correlated with the type of headshot you want the photographer to take. There are various types of headshots, such as professional, business, or corporate headshots. It is essential to specify the headshot you would like to ensure that enough preparations are made for the shoot to go smoothly.

Overall Experience

Your headshot professional’s experience is a determining factor when it comes to the price of a headshot. Compared to new and inexperienced photographers, professionals will have relatively high rates. Years of photography and aspects such as light, and expression & posing coaching will separate great photographers from those of lesser talent.

Equipment Used

The equipment used for your shoot dramatically affects the quality of your photos. It is essential to find a photographer who knows the best equipment, such as the camera and lighting apparatus that fit a particular shoot. High-end photography equipment is expensive, which affects the pricing of your headshots.

Photographers can either be professionally trained in photography methods or self-taught. Their experience might even come from a combination of both. Regardless, one sure way to weigh a professional headshot photographer’s experience is by looking at their reviews.

Editing Prowess

The final look of a photo speaks volumes of its price. After the shoot, a professional photographer should ensure the final product photos are exemplary. To do this, a photographer has to process your images digitally. Professional headshots need editing to correct aspects such as lighting, skin tone, and color. Unlike inexpensive photographers, professionals should pride themselves on delivering high-quality edited photos.

Time

An important factor that affects the cost of your headshot is time. For example, most people book photography sessions depending on the amount of time needed for their shoot. In cases where you need extensions, the average time for shoots is affected since photographers charge extra time. However, having more time means you can experiment with different lighting, poses, and looks.

How soon you need the photographs is also a factor to consider. More often than not, we find ourselves in situations where we need rushed services. If you need your photos to be taken and produced faster, it is essential to note that they are generally more expensive than regular ones.

Shoot Location

The location of a shoot is an essential aspect of photography. A professional headshot photographer should have a studio space and equipment such as cameras and lighting equipment for on-site shoots. Shoots have taken on-site at the studio vary in price compared to those where the photographer has to come to you for an on-location shoot due to transportation costs.

Headshots vary in price for several factors. Making considerations such as the photographer, location, and quality is essential. If you are looking for a mix of professionalism and quality, contact Duane Furlong Studios today!

What Our Clients Say About Duane on Google

Duane has an incredible studio with some of the best equipment around. His photos are stunning and he’s fantastic at giving direction to ensure your photos turn out how you like. The end results were fantastic. Overall Duane made me feel very comfortable and was delightful to chat with. Compared to other photographers in the area, he offered the best product with the best price. I will definitely return next time I am in need of professional photos!
Alyssa Lane
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The major difference between a headshot and a portrait is that a headshot can be a portrait, but a portrait cannot be a headshot. Simply put, a headshot focuses on your face, neck, and shoulder while a portrait can cover your whole body or ¾ of it. Here are details of how the two concepts are similar to or different from each other.

Posing

When taking a portrait image you have the entire body (or at least ¾ of it) to create the mood and the feel of your image. On the other hand, when taking a headshot, you mostly have only your face to communicate. So how do you take a perfect headshot?

Do not be misled, a serious face will not mean that you are a serious business person or worker. Have you seen those people whose headshots are so serious they almost seem like a cover for a funeral services advert? Subconsciously, people like working, doing business, or even dating a happy person. It would therefore be a good thing to flash that smile, right?

While taking a headshot, it is okay to look at the camera. However, moving your face slightly (less than an inch should do) can have a great effect on your image. Don’t stare at the camera with blank eyes, instead communicate that you are a confident, and fun person to work with or even date.

To avoid making your image to come out all tensed, relax, and breathe.

Lighting

Lighting for both portrait images and headshots can be used for a lot of effects. With portrait images, you have a lot of space to play with lighting. You can, for example, use light to create different colors on your final image.

On the other hand, lighting a headshot, especially for business purposes, should be used to enhance a friendly, dependable feel to them. As such, it should be soft, even lighting that leaves minimal shadows on the final image.

If you would like to hide a double chin or to create a focus on your jaw, you should have the light source raised a few inches above your head. You can also use a kicker light to highlight your image. Moreover, you should ensure that your entire face is well lit.

Background

When taking a portrait photo, you have a variety of backgrounds to choose from. You can choose to take your photo in a field of flowers and it will still look good and functional. The space and purpose of the headshot may, however, restrict the kind of background that you will use. You, of course, wouldn’t want those flowers taking away the viewer’s attention from your face, would you?

Headshot backgrounds should be simple and mostly single-colored. Light grey and white backgrounds are more preferred given their ability to speak professionally. It is also easy to integrate white and grey with your brand colors.

Another thing to take care of is the need to edit the background. Plain backgrounds are easy to enlarge without showing the stretch or giving you a lot of work on the photo editor.

Business & Corporate Headshots

Business headshots are a little different from headshots that you take for your social media or dating apps and websites. It is also worth noting that social media platforms like LinkedIn fall under the category of business headshots. So what should your business or corporate headshots look like?

First, and pretty obvious, your attire should speak a lot about your profession. If you are a business leader, a business suit should be your preferred attire. Professionals like lawyers, doctors, or scholars can wear clothes that match their professions. Still, on the attire, avoid wearing tops that have writings on them.

Business and corporate headshots should have very minimal enhancement. It is okay to remove a pimple here and another blemish there, but that’s just it. On the same breath, wear makeup like you would when going to the office and do not overdo it. Glasses are okay to wear, but you should only wear them if you normally wear them and people are used to seeing you in them.  People would not be very willing to do business with you if the first thing you lie about is who you are.

