Headshot blog #1
Finding the right bay area headshot photographer can be a challenge. As artists, each of us has our own unique style and approach to a photographic portrait. From a soft, forgiving bright pastel palette to a high contrast black and white look, every photographer is different. I personally style my portraits in either a clean color style or the classic, timeless black and white high contrast look which allows the focus to remain on you and your expression.
Color Portrait Photography
Silja is a professional model from Finland who shot with me in 2019. Her sharp sense of style and piercing gaze makes this image stand out as a favorite of mine.
Color headshots allow you to show off your beautiful outfit, expression as well as the color and texture of the background. I most often recommend color shots for people looking for an accurate and modern vibe for their photos . All of my packages allow you to choose color, black and white or both for your photos.
Black and White Portrait Photography
Professional B&W headshots stand out from the crowd giving your online profile a classic, clean and soulful look which is still appropriate for nearly any application. Color profile photos tend to lose their appeal as time passes due to the ever-changing color palettes of the fashion world. While your millennial pink blazer and patterned pants may be popular today, in a few years its quite possible you may not stand by that stylistic choice any longer. That brings us to our next topic:
What should I wear to my headshot session?
The answer to this question depends on what your images will be used for and whether you want black and white headshots or color portraits or both. As a general rule, I recommend wearing a clean, professional outfit if the images will be used on Linkedin or on a professional website. This outfit could be a sharp sport coat with a white dress shirt as seen below, or a colorful sweater with some stylish slacks. For femme identifying people a sport coat works well with a dress or blouse, or stick with the uniform dress shirt for a truly timeless look.
What’s the difference between a portrait and a headshot?
Headshots and portraits are terms which can be used interchangeably, however a headshot typically refers to a photograph focusing on your face from your chest up with a simple background such as brick, black, grey or white paper. Portraits, on the other hand, can be any image with a person as the subject, regardless of the background or props used. Portraiture is an art form that has been in existence for millennia, lining the walls of great palaces and homes alike all across the globe. A portrait today usually has some artistic direction and can span a wide range of styles using myriad techniques to achieve the stylistic intent of the creative team behind the shoot.
Why should I hire you to take my portrait or headshot?
Photo of myself by Martin Salgo
With each photoshoot I have one main goal in mind: Capture the most flattering and honest photographs of my client while making sure they feel respected and at ease throughout the duration of the shoot. The satisfaction of my clients is my number one priority, and I always under-promise and over-deliver. I pride myself on my ability to set my subjects at ease and capture authentic expressions in as natural and unposed a manner as possible.