I am responsible for ensuring my clients are prepared for their headshot session. A prepared client is a confident client, and that confidence will show in your photo. In this article, I’ll describe a collection of tips for how to prepare for your headshot session.
Before your headshot session
A headshot is often your first impression to prospects. Imagine meeting a prospect in person for the first time, and select an outfit for that scenario.
When in doubt, solid colors are best.
Don’t wear any more makeup or jewelry than you normally would.
Iron clothes, smooth wrinkles. They can be complex, costly photo editing problems.
Use a lint roller. Pay particular attention to neckline and shoulders.
Get a good night sleep. Professional headshot/business portrait by Federal Hill Photography, LLC
Day of your headshot session
Bring:
comb or brush
hand mirror
lint roller Professional headshot/business portrait by Federal Hill Photography, LLC
If it’s a hot day
If it’s a hot day and the shoot is outside, keeping cool is essential for:
your comfort
reducing sweaty skin highlights
reducing sweat stained clothing
Stay inside a building with AC, in your car with AC on, or in the shade as long as possible.
If it’s humid and you can do so, leave your glasses outside. Otherwise they will fog as soon as you move from an environment with AC to outside.
Bring a cloth for sweat. Dab, do not wipe, at sweat on your face. Wiping can redden skin and smear makeup.
Bring water. Hydration is very important.
During your session
During your headshot session, I’ll provide feedback regarding facial expression, posture, and other aspects of posing. I’ll make all efforts to keep you informed and comfortable throughout the session.
Note: During COVID-19, I’ve implemented additional procedures for client safety. Please see this article for details.
During COVID-19, availability of Federal Hill Photography, LLC’s products and services will vary to ensure client safety and adhere to required regulations. Those products or services currently unavailable will be labelled as such on this website. Please check this website often for the most up to date availability.
With Maryland at phase 2 of reopening, I’m again able to offer headshots. The health and safety of my clients remains paramount. I’m continuing to follow the pandemic guidance of federal, state, and local authorities and have implemented the following policies and procedures to reduce risk:⠀
All shoots shall occur outside. I’ve always been optimized for travel, so I’m happy to travel to a location convenient to you.
I’ll be wearing a mask at all times during the shoot. ⠀
I’ll be maintaining a minimum 6ft distance at all times during the shoot. ⠀
While clients have no reason to touch my equipment, I’ll be bringing sanitizing wipes to every shoot just in case. ⠀
Summer is here. Whether it’s one or many people to photograph, I’ll work with you to ensure a process that keeps everyone as cool as possible.
Buying fine art photography, even if you’ve bought fine art before, can feel like a daunting process. In this article, I’ll show you five easy steps on how to buy fine art photography for home or office decor.
Define your goal
The first step of the process is to define your goal for buying wall art. Define the message you want to express with the art and who will be viewing it. A home owner or apartment dweller may want to buy a fine art print for the home because it resonates with a personal philosophy. A business owner may buy fine art photography for the office to inspire employee creativity. A property manager may buy a fine art print featuring familiar locations so tenants feel welcomed. A medical facility such as a doctor’s office, dentist, or hospital may need an art print that calms patients who are undergoing or have undergone traumatic experiences.
Image from my fine art photography gallery: Vintage Ford pickup hood ornament
Define the location
Second, determine where the fine art photography print will be hung to achieve your goal. A home provides a variety of spaces in which to hang wall art, such as:
kitchen
living room
hallway
home office
bedroom
A place of business also has a variety of places in which to hang wall art, such as:
employee work space
conference room
lobby
hallway
waiting room
Avoid placing the art where it’s exposed to direct sunlight or extreme changes of temperature and humidity. These factors can accelerate the degradation of your printed art, even when using archival materials and coatings.
Image from my fine art photography gallery: Wild Violet (Viola papilionacea)
Determine decor style
Third, determine the style of decor in the space where the fine art photography print will be hung. What types of materials and finishes are in use? What’s the color palette of the space? Is the space considered contemporary, modern, french country, or something else? When buying fine art prints, keep the space’s style in mind. If possible, bring along color samples and material swatches used in the space. Also, keep in mind these aspects of fine art photography that can influence style:
The subject of the art can be expressed in a variety of styles such as minimalism, abstraction, or realism.
The materials on which the art is printed. For example, metal wall art produces a considerably different decor style than, say, a canvas print.
Framed wall art is also style choice. Frames come in a variety of materials, mats, and finishes.
Use archival materials and coatings
Fourth, ensure the art is printed, matted, and framed with archival quality materials and coatings. Material rated as archival quality has been manufactured free from certain components that accelerate decay of art prints. Depending on the degree of archival quality, material can be rated to last from 75 to over 100 years. A UV coating can also help reduce deterioration of fine art prints by blocking the sun’s UV radiation. No art prints will last forever in an average home or office, but archival quality materials and coatings ensure the fine art print stays vibrant as long as possible.
Image from my fine art photography gallery: Empty, MD State Fair, Lutherville-Timonium, Maryland
Decide on placement
Fifth, decide where on the wall to place the fine art print. Poorly placed art can make a room look small or imbalanced, or subject the art to higher probability of damage. The first step in deciding placement is determining the general area on a wall within which to place the fine art. Use these suggestions to help define that general area:
Place wall art 6-8″ above the top of furniture.
