A Guide for Headshot Sessions in the Fall 2021

Natural Light Indoor Headshot

Indoor Headshots in Fall Weather

So what do you do when it’s raining or, even worse, snowing the day of your headshot photography session? It might be obvious, but Fall weather is not always conducive to an enjoyable or quality photo shoot. 

This presents challenges in booking an outdoor on location headshot.

Our solution is the light and bright natural light studio located in NW Portland. With a few light modifiers and a couple of poses you are all set with a new headshot.

Here are six reasons that you would opt for an natural light studio session versus braving the elements during a season when rain can be the norm:

Headshots in Studio

1. Weather

Inclement weather doesn’t prevent you from having your photos taken outdoors, but it does often lead to the need to schedule according to the forecast — and the weather doesn’t always live up to expectations.

It can sometimes require pushing a shoot out to a less desirable time or demand a spontaneous reschedule when the weather happens to be accommodating.

A studio session is predictable and can be easily scheduled.

2. Comfort

You comfort is paramount for a photo shoot, especially if you are taking a headshot.

Working around cold weather or rain can distract from a relaxed image.

A temperature-controlled environment allows you to bring your best to the shoot.

3. Change Outfits

One benefit of working indoors is that it’s easy to change outfits and try different looks.

When you want to try this, be sure to check with the photographer and make sure your scheduled time can accommodate outfit changes.

Our natural light photo studio has an area to hang up your clothes, dress, and do touch ups, so it’s very easy to try a different shirt or check your makeup.

4. Environment

If you’re worried that a photo will look too plain in a studio environment, think again. The job of a headshot or portrait is to capture your energy and personality with a high quality professional image.

The focus of the viewer will be entirely on you and how you come across in the photo. Background elements can contribute to the feeling of an image, but often aren’t required to get the desired effect.

However, if you want some environmental elements, our natural light studio has both an office and living room setup that can be added to your image to give it a bit more ambience.

5. Light Quality

While the weather and ease of working are great reasons to schedule time in a natural light studio, the light itself is a boon, as well. Some studios specialize in strobe light photography, which can be wonderful when done well. However, much strobe photography can make a headshot look staged or cookie-cutter, something you don’t want in a headshot.

We work only in natural light where the soft and even lighting from our studio windows accentuates your personality and allows you to simply show up and be yourself.

6. Privacy

Outside photos are very often taken in environments where there are other people around. Even in controlled, quiet locations there is the need to work around the elements and the environment to get a great shot.

In the studio, the focus is entirely on you and getting a great photo.

Headshot in Studio

Want to see the great results we can get from natural light studio photography?

The photographs below were made using the studio with large windows to allow the south facing light to illuminate the space.

The result is even, soft lighting that makes each person shine.

Interested in Working Together?

Contact Erica for Indoor Headshot Sessions starting at $300.00.
Let’s get you an image you will be proud to show the world.

New Work for Jenni Leasia Design

Headshots for the Team

On location office individual and team photos for Jenni Leasia Design, an interior design firm located in NW Portland, Oregon.

For this on location session we used the client’s large windows as our light source. In addition to bounce and flag cards we manipulated the light with the positioning of the subjects. The closer the subject to the light source the greater the light that impacts the skin. By placing the team mid way in the room we were able to get balanced light.

For the individual sessions we used left and right side light coming from the windows. By turning the subjects we were able to achieve unique lighting for each spot.

“We design high end kitchens, master suites and complete interiors for your forever home. It’s the study that calms your mind and sparks creativity; the perfectly laid-out kitchen that makes cooking a joy; the living room that inspires cozy conversations and beautiful gatherings. Our designs nurture you, and enrich every celebration and daily routine at home.”

Interior Designers

Interested in Working Together?

How to Choose the Best Photos for your Website

The top 5 types of website images

Choosing photos for your website that will give a visual impact on the first click. We will cover the top 5 types of images most businesses use on their website.

1. Professional Headshot

The goal of a professional or personal business headshot session is to develop an image that projects confidence, intelligence, and approachability. Having a high quality photograph of you will create an immediate connection for your clients and customers.

See more examples of Professional Headshots.

2. Image banner

An image banner can set off the tone of your website because it usually is the first time the viewer will see.

When choosing an image banner consider:

  • orientation
  • size and image quality
  • focus
  • style

Orientation will be important depending on if the image was created horizontal or vertical. Tip: A horizontal image will be easier to crop into an image banner.

Size and the quality of the image will be key in getting a clear photo without being too big or too small. If the banner is too small you could see pixelation or the image won’t be big enough to expand the width needed for the banner. If the image is too big you could risk SEO ranking by slowing down your site. Tip: Find out the exact pixel dimensions before uploading your banner.

Focus is about where you want the viewer to look. I like to have a soft focus for by banner images to allow the subject matter to stand out. It also helps if I have text over the image. Tip: Know where you want to put your text and allow for out of focus subject matter to land there.

Style is all about the brand. Choosing an image that represents your business and hooks the viewer to want to see more. Tip: Use your brand colors or objects to reflect in your image banner.

3. Images of what you offer

Images of what you offer can greatly impact the view when they visit your website. It tells us what you do and what you sell. 

Whether you service people as a specialist in your field or selling a product, there is a way to photographically tell your story to grab the attention of your ideal clients.

Tip: Create custom photography of your brand to show your customers and clients who you are and what you are doing. They will resonate and become familiar with the work you do. Ultimately, we want our images to sell your work when you aren’t showcasing it in person. Photograph on location using natural light or in studio to create the desired look. 

