Sneak Peek: Joan's Business Portrait

Had an excellent opportunity recently to shoot with Joan, who is the Executive Director of the Kansas City Chapter of the CPCU and also happens to be a neighbor as well.

While the headshot itself is fairly straight-forward (a close view of the head and shoulders with direct eye contact is standard in most industries), what was particularly fun and challenging for me from a photographer's perspective was that this headshot was going to be displayed alongside some already existing headshots that had been taken a few years earlier. So I needed to create a seamless integration of Joan's new headshot with the existing photos by leveraging the existing color scheme and settings of the old images.

When Joan first called me, I initially thought of shooting an image with a much darker brown and tan backdrop, which conveys a very traditional and rich feel. Think tapestries, libraries, Harvard. However, upon talking with her and checking out where the photo was going to be used, I realized that this would look completely awkward and out of sync with the rest of the website. It was too dark and serious! The color scheme of blues, greens and whites called for a much higher key portrait, with a casual business office background.

Joan had this to say about her portrait: "Thank you for the photos. Dang, you make me look good!"

And I can't think of a better endorsement than that! =)

If you would like to schedule a business portrait for yourself or your entire team with Striking Photography, please give Debra a call at 913/602-8061 or email at debra(at)strikingphotography.org. We can shoot in the studio or on-location, and I am happy to work with you to create an image that conveys all the values your business stands for.

The Sweet Smell of Success: Lawson Lavender

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.

This is the lesson learned from a recent shoot I did for a great local company called Lawson Lavender. Lawson makes and sells the best-smelling lavender products my nose has ever encountered, from candles and soaps to natural household care products like glass and countertop cleaners. Run by the ever-vivacious and awesomely spikey haired Stacey, she and her family actually grow their own lavender on a farm in rural Missouri, harvest it, dry it and then use it to create the Lawson Lavender products. So Stacey approached me and asked if I could do some product shots for them, as they were launching a brand new etsy.com site.

Dirt...



She showed me some examples of photos she liked, and given the adorable gnome that is part of the Lawson Lavender logo, I suggested we play off that and have a "magical forest" theme to the images. Ya know - red spotted mushrooms, 

plus plants...

lots of ferns, perhaps a friendly snail or two? Imagine where a gnome might live, and you'll get the idea. Based on this first concept, I built a set in my studio, beginning with stacking bricks on a table, covering them with a painter's drop cloth and dumping a bunch of potting soil on top. I began adding in greenery

...equals a gnome-y wonderland.

(my son "helped" by trying to add in some fake plastic bugs which I vetoed), sprinking moss and rocks. In the end, it looked like this:

Loved the shot. Got the whole magical fairy land thing going, the light slanting in as if shining through the forest trees. Add in a cute little mushroom and call me the Fairy Godmother. I can see the gnomes capering about as we speak...

Only one problem: it completely did NOT jive with Stacey's new etsy.com site.

When you hire Striking Photography, be it as your wedding photographer or senior pictures, or for a commerical photography shoot such as this one, my number one priority is to produce images that are an appropriate and real reflection of the subject. It may be a technically perfect shot, but if it doesn't work for my client's objectives, then my job is not complete.

So, I came up with two completely different concepts and went in a whole new direction with the shoot. Voila!

Much cleaner,

more modern take on the products. What makes the first image awesome was that the colors worked with the product labeling, whereas the second concept played off of the actual usage of the products (cleaning products shown in a kitchen or bathroom, a candle by a bedside, etc.).

In the end, Stacey was pleased with all the ideas but chose to go with the last image, showing the products in the environments where they would actually be used.

And I got to play in the dirt with my kid, which was pretty fun too. 

Sneak Peek: Business Portrait!

I was so pleased to make the acquaintance of Teresa, an attorney with over 30 years of legal experience, specializing exclusively in the areas of social security disability, veterans' disability, and short and long term disability claims. She has recently relocated to a wonderful office in the Corporate Woods of Overland Park, KS and asked me to create some great images to go with her soon-to-be-launched new website. We shot a great combination of classic headshots (showing only head and shoulders) to more artful headshots that could be used for print advertising or editorial layouts (a headshot with lots of empty a.k.a. 'negative' space which leaves room for copy). In addition, we did some great office interior shots featuring an absolutely fantastic lamp that she has - that was the most photogenic lamp I have ever shot! lol

 

Can't wait to see the new website once it's up and live. It was great working with you, Teresa!

