Every person who walks through our doors is unique. More often than not, their objective is to get a good, professional photo. We take that objective further. We aim to give them a professional photo that connects and engages with the people they are trying to reach.

Hence, in every headshot session we do, there will always be three people involved. The photographer, yourself (the client) and a brand marketing specialist who takes on the hat of your customer. Allow us to explain the dynamics of this set-up and why it has proven to be effective in producing the headshot that engages with the customer.

The first impression that you can make either to us or to other people can either be a positive one or a negative one. If it is the latter, we keep an open mind. As soon as we meet you at the studio, we immediately start getting to know you, what your personality is like, what you do, among others. The most important question we ask you is this: who is your customer and what would that person expect from you? There is no need to stress if this does not get answered in the first few minutes. We interview you even during the shoot so that we understand more about who you are trying to reach.

Because the brand marketing specialist sees through a monitor the images as it is taken by the photographer, she is able to capture the impressions these images project and how it is consistent with the customer the client had in mind. There will be several discussions within the shoot between the photographer, the client and the brand marketing specialist to zero in on the appropriate expression that connects with the target customer of the client.

Once we are all in agreement that we have gotten the image we wanted, there is a final deliberation on all the images we have taken on our computer. While we want you to look your best, we also take into consideration how that will come across to your target customer.

This is perhaps the part of the headshot session where the voice of the customer you are trying to talk to should be heard. There will be that tension in your head that pulls you to like an image because you feel it looks good on you but then another force beckons you to go with an image because it would be more appealing to your potential customer. To illustrate, here is a conversation we had with a gynaecologist as we were choosing the best image for her. She did not choose an image and told us to set it aside before I, Bernie, can say something. Then she said this:

Gynaecologist (talking to Bernie): Who would you choose to cut you up? (She was also a surgeon).

Bernie: Because I've met several gynaecologists in the past and they all seemed to be a snob and it was hard to open up about a personal subject like the ones you deal with.

In this small snippet, you can already sense the tension between what our client thinks and what a potential customer thinks. We then go back to the purpose the headshot session itself. Is it to show people how awesome you look? Or is there a bigger reason for it? Would it be better to focus on the potential customer who will view your profile photo?

This process of discussion is never an easy task. Hence, the collaboration between the photographer, the marketing specialist and the client is crucial to the success of the headshot session.

This brings us now to why do your headshot session with us? While we can go to the technicalities of a great photo, it is more than just a great photo. Our goal is to help you get more business by being noticed by the people you are trying to talk to. Not many would have this goal for their clients. Ultimately, the headshot session is not about you alone. It is about connecting and engaging with your target audience.

A headshot, simply put, is a photograph of one’s face.Yet it can be so much more.

We’ve all had one at some point: IDs, passports, CV photos. Chances are, we didn't like them because the image on the photo reflected stiff and uninteresting version of ourselves. We tend to try to avoid taking headshots at all cost.

However, nowadays the first impression you leave is the headshot you have posted, whether it's in a website, social media, etc. This is why all true professionals and executives make a big effort in ensuring that their headshot conveys professionalism and elegance.

Headshots act like the packaging you see on a product. It is more often than not the first point of contact you have with your potential customer. Manufacturers know too well that first impressions count a lot and whatever they say on the pack have to be supported by good visuals. So it is with your headshot. You won't be beside your photo to defend it if it looks boring, uninteresting or untrustworthy. So let your headshot do justice to the work that you do.

Headshots communicate your personal brand. You want to appear approachable enough to connect with the person reviewing your portfolio, website, etc. There needs to be an element of personality; such that the image engages its audience.

Headshots answer the question: Can I be trusted? Your headshot is most likely the first point of contact for the people you are trying to reach: potential customers, hiring professionals, dates. Make sure you're conveying trust.

Headshots project value. People will pay good money if they perceive that a brand is trustworthy and valuable. This includes people. What is shown in your photo must communicate value and quality to establish an impression.

1. LinkedIn profile photo - not only look professional but stand out from the clutter
2. Company’s intranet photo- especially if your current one looks like a hideous passport photo or mugshot
3. CV
4. Website or business card
5. Dating profile photo
6. Advertising materials (especially for real estate agents)
7. Casting purposes for aspiring actors and actresses

Say goodbye to those frozen smiles, blank looks and stiff poses. Our goal in every headshot session is to show the best you in the photo: smart, confident and approachable. Contact us today on how we can help you get that headshot that gets noticed by the audience you are talking to.

Before we click our camera, we ask you a crucial question: who is your customer? The image we are after is the image that best represents you in a way that connects and engages with the customer you have in mind. Hence, we need to spend time in getting the image to serve that purpose.

Each headshot session lasts roughly 15 - 30 minutes. This is because the majority of people require a bit of time to "warm up" in front of the camera. We want you to be comfortable and be open to our expertise and recommendations during the shoot. Each person will be coached or directed in order to capture his or her personality in a professional, natural and contemporary way. Proofing of the photos is done during the session itself.

We only use professional cameras and lighting equipment. A white backdrop is usually used for headshots, but can be changed to suit the client’s preference, pending availability. During the shoot within our studio we will have a monitor for client proofing.

This is an important part of personal branding. Your clothes communicate who you are and your personal style. Smart casual or business attire is the style most people prefer for a headshot. Light makeup is recommended as is properly groomed hair.

We recommend a solid colour top or coat/blazer and tie. We suggest you keep accessories at a minimum. We discourage the use of any accessory that will distract from your face, such as necklaces or dangling earrings.

The client will get to choose one image. This will be retouched and given in the following orientations and formats. Each client can expect 3 files in total.

