A standard Headshot Session lasts about 3 hours.  I shoot in natural light, so my shoots are scheduled during the middle of the day, or early afternoon to make best use of the sunlight.  When you arrive, we'll start by talking through your specific headshot needs.  Before your session, take time to consider what types of roles you're best suited to play so that we can make sure you get the headshots you need to get those auditions.  We'll then look through your clothing options (more on that later) and work together to put together your 3-4 looks.  If you've chosen to get hair/makeup for the shoot, please come with a clean face and clean hair.  Your initial setup will take about 30 minutes.  You'll then be ready to change into your first outfit and we'll start shooting.

   While we shoot,  I place special emphasis on maintaining a casual, comfortable environment so that you can stay relaxed, and feel free to be yourself.  At the same time, I'll act as your director and help to coach you into poses and expressions that accurately and flatteringly show you off, and fulfill your specific needs.  We'll also take time during the shoot to look through your photos together to ensure that we're on the same page, and edit as we go.  Instead of offering a particular number of images, I shoot each look until I feel that we have a solid selection of usable photos.  This often means that I'll shoot around 100 shots per look, and we'll work together to edit those down to 35-50 selected images.

    When you come to shoot with me, I ask that you bring a selection of clothing options.  Once you're here, we can work together to pick out looks that work for you, and work for the camera.  You should really only concern yourself with tops, since most of your shots will only frame your head and shoulders.  Ultimately, the choice of what you wear in your headshots is up to you, but I do have some tips.  First of all, bring clothes that you love.  If you don't love the clothes you're wearing then you won't feel comfortable in them, and that discomfort will inevitably show up in the photos.  Your choice of clothing is a chance to show off your unique personality and style, so use it.  That being said, try to avoid busy patterns, or anything that draws too much focus from your face.  Layering and textures tend to photograph well, and if you're looking for commercial shots, be sure to bring a few options with bright, bold colors.   Of course, if you don't bring it, we can't shoot it, so be sure to bring a good range of options.

    I work with a fantastic hair & makeup artist, who sets her own rates for headshots.  If you choose to get hair/makeup for the shoot, you should arrive with a clean face and clean hair, and she will set you up before we begin shooting.  She will then stay for the entire shoot to keep everything in order, and make any necessary changes between looks.  I highly recommend that any women getting headshots also get hair and makeup, since doing makeup for the camera is different than makeup for daily life.  I don't require that anyone gets hair and makeup for the shoot, but, again, I do highly recommend it for women.  For men, hair and makeup is less necessary, but if you require special grooming or styling, it is available.  Also, if you are able to grow facial hair, you have the option to come to the shoot with stubble or facial hair, and shave halfway through the session.  Please get in touch for up to date information on rates for hair and makeup.

    After we finish shooting, I will upload the images we select to a secure web album for viewing.  You can share this album with friends, family, agents, etc., to help choose the images you would like to have retouched for printing.  I offer 4 retouched images with every headshot session, and shoot with retouching in mind.  When I retouch headshots, I make sure that they don't look "retouched."  I keep skin tones and texture natural-looking, while removing any blemishes, under-eye circles, stray hairs, or other unwanted elements.  I also correct contrast and color tones for optimal impact once the photos are printed.

    The choice between natural light and studio light is a matter of personal taste.  Personally, I find that well-controlled natural light produces much more dynamic and engaging results.  I use a variety of tools to shape and control the sunlight, to ensure that the light on my subject is soft, flattering, and enhances their eyes and facial features.

    I shoot exclusively with a Canon digital SLR camera.  Shooting digitally allows me the ability to take far more photos in a single session, and review the images I'm getting as I work.  For a long time there was a battle between film and digital media, and professional photographers were skeptical that digital cameras could deliver the image quality of film.  That time is over, and digital cameras are now the industry standard for professional photographers around the world.