Blog - Identity Headshots

Thursday, June 15, 2023

Young, aspiring actors know what they need to start out right in their careers: a proper headshot photo. We've seen actors come to our studio who ...

Betting on One's Self

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

To bet on one’s self is only possible if we know ourselves. As we started concentrating and specialising on headshots, we attracted skepticism. ...

Breaking the Location Barrier in our ...

Friday, November 05, 2021

Necessity is the mother of invention.We got a call from one of our corporate clients that our postponed shoot prior to the August lockdown needed to ...

Business Life in Lockdown

Sunday, October 10, 2021

When the first lockdown was implemented in New Zealand last year, it was more of a novelty. Our studio was closed for six weeks and it felt ok ...

Growing with our Clients : Jimmy Marvel

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Through the years, Bernie and I have met a lot of people who went through our headshot process. In fact, we learn a lot from our clients. It is ...

My Humble Beginnings in Marketing

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

24 years ago, I was a brand marketing trainee who managed a portfolio of small brands from Johnson & Johnson. In those days, small brands meant a ...

Why People Don't Like Photos of ...

Wednesday, September 04, 2019

In the previous blog, we discussed about the unrealistic expectation that people place on themselves when they have their headshot photo taken, that ...

Why People Don't Like Photos of ...

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

In the world of headshot photography, we noticed that people are not enthusiastic about having their photos taken. It is a common ...

The Benefit of a World-Class Headshot

Tuesday, August 06, 2019

Companies who operate within competitive markets appreciate the value of having a headshot photo that can hold its own, if not better, than the their ...

Translating Headshots to Family ...

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

We like growing with our clients. Whether it is a business who sends new staff for their headshot photo on the company website or a professional on ...

Creating Context for Headshots

Monday, May 20, 2019

When we see a couple dressed in their wedding attire with the bride carrying a bouquet, we understand that it is their wedding day. When we see ...

Identity Matters: Transactions and ...

Sunday, May 05, 2019

We learn a lot about ourselves with the way our customers describe our headshot session service. One particular customer describes us in this manner: ...

Identity Matters: Your Virtual ...

Sunday, January 20, 2019

In the business world, shaking the hands of the person you are meeting for the first time is a norm. I think I may have shaken the hands of more ...

Identity Matters: The Silent Salesman

Tuesday, September 04, 2018

Nike, Coke, Apple...these are some of the biggest brands in the world. The companies who built them have carefully defined what these brands ...

Headshots In Black and White or Grey

Wednesday, July 25, 2018

From time to time, we see the headshot images we provide our clients get converted to black and white by whoever is in-charge in the office. ...

Starting Out Right

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

One of the things I brought with me when I migrated to NZ was a copy of my very first CV. It was printed using a dot matrix printer and the ...

Identity Matters: Your Space

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Many moons ago, I was a young brand management trainee. My job was to assist the marketing manager who held the largest and most profitable brand ...

Identity Matters: Your Name

Sunday, February 18, 2018

Perhaps one of the most important decisions expectant parents is the naming of their child. The process is unique to every family or couple. Some ...

The Value of a Testimonial

Sunday, November 26, 2017

Testimonials are a great tool to tell potential customers what people say about your service. Requesting for testimonials can be awkward as that ...

Creating Portraits with Context

Thursday, August 10, 2017

I was asked to write a blog in a networking website that told the story on how I got into business networking. I was then asked by the PR ...

Two Professions, Two Headshots

Monday, July 10, 2017

Headshot Shoot for a professional who wears two hats. Gone are the days when people did only one thing as a profession as they discover ...

Headshots and Blind Business Meetings

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

In case you don't know it yet, people 'Google' you. If you're in the habit of meeting business people 'blindly,' then you know the importance of ...

Making the Perfect Match with your ...

Sunday, April 16, 2017

Our job as a headshot photographer becomes easier when our clients know a lot about their customers. During our recent trip to the US, we did ...

Partnering with People who help People

Tuesday, April 04, 2017

A new door has opened for us. To those who have worked with Allan and myself, you know that our business is more than just about the dollars and ...

Catching Up with the Pros

Monday, January 09, 2017

They say there are really no accidents. Perhaps this day is one of them. We had a last minute road trip to San Antonio and little did we know that it ...

The Father of Headshots in the Flesh

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Ever since we started doing headshots, we have always alluded to our mentor and teacher, Peter Hurley. So during our recent visit to New York City, ...

The Pain of Changing Profile Photos

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

I know. Quite harsh, right? Using the word pain is not something usually associated to photographers. So I thought. Our services have at times been ...

Changing Mindsets towards Staff Profile ...