Place the top of the fine art print 1-2′ from ceiling.
Measure the swing radius of nearby doors to avoid puncturing the art with a door knob.
Once you’ve defined the general area in which to hang the wall art, further refine the location by mocking up the art on your wall. A mock up avoids damaging your art or putting unnecessary holes in your wall. There are multiple methods you can use to mock up the placement of your fine art print:
Place a small square of painter’s tape on the wall where each of the 4 corners of your wall art print will be located.
Cut poster board, cardboard, or gift wrap to the size of your fine art print and user painter’s tape to tape it to the wall.
Purchase or subscribe to an app designed specifically for visualizing art on your walls, such as Fundy or ProSelect.
Now that you’re prepared with the right knowledge on how to buy fine art photography for home or office decor, it’s time to go shopping! Please check out my online fine art photography gallery. If you have any questions, simply make a fine art photography inquiry. I’d be happy to help.
I’m the lone artist in a family of STEM professionals, but this is not without its benefits. From an early age, I was taught the importance of distilling useful information from noise. Useful information can suggest a course of action, reduce anxiety, and provide hope. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, I hope to provide you with some useful information about my business’ response to COVID-19 and information on how to manage the situation.
Federal Hill Photography, LLC’s response to COVID-19
Professional Photography Services – I’ve temporarily closed all in-person professional photography services such as headshots and event photography until further notice. I’ll be monitoring government agencies as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization to determine when it’s safe to reopen these services.
Fine Art Photography Gallery – My online gallery will remain open and accepting orders. All orders are shipped directly to you from my print vendor, who is also enacting precautions in response to COVID-19 . Per a statement from my print vendor:
“…we are closely following the COVID-19 situation as it continues to develop.”
“For weeks we have been taking every precaution possible to prevent this virus from circulating, and have been successful in keeping our workforce safe and healthy.”
“…we will be keeping only essential staff on-site to keep minimum basic operations running, and will be practicing Social Distancing as recommended by the CDC.”
Please note that, since my print vendor is keeping only essential staff on-site, orders may take longer than normal to produce.
If you’re a Baltimore business, please fill out this survey. The BDC is using this information to coordinate business resources with state and federal agencies.
This article indicates additional legislation is being developed that includes relief for small businesses affected by COVID-19. Family First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201), referred to in this article, has been signed in to law.
Links at the bottom for information on accounting for the COVID-19 impact in taxes, managing the personal financial impact, and finding financial assistance programs currently available on state and federal level.
MD Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (MDVLA) crowdsourced resources about assistance for artists in coping with the impact of COVID-19.
You are invited to my Fine Art Photography Show on Thurs, Nov 14 2019 5-9pm at Marshall Craft Associates located at 2031 Clipper Park Rd., Suite 105 Baltimore MD 21211. The event is free, open to the public, and part of the larger Mingle at the Mill open house for businesses in the Clipper Mill area. Thank you to Marshall Craft Associates for the invitation to display my work. Fine art photographic prints are a great way to beautify a space, whether it be corporate or residential. Fine art photographic prints are applicable to a variety of uses, no matter if you’re a home owner, interior designer, property manager, or business owner.⠀
Your event is a story not a selfie
Events are an often overlooked important opportunity to continue telling the story of your brand’s success. Businesses simply send employees out with their cell phones to grab shots and often end up with selfies, not stories. Your event is the time to highlight the employees, donors, vendors, and others who contribute to the success of your brand. That’s the story that needs to be told, and that’s the story a professional photographer can tell for you. If you’d like me to photograph your next event, please request a free quote.
Once more ’round the sun: Federal Hill Photography, LLC turns 7
Federal Hill Photography, LLC turned 7 in July. I thought it a great opportunity to look back on the last 12 months.
Projects
The last 12 months have brought a variety of interesting projects, including events, headshots, and product photography. Thank you to my clients for the opportunity to work with you. I’m honored you’ve put your trust in me to deliver the images you need. I continually strive to deliver images that:
tell an exciting story that helps my clients connect with their communities of leads and prospects
are highly unique, leaving a lasting impression that sets my clients above their competitors
are consistent quality, ensuring return clients know exactly what to expect each time
Thank you to all my clients who have left a recommendation on LinkedIn. I’m grateful for the feedback and LinkedIn reviews are always welcome. As my business has expanded, so has my marketing reach. Potential customers are now finding me on Facebook and Google. And the presence of Facebook and Google reviews is a major influence on their decision. I’d greatly appreciate a review from you on my Facebook Page or Google Business Page. If you’ve already left me a LinkedIn recommendation, you may simply copy it to Facebook or Google. It’s never too late to leave a review.
Phase 2 of Brand Update Complete, Holiday Photography, PPA membership
Phase 2 of Brand Update is complete
I’ve completed configuring, testing, and rolling out e-commerce features at fedhillphoto.com. Next, I’ll be continuing to populate the online store with my fine art photos.
Below is a brief rundown of significant new e-commerce features:
