My core focus when capturing professional headshots and editorial portraits is to create images you are proud of. Being photographed is awkward and it’s outside of most people’s comfort zones. I strongly believe if I can help you feel good when having your photos taken, you’ll look pretty dang good too!
Today’s assignment was for a longtime client and my alma-mater, Binghamton University. The assignment was to capture fellow alum Seth around his office at the Major League Baseball (MLB) in Manhattan, NY. My goal was to highlight his place of work and his journey to becoming one of the top most successful IT Networking specialist in NYC in to his photos. The images created are to be used alongside a written article, which will be published online and in print, on his personal LinkedIn photo, and elsewhere.
Relax - That’s easier said than done. However, I always “chat it up” with my subject and get to know them. This casual environmental allows the subject to almost forget they are being photographed. Being photographed becomes secondary.
Location, Location, Location - The standard flat background is great. However, it does not show off, nor highlight, your individuality. Find a location you know and where you feel comfortable. A photographer’s studio is most likely not that location.
Dress like you normal would, plus some. - If you look good, you feel good. If you feel good, you look good. Wear something comfortable because it will make you comfortable, and it’ll show in your photos.
The image was used as seen in the layout above.
Headshot Session
Thanks for choosing Jonathan Heisler Photography for your headshot photo, Greg! Greg’s headshot is for his law firm’s new website. I met him at his home with my 1-2-3 headshot setup where he told me what he was looking for in a portrait photo. Within 10 minutes of me arriving, Greg was posing and I was photographing his professional business headshot.
The “Best NYC Headshot Photographer” is what I would Google if I was looking for a new headshot photo. Jonathan Heisler Photography NYC is becoming one of the go to headshot photographers in New York City. Our headshots or “portrait photos” are not just the standard photo against a backdrop. My style headshot photo captures environment and tells the larger story of who you and what you do.
Many of portrait photos are often candid moments in between laughter and conversation. A good portrait photographer, not matter in NYC or elsewhere, will take you becoming comfortable in front of the camera is the hardest part of capturing a good headshot.
Recent headshot session for Douglas Elliman’s North shore of Long Island agent Parsa Samii. The goal of the shoot was to capture Parsa’s warmth, genuine character, and personality. Outside of real estate, Parsa is an incredible tennis player, very passionate tennis coach, and an amazing dad to two amazing kids. Prior our session, I learned a lot about Parsa so I could capture his true identity. I wanted to capture the things that make Parsa unique. We included a tennis racquet in several photos, his kids, and his positive attitude.
Everything about photographing a corporate headshot day feels right. I love organizing the shoot, working with my client to decide who goes when, and figuring out where we can shoot. Post session, I like organizing the individual subject’s headshot photos, renaming the files, and working with individuals to retouch their chosen photos. But, most importantly, I love finally getting to meet the people I’ll be photographing, helping them become comfortable in front of the camera, and seeing their reactions when they see their photos. My headshot photos are not just for internal purposes (email signatures and organization charts), but also for people’s Linkedin Profile Photos. Linkedin Profile Photo Photographer is just one of the many hats I wear.
Thank you Brian and the Storyful team for having me.
I created this setup when working for Hofstra University as their full-time university photographer. It’s been revised once or twice, but overall it hasn’t really changed. The goal of the setup is to be lightweight for transporting and quick for setting up. Even though, I have the big strobe lights and modifiers (beauty dish, softboxes with grids, snoots, reflectors…), and they create beautiful photos, they’re cumbersome. Those strobes and their modifiers are big to transport and timely to setup. However, the biggest problem is space. You’re not always guaranteed the space to set them up. More often than not, your client only has a conference room reserved for you. Ceilings can be low and rooms narrow. Space is limited in NYC.