Wednesday, July 06, 2016

I recently read an article that confirmed my own behaviour when checking out websites for the first time. One of the first pages visited by a ...

Why Purpose Drives our Headshot Process

Monday, May 23, 2016

We recently received a raving review of our headshot session process. Our client writes:Bernie and Allan were recommended to me and I was at first ...

Believability vs. Beauty on LinkedIn

Sunday, April 10, 2016

I recently read an article by a Harvard psychologist about the two questions people answer upon meeting someone in person. These two ...

The Hero of any Headshot Image

Monday, March 14, 2016

Like many industries, the financial space is a multidimensional one. It caters to people with different socio-economic backgrounds thereby opening up ...

The Need for Headshots when Rebranding

Tuesday, March 08, 2016

Companies, big or small, go through a rebranding phase. This is usually brought about by changes in the direction and focus of the company among ...

The Customer's Voice in Headshots

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

On one of the busiest days for us this year so far, I have received enquiries about our services through referrals, Google, LinkedIn and the like. To ...

That Powerful Side of Yours

Monday, November 23, 2015

A colleague gave me this article on the power of appearance in the workplace. The article mentions about taking pride in looking well groomed and ...

Snaps vs. Purposeful Photography

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Had coffee with a friend who was disappointed at the wedding photos of her daughter's wedding. She liked none of them. The photographer told her that ...

Drawing Attention to the Expression

Monday, November 02, 2015

Whenever someone books a headshot session with us, we advise them to bring several tops/blazers/ties, whichever is applicable. This is being done so ...

Trusting the Headshot Session Process

Sunday, October 18, 2015

We had the privilege of taking the headshot of our naturopath and friend, Claudia, who had some interesting insight about our headshot session. It ...

Why Headshot Shoots Take Time

Monday, October 05, 2015

Last year, our friend had a headshot shoot with us as part of our training to become an associate photographer of Peter Hurley. The headshot session ...

Those Crucial Seconds to Impress

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

We came across this interesting article on Business Insider which supports yet again our passion for having an engaging and professional ...

Believability: A Must for Headshots

Sunday, September 06, 2015

It is not uncommon for us to have clients who are shy and unassuming. This gentleman was one of them. He was a man of few words and gentle demeanor. ...

Flattering vs. Unflattering Headshots

Monday, August 31, 2015

When this gentleman entered our studio, he immediately warned us that he was the guy who always messed up family photos. In my mind, I thought it ...

Define Who you are Talking to

Monday, August 17, 2015

A gynecologist decided to have her headshot photo taken by us. As part of our headshot session, we deliberate with our client the best photo that ...

Never Hide a Pleasing Personality

Thursday, August 13, 2015

We've seen many LinkedIn profile photos of middle-aged executives and most look quite serious and formal. While there is (was) a time and place for ...

When Looking Mature is a Plus Part 2

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Our client started working for his dad a few months ago. He came to our studio to get a headshot that is needed for his business card. This will be ...

When Looking Mature is a Plus Part 1

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Most fashion and celebrity magazines have celebrated youthful looks. Its pages are proliferated with products for young-looking skin. Photoshop has ...

Even Headshots need a Niche

Saturday, July 18, 2015

I can't believe it's been a year since I became the first Associate Photographer of Peter Hurley in this part of the world. I will always be grateful ...

Affirmations: Go with the Positive

Sunday, June 21, 2015

I recently watched a video from Lost at E Minor regarding a toddler's positive affirmation about herself and her family. One can say, yeah, she can ...

Wedding Photos and LinkedIn: Worlds ...

Thursday, June 18, 2015

As I go through my contacts on LinkedIn, I notice a number of them using a cropped wedding photo as their LinkedIn profile photo. I suppose the ...

Make Every Headshot Count Part 2

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Last week, we showed you a video of Chris Platt's first headshots. This week, in the same episode of the Graham Norton Show, Melissa McCarthy's ...

No Winter Blues

Thursday, June 11, 2015

Another headshot session done and dusted. The studio hasn't been quiet even if we're approaching mid-winter. Working to keep this momentum going.

Seeing Beyond the Surface

Monday, June 08, 2015

A good number of us have come across the idea that the tip of the iceberg is a product of the massive ice formation underneath. That's why we are ...

The Relationship between Packaging and ...

Saturday, June 06, 2015

This is one of my favourite skin care brands introduced to me by a pharmacist here in New Zealand. I've been using it for years and highly recommend ...

Make Every Headshot Session Count

Wednesday, June 03, 2015

I came across a clip of The Graham Norton Show where movie actor Chris Pratt relayed how he had his first headshot session. For perspective, the ...