4. Images that Tell a Story

Women with Moxie Networking in Portland Oregon
Women with Moxie Networking in Portland Oregon

Emotional impact can go a long way for your website. Stories last.

Telling a story of who you are, what you do, an achievement, a client story, an informational blog post about your work or the story of your brand will convey more of what your business is about than a body of text. 

“A brand story is a cohesive narrative that encompasses the facts and feelings that are created by your brand. Unlike traditional advertising, which is about showing and telling about your brand, a story must inspire an emotional reaction.” What’s a Brand Story by EchoStories

5. What it looks like to work with you

Showing what you do or the behind the scenes of working with you will provide insights to your potentional clients or customers.  Using images of what you do on your website generates an overall familiarity to what the customers can expect in working with you. Even if you are online only, there is a way to show your skills. Tip: Think of all the ways in which you intereact with a client and build those scenes out to be photographed. Think of it as a mini-documentary.

Interested in Working Together?

Let’s answer these photographically and then share your story with your audience on your website and social media platforms to generate higher connectivity of your business.

What’s Your Brand Story? Featuring Women with Moxie Campaign

Photography images in this post by Erica J Mitchell Photographer for a Women with Moxie video event campaign.

Your Brand Story

At its core, business photography is telling a story without words and when paired with a marketing message it adds depth to your brand. Whether you service people as a specialist in your field or selling a product, there is a way to photographically tell your story to grab the attention of your ideal clients.

Your brand has an origin story, a target market and a goal.

For a service example, you created a consulting firm to provide professional guidance, support and tips for women in leadership positions seeking help to become more efficient and better at their roles. You would have a professional headshot and portraits of you in your working environment and images of you working with your clients. You want to show who you are, what you do, where you do it and how it works.

For a product example, you created the best luxury flashlight for outdoor activities and you want to sell your flashlights to an outdoor company or directly to customers seeking a high quality product. You would have professional photographs of your flashlight for your shop as well as in the field. You would show in photographs the solution you are solving for the outdoor industry. 

What Images Do I Need?

The images captured for most business branding photography needs are product presentation, client interaction, interiors and exteriors, object details, working process, creative spaces, and lifestyle photography along with environmental portraits of the business owners or employees.

Who are you? 
Business Portrait

What do you offer? 
Service or Product Feature

What does it look like?
Finished Product

How do you do it? 
Development and Production

Why is it important? 
Lifestyle, Community and Culture

Where are you?
Storefront, On-location, Online

What happened? 
Event Coverage

Women with Moxie Networking in Portland Oregon

What’s Next?

Time to share your brand story images!

You’ll receive web and print file formats for quick and easy use to get your brand seen. Update your profile photo, your website and start posting your new images on your social media platforms to generate higher visibility of your business in the marketplace.

Being Published?
Use Your Photography in Printed or Online Articles

Need Photography for Your Website?
Be Visual and Professional Online

Elevate your Digital or Print Presentations, Business Cards and Brochures

Use Your Photography in Social Media Platforms to Market to your Fans

Have Personalized Photography when you are Networking In Person

Want to see more Brand Photography?

Interested in Working Together?

Let’s answer these photographically and then share your story with your audience on your website and social media platforms to generate higher connectivity of your business.

Our goals are to create custom photography of your brand to show your customers and clients who you are and what you are doing. They will resonate and become familiar with the work you do. Ultimately, we want our images to sell your work when you aren’t showcasing it in person.

We photograph on location using natural light or in studio to create the desired look.

Let your posting, advertisement or marketing message stand out with well balanced, high quality, artistic photographs that will attract your ideal clients and customers.

What Are On Location Photography Sessions? Featuring Charla Ray Interior Design

“Over the last several years, we have developed a reputation for helping our clients fall in love with their homes through an intimate and intuitive design process. Put simply, our clients are our muses. We skirt traditional style distinctions to create spaces that are genre-bending, sophisticated, and tailored.” – Charla Ray

You’ll find us talking about outdoor, on location and studio as the three types of locations we book headshot sessions in.

We’ve covered outdoor photography in our Top 3 Challenges and Benefits for Photographing Outdoors our page Outdoor and On Location sessions, and you can find more information and photos about the studio by visiting The Natural Light Studio.

Ok. So what are on location photography sessions?

ANSWER

Sessions labeled “On Location” are chosen space that are usually a client’s office space, work space, creative space or another type of indoor space that utilities window light as the main light source.

In some cases due to low light conditions, strobe lights with modifiers are brought in to mimic natural light.

Headshots for Interior Designers

On Location photography Session for Charla Ray.

About Charla Ray’s Home Office Shoot

For Charla’s session we photographed her home office in SW Portland. Charla is an interior designer and BFA graduate from the Art Institute of Portland.

Charla was looking for a new headshot for her website and social media (Instagram) as well as an image she could sent to a magazine editor.

We used two B1 strobes with a medium box modifier in her office and kitchen spaces to provide the same type of light we use in our studio headshots.

Headshots for Interior Designers
Headshots for Interior Designers

To learn about locations for headshot sessions view our two types of sessions spaces Outdoor and On Location Sessions or The Natural Light Studio for more.

Natural Light Photography
Session Environments

Interior On Location Indoor

On Location

Outdoor Headshot

Outdoor

Natural Light Indoor for Headshot

Studio