Sneak Peek: What I Went Freezing For...

Couple of neat images I shot for a client the other evening whilst freezing... My poor fingers were numb by the time I finished this series, and I didn't even stay out very long! I shot this with a tripod and a (relatively) long exposure. So each time after I pressed the shutter release, I was hopping around (careful not to shake the tripod), flapping like a chicken trying to keep myself warm. I also had to wait for the giant FedEx truck with its flashing tail lights to MOVE OUT THE WAY PLEEEEZE? right when I had gotten my shot perfectly set up :) Thankfully this was a very speedy and efficient FedEx guy -- good man.

Photographer tip: Be aware that your camera can be sensitive to weather conditions! These days most cameras perform admirably in a variety of conditions, but when going from one extreme to another (say, the nicely toasty 75 degrees F of your home to the frigid 13 degrees F outside an office building), your camera may need a little assistance. Even though my camera body is sealed, I allow at least 15-20 minutes for my camera to adjust to the weather before shooting. I am especially careful when my camera is cold and it hits some warm humid air. The warm humid air hitting the cold glass of your lens can cause condensation issues, which needless to say is a bad thing. The most common way to deal with this problem is to simply keep a large Ziplock bag with you, and before going from cold to warm, pop your camera in there and seal it up. The cold dry air will create a "bubble" around your camera, and allows for a more gradual temperature and humidity adjustment.

Sneak Peek: Business Portrait!

Donna is a professional in the healthcare industry and wanted a business portrait that was polished, sophisticated but not overly serious and stuffy. In a couple of beautiful suits and with some cool lighting techniques - mission accomplished!

In this information age, I can't emphasize enough the value that a professional business portrait or corporate headshot brings to you. Whether you are an individual on the job market, looking to promote yourself within your company, or a small business owner with several employees, the first impression you make is important - and more often than not, these days that impression is made virtually via your website, or LinkedIn, Facebook or other social networking profile. Ask yourself: what does your picture say about you?

At Striking Photography, each business portrait is carefully created and I discuss in detail your clothing and what your personal or company brand represents. I work with you to craft an image that conveys the core values your brand represents.

Call me today at 913.602.8061 to discuss updating your business portrait. Or visit the Striking Photography website for more examples of my work. It's a great investment in your most important asset - YOU!

Corporate Headshots by Striking Photography

First impressions are important. In today's competitive and technically savvy world, more and more clients and employers are using the internet to network. They screen suppliers, research service providers, obtain references, and Google potential employees - all before they even talk to you on the phone.

So let Striking Photography help you convey the professional image that inspires confidence in your work with a PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS PORTRAIT. Affordable, quick and easy, a business portrait instantly polishes your image online.

A potential client's decision to do business with you will often be based in large part on the sense of your competence, professionalism and demeanor created by your photographer. Striking Photography's corporate headshots are subtly created based on the message you wish to convey.

As simple as they may seem at first glance, creating an effective corporate headshot requires a sophisticated photographer capable of understanding the branding of your business, and of translating that into a visual message with lighting, mood and wardrobe. Your images are created digitally, and multiple backgrounds are available, as is retouching.

Visit Striking Photography for more examples of our work, and for pricing information.

Business Portraits - What Does Your Photo Say About You?

There's an old saying in business: "It's not who you are, it's who you know..."

But do you know what your photograph on LinkedIn, Facebook or MySpace says about you? What image are you projecting to prospective clients, coworkers, employers?

In today's competitive and technically savvy world, more and more clients and employers are using the internet to network. They screen suppliers, research service providers, obtain references, and Google potential employees - all before they even talk to you on the phone.

So let Striking Photography help you convey the professional image that inspires confidence in your work with a PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS PORTRAIT. Affordable, quick and easy, a business portrait instantly polishes your image online.

And after all, you're going to need that business portrait when they announce your promotion in the company newsletter... :-)