Knowing My Identity as a Photographer

Saturday, May 30, 2015

I've been photographing professionally for six years now and it was never easy. Seeing that photographers are becoming a dime a dozen nowadays, it ...

Let the Face Speak Louder than the ...

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

As part of the improvement of my client's website, she decided to have headshots of the people who work with her. This allows her customers to see ...

Change of career? Change your photo!

Thursday, May 21, 2015

It is common for professionals to switch careers regardless of their age and stage in life. Take for instance this client of ours who was a long time ...

Communicate Confidence and Maturity

Saturday, May 02, 2015

A mum urgently needed headshots for her teenage daughter who taught dance classes at a local school. She searched in Google for one and we were ...

The Power of Perception

Sunday, March 29, 2015

New Zealanders are considered to be one of the most internet savvy people in the world. Hence, most businesses here have a website. The website could ...

The Anatomy of an Engaging Headshot

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Someone told me yesterday an interesting statement. Since he did passport photos, he figured he can also do a headshot. While a passport is ...

Time for a change

Monday, February 02, 2015

I saw my office headshot from 9 years ago and thought of doing one for myself. I have done professional corporate headshots for other people so I ...

Don't Settle for Good, go for Great!

Wednesday, January 07, 2015

Have you every tried something and stopped at the point when you felt you already did something good? But then, were there also times when you had to ...

Micro has a Macro Effect on Headshots

Wednesday, January 07, 2015

A recent US study showed that 'subtle differences' or what we call micro expressions of the same face can evoke different perceptions about the ...

Let your Corporate Portraits do the ...

Wednesday, January 07, 2015

If you've been in corporate life for quite sometime now, you probably have experienced one too many corporate portraits where the people were asked ...

Northpower session and the ...

Wednesday, January 07, 2015

Just want to share some of the photos I took for the executives of Northpower. The important thing for me is to photograph them in the manner an ...

Looking Credible in the Global Stage

Wednesday, January 07, 2015

In a country like New Zealand where 90% of its population use the internet, presence on the world wide web is not an option; it is a must. ...

Don't Overlook Colour

Wednesday, January 07, 2015

Many people overlook the colours they wear. Some go with their whim while some would go for what's the 'in' colour for the season. As we have learned ...

Breakthrough

Wednesday, January 07, 2015

Hard work does pay off. Finally, we have broken through the corporate world. Today, we have done the headshots of eighteen top executives of ...

Wrinkles and Lighting

Wednesday, January 07, 2015

A common banter among headshot clients is that they ask me to photoshop away their wrinkles. My normal response is no, but I would say that there's a ...

Moving Past the Imperfection

Wednesday, January 07, 2015

Don't show my double chin, photoshop my wrinkle -- these are just some of the comments we get every time a person poses in front of our camera. Don't ...

An Alternative to the Traditional ...

Wednesday, January 07, 2015

While our headshots have been quite popular among people in the corporate world, we have encountered families coming in for a headshot shoot for each ...

Be Noticed even on a Thumbnail

Wednesday, January 07, 2015

Thumbnails are smaller file sizes of images so they can easily be downloaded on a webpage. If you have ever uploaded an image on your social media ...

Why Counting 1, 2, 3 Doesn't Work in ...

Wednesday, January 07, 2015

One of the challenges of a headshot photographer is how to capture a natural smile. The most common smile captured on camera is the frozen smile. ...

Expert Recognition

Wednesday, January 07, 2015

I've said in the past that Facebook Likes or social media affirmation do not mean one has arrived. In my journey as a photographer, I have learned ...

Change for the Better

Wednesday, January 07, 2015

Going through my archives, I found an old photo of this client of ours. I took that portrait last 2009. It made me realise how much I have changed in ...

Look The Part

Wednesday, January 07, 2015

Social media is no longer solely for social connections. In fact, businesses use several social media brands because each of them offers a specific ...

Turn that Corporate ID into a Smart ...

Wednesday, January 07, 2015

Back in 2013, I started taking corporate headshot clients. I thought that it was a fairly straightforward process - ask the client to stand on a spot ...

Authenticity and Photoshop

Wednesday, January 07, 2015

The Internet has exposed what Photoshop can do to seemingly ordinary people and transforming them to literally, magazine-cover-worthy subjects. The ...

Bernie's experience behind the camera

Wednesday, January 07, 2015

In an effort to understand what our clients go through, I subject myself to the same conditions as they do. I usually do this in portrait sessions ...

1, 2, 3...say CHEESE!

Tuesday, January 06, 2015

Not all people were created to be natural in front of the camera.Growing up, we were used to people taking our photo saying "Say cheese!" often ...