Treat Headshots Like a Branding Tool

As you lay your personal or corporate brand strategy, you should consider the image that people associate with you. Ensure that the colors present in your headshot are related to your business or profession.

Would you like to have your headshots taken in a way that will sell your image? Duane Furlong Studios will take your headshots in a patient, professional manner.

When it comes to the acting industry, there are two types of headshots: commercial and theatrical. But you may wonder why anyone would need two headshots and any differences between these types of headshots. Casting directors look for something specific in a headshot depending on their role for the role player. Here are the main differences between commercial and theatrical headshots.

Commercial headshots

These headshots appeal to the advertising industry since their main aim is to promote a product to a particular demographic group. When considering commercial headshot, you should put into account the demographic group you want to appeal to in the ad. The photographer has the task of capturing a personality that people in the targeted demography can relate.

Smile vs. No Smile

Commercial headshots require, for the most part, a smiling face. You will be smiling into the camera a lot when posing for this type of shot. This is because the advert needs to ooze warmth and charisma to connect with the audience, keeping in mind that your image has only a few seconds to achieve the feat. Your photographer needs to capture you in your best natural element, not when you have a plastic smile across your face.

Wardrobe

Your commercial headshot must portray you as likable and relatable. To achieve this feat, you need to don warm and bright attire. We are talking about color that pops, jewelry that attracts attention but doesn’t overshadow you. For this reason, avoid dark colors, such as blacks and grays, since they tend to sap the warmth and energy out of your shot. What if you have only dark clothing? No pressure: pose before a bright background.

Theatrical Headshots

If you are going to feature in films, plays, and TV shows, theatrical headshots would be your thing. Theatrical headshots bring out the layers of an actor’s personality, bringing out a little more emotional background than a commercial headshot. To bring out the character assigned to you, the theatrical headshot does a great job of laying your personality bare so that the audience can understand your actions. This is quite unlike in commercial headshots, which depict you as trustworthy so the product can sell. Theatrical headshots represent personality according to the role played in the film or TV show.

Serious vs. No Smile

Theatrical headshots require a confident expression without necessarily smiling. However, the facial display depends on the character you want to portray. It could be a vulnerability behind the eyes, or a knowing smirk, may be all you need to showcase your personality in the play. Although not all the shots need to be severe and stoic, they are more grounded than commercial headshots.

Wardrobe

Before you pose for theatrical headshots, you need to consider the colors of your clothes. Unlike commercial headshots that require brighter shades, theatrical headshots need moodier, darker colors. Depending on the character you want to depict, select your wardrobe to cut a stronger impression than commercial headshots.

No photographer is either commercial or theatrical – it is how you pose before them. Put on light colors, and complement them with a smile on your face, and the shot becomes a commercial headshot.  Change to darker colors and a serious demeanor, and everything switches to a theatrical headshot.

Schedule a Session With Duane

But some photographers may have a particular style. If you are not sure whether they are commercial or theatrical, you may want to go through their portfolio to see the images they produce. If you are looking for a photographer who understands the two types of shots, look no further than us. Please contact us for more details if you need a professional photographer for commercial and theatrical headshots.

If you are a business or acting professional, you’ve likely heard that you need a headshot to build your brand — which is absolutely true! However, bad headshots can cause a lot more harm than good in your career. So the question must be asked:

What Makes a Good Headshot?

Here at Duane Furlong Studios, we have taken our fair share of headshots, and have come up with a few things we’ve noticed help your headshot stand out, in a good way:

Headshot is Well-lit

While it seems like a simple statement, good lighting is incredibly important when it comes to headshots. You want to put your best foot forward, and people need to be able to see you. Poor or intentionally dramatic lighting can distort facial features and prevent the employer or client from recognizing you in your headshot – you need something that will help them remember you and your personality.

Headshot Has You as the Focal Point

The whole point of a headshot is to help an employer (in the business or the entertainment world) see you. Distractingly busy backgrounds, clothes, or hair-dos will not only draw the attention of the employer, but it will make them have to work harder to focus on you. Opt for solid tops and solid backgrounds, in colors that will make your face stand out in the picture. You want to make their job as easy as possible by putting your face as the complete focal point of the photo, with nothing to pull the eye away.

Headshot Gives a Taste of Your Personality

All that being said, you don’t have to make your headshot completely void of personality – in fact, it should help the employer or client understand you a little bit more as a person. If you like bright colors, by all means opt for a brighter background or shirt for a bright pop of color. If you like to smile, smile. If you want to display a more serious, professional, business-like side of you, opt for more muted colors and perhaps a more serious expression.

However, a good headshot will not advertise you as something you are not. Stay true to your personality and let that shine through your headshots.

Headshot Looks Like You

All of the previous points are important, but none more than this: a good headshot looks like you. It looks like you on an above-average day, but it still looks like you. Excessive Photoshop edits, makeup, or hairstyles that aren’t natural or usual for you, elaborate clothing that you would never wear – they all will do nothing but to confuse your potential employer or client when you sit in front of them and hand them a headshot (or they find it on your website or social media) that looks nothing like you. Every time you go through a hairstyle or bodily change, you need to take new headshots to make sure that you are giving the people with whom you interact a picture that is up to date.

Additionally, many employers use your headshot to remind themselves of your interview (or performance, if you are auditioning) when making decisions on who to hire. They need to be able to match your face to the interview they went through, and if your headshot looks nothing like you, they are going to have a difficult job remembering who you are.

Talk With The Experts

All this being said, it is incredibly important for business professionals and actors to have quality, up-to-date headshots to bring to interviews and auditions. If your headshots are needing a refresh, contact us to book an individual or group session today!