We call our Business Headshots Portrait Studio Identity because we are all about creating a unique brand and presence for our clients, so that their images stand out from the crowd.

Your customers' first impressions on your business come from images found on your website. Those who value their personal brand ought to be thinking about what type of impressions those images are leaving. It should be engaging enough to make the average visitor take notice. Identity Headshots don't just do profile pictures: we create your identity.

Identity Headshots is owned and operated by a husband and wife team. Bernie is in charge of marketing and business for Identity Headshots. Bernie spent 15 years in the corporate world working with sales, marketing and trade marketing. She has worked for companies such as Johnson and Johnson, L'Oreal, and Mead Johnson Nutritionals. Bernie holds a Graduate Diploma in Information Design, which honed her skills in enhancing user experience, thus making her more customer and consumer focused. Her exposure to multinational companies has been critical in helping our headshot clients determine what employers and customers are looking for.
Allan, also known as Orlando, is the main photographer for Identity Headshots. He has been personally trained and coached by Peter Hurley, who is considered to be one of the best headshot photographers in the world. Allan is currently Peter's only associate photographer in New Zealand. Being an associate photographer means that he is one of Peter's handpicked elite team members in his squad of expert headshot photographers. A trained engineer, Allan combines the precision of science with his artistic flair when it comes to his artistry in photography. Whether the shoot is done indoors or outdoors, Allan aims for minimalism and class in his images. His style appeals to clients who want photos that show who they are, not masked behind props or scenery. The hero in his images will always be the person in the photograph. Allan knows how to coach and direct each client so that their very best is shown.
The combined skills of Allan and Bernie give our clients a well-rounded approach to headshots – first from an artistic perspective and second from a corporate point of view.

To be updated with all that is happening with our company, you can Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/identityheadshots. Alternatively, you can contact us and find out how we can help you with your photography needs.

You may be new to headshots or have had one before, but aren't sure what makes us different. In either case, we hope to clarify some of the commonly asked questions that we receive in this section.

A: Whenever we take the headshots of people, we study each person's face and angles to find his or her best side(s). In our experience, everyone has at least one. So yes, we can certainly do something about it.

Q: I've always hated photographers because I never seem to get a nice photo from them.

A: This is the reason why we analyze every angle of your face and body to get the best look from you before we capture the shot. We have a way of bringing out your natural smile or your confident projection in front of the camera.

A: We do use Photoshop, but only for retouching. There are ways of reducing double chins and wrinkles naturally and we employ these techniques during the shoot. Our philosophy is that when people see our photos of you, we want them be able to recognize you if they see you on the street.

Q: Photographers intimidate me. They seem to be in a world of their own. Are you one of them?

A: Based on the feedback we have received from both past and present clients, they find our personality candid and pleasing, and they find us easy to talk to. In a shoot, there is a photographer and a marketing person who puts on the hat of your customer. This way, the perspective of your potential customer is always represented.

Aside from that, we know what it feels like to be in your shoes as we do apply the techniques we use for our clients on ourselves!

Q: I don't know what to wear during the shoot. Can I count on you to help me?

A: Your clothes and accessories are a part of your personal brand. Before the shoot, we can discuss the type of clothes you should consider wearing. Alternatively, we have a partnership with an image consultant that you can avail, who can help you with the type of clothes and accessories that matches your personality.

A: We are not the "stand over there and smile" photographer. We understand that most people take some time to warm up before the camera, and that tends to be the best time to get those natural smiles. We also need some time to determine your best angle.

A: Yes. In fact, we have a monitor where you can see the photos we have just taken in real time so that we can review what is working and what isn't.

Q: I don't know how to choose the image that is right for my website, LinkedIn, or other communication channel. Can you help me with that?

A: During the proofing, we ask the question: who is your customer? The answer to this question will govern the process in choosing the BEST image that represents you to your target customer. Our goal is to connect with the person you are reaching out to and hopefully, help you get more business in the process.

A: The social media sized image is one of our options, and this is optimally cropped so that your head doesn’t look too big or too small in the thumbnail. You won't need to crop the images.

A: For the studio sessions, we will sit down with you and go through all the images that we have taken of you. From there we can pick a number of "keeper" images. We will put these "keeper" images juxtaposed to one another and deliberate on which is the best image.

Q: I don't have time to contact you during the day, are you able to discuss business matters outside normal business hours?

A: Most of our clients are busy during the normal working hours. That's why we make ourselves available after office hours via phone, email or social media.

Allan, also known as Orlando, is the main photographer of the company. He has been personally trained and coached by Peter Hurley, which is considered to be the best headshot photographer in the world. He is currently Peter's only associate photographer in the whole Australia - New Zealand region. Being an associate photographer means that he is one of Peter's handpicked elite team of headshot photographers.

A trained engineer, Allan combines the precision of science with his artistic flair when it comes to photography. Whether the shoot is done indoors or outdoors, Allan aims for minimalism and class in his images. His style appeals to clients who want photos that show who they are, not masked amidst props or scenery. The hero in his images will always be the people in the photograph. They are coached and directed so that their best is shown.

The other half of the team is Bernie. She takes care of the marketing and business aspect. She spent 15 years in the corporate world dealing with sales, marketing and trade marketing. She has worked for companies such as Johnson and Johnson, L'Oreal, and Mead Johnson Nutritionals. She also holds a Graduate Diploma in Information Design that honed her skills in enhancing user experience, thus making her more customer and consumer focused. Her exposure to multinational companies has been critical in helping the headshot clients determine what employers and customers are looking for.

The combined skills of Allan and Bernie give the clients a well-rounded approach to headshots – firstly from an artistic perspective and secondly from a corporate point of view.