Hair and Make-up

Make-up at Spa Sydell

We suggest that you have your hair styled and make-up done in your usual fashion before your headshot or portrait session. Apply your usual make-up; there are no special requirements for photography. Don’t worry about small blemishes – we’ll retouch them. Men should remember to shave. Women should bring some cosmetic powder to touch up glossy areas in the face if required. We have powder available to touch up men when it’s necessary. Please remember to bring a comb or brush. If you’d like on-site hair styling and make-up, we can arrange it for an additional fee. You may also arrange for your own stylist to accompany you to the studio.

Clothing and Jewelry

Actor

It’s not a good idea to wear white, bright or pastel colors or loud patterns; the emphasis of a headshot is on your face, and clothing should not distract from this. The same advice applies to jewelry keep it simple. Items with flat, reflective surfaces should be avoided. If you’re wearing a necklace, it’s best if it’s short, so that all of it will show in a closely cropped shot.

Business Headshots

Attorney’s headshot

For business headshots we suggest that you choose one outfit for the session. Jackets should be darker in color. Navy, black, dark grays, dark reds, dark greens and dark blues work well.

Actors & Entertainers

In sessions for actor’s and entertainers the goal is often to get more than one good shot, with some variety for comp cards and portfolios. You may want to bring several changes of clothing. Actors, for instance, may want a business look and a casual look. We suggest up to four changes; your time is better spent shooting than changing clothes. Black always works, so we suggest that you bring at least one top of that color.

Portraits

Engagement portrait

For portrait sessions, you’ll probably want to stick with one outfit, unless, for instance, you want both a casual and a formal portrait. If we’re doing a head & shoulders portrait, we recommend wearing long sleeves, even for a casual look. If  you are one of a group, it will be important to balance everyone’s clothing. Usually, we suggest trying to keep everyone in either warm or cool colors. For jewelry, the same suggestions apply as for business headshots.

These are guidelines that we’ve found generally work. Of course, every rule has exceptions, and we’re happy to photograph you however you like.

 Headshot or Portrait – What’s the Difference?

Executive portrait

People who want a picture of themselves taken are sometimes confused about how to name what they want. Say, for instance, you are looking for a small picture, say 5″x7″, of yourself for a gift. Because of the size of the image you’ll probably want a fairly close-up picture of your face; a wider shot would lose most of the detail in your face.

This is often called a head & shoulders portrait. Why not call it a headshot? You could

Actor’s headshot

refer to it that way, but generally headshot refers to a commercial image used for promotion or publicity, such as those used by models and actors. Beyond the head & shoulders portrait, 3/4 and full length poses are often taken in portrait photography.

Other Differences

Beyond matters of size, there are usually other significant differences in the way a photographer might approach a head & shoulders portrait and a headshot. For models, the goal is to produce a number of usable shots, for use in a portfolio or comp card, which is a single sheet printed with several different images of the subject. Actors may want several images showing a range of expressions. In either case the goal is to capture a lively, extemporaneous expression. This requires taking  numerous exposures in a fast sequence. This is very different from the goal of portrait photography which is usually to capture a timeless expression, one which is more generally representative of the subject. The deliberate pace of a portrait session allows for more considered lighting which can be carefully adjusted to flatter the subject’s features. The headshot session, in contrast, requires a more even lighting that will work regardless of the particular pose the subject strikes: whether the model turns to the right or to the left, whether she lifts or dips her chin.

The Business Headshot

Business headshot

An exception to these distinctions between the portrait and headshot is the business headshot, which, apart from usage, has more of the characteristics of the portrait than the model’s or actor’s headshot. The goal is usually to produce one excellent pose which will be used for public relations and editorial purposes.

Proofs are generally ready for viewing within twenty-four hours of  your session. They are posted to a gallery on this website. To view them select “View Proofs” from the main menu, or “View Proofs” from the “Galleries” menu. You will see a list of names, including

Proof #120915-012

yours. If your company or firm is listed, your name may be found in that folder. Once you have clicked on your name you may be asked for a password, which should have been supplied to you. If you don’t have the password, contact us by email or telephone. Once you have entered the password your proofs will appear.

Each proof is represented as a thumbnail underneath which is a proof number. The proof number is in the following form: “120922_034”; the first six numbers represent the date of the session and the last three are the individual proof number. This allows you to easily reference any particular proof. When you have made your selection, email or telephone us with your choice.

Location group portrait

What’s the difference between a studio portrait and one done on location? One non-technical difference is the convenience a location portrait may provide for the client. A professional person may appreciate the amount of her valuable time that may be saved by a headshot done at the office. Another is the opportunity to personalize a portrait by

Family portrait

posing it in the client’s own environment, such as their living room or garden.

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