“I’m interested in business headshots for a new career in residential real estate. I love what I’ve seen of your photography! I live and will be working in Severna Park (outside of Annapolis, MD). My broker is launching a new website soon, and I need something for the website, plus business cards, etc.,” said the e-mail that popped into our inbox.

And when I spoke with Laura on the phone, she said:

“I looked everywhere, googling portraits, business headshots, real estate, maryland… I came across your website, and your photos are really pretty. They stood out from every other website I’ve looked at, and I like the “environmental portrait” option for your business headshots. I’m a little uncomfortable getting photographed – most of the time, I don’t love what comes out unless it’s candid and I don’t know I’m being photographed. My smile doesn’t look natural when I’m asked to smile, my eyes are often half-closed, and my nose sometimes looks big in photos even though it’s not!”

A few weeks later, Laura came over to our photography studio in Germantown-Clarksburg, Maryland. And as I photographed Laura for her business headshots, I found, just as I have countless number of times before, that all she really needed was a professional photographer who could make her feel comfortable, take her mind off of the camera, and figure out the most flattering camera angles, lighting, and posing. A few days later, I sent Laura’s retouched business headshots over to her, and this was the reply that made me smile:

“They look amazing! Thank you so much. I’m really happy with how they turned out.”

Your business headshot is the first impression many of your prospective clients will ever have of you, and one picture says a thousand words. What do you want your business headshots to say about you?