Stand Out from the Crowd with Compelling Personal Brand Photography

Creative headshots focus on your unique qualities and self-expression that fuel your success. Here we share our personal branding photographer tips to bring out your distinct creativity to help attract your ideal clients.

Importance of Headshots for Creative Professionals

Most people associate creative people with a distinct sense of style, whether it's a trademark pair of oversized magenta glasses, too-short blunt-cut bangs, or the quirky hat you wear daily. Prospective clients want to connect your image with the work you provide. You can't demonstrate your creativity if you don't show off your personality.

Artistic headshots for designers need to project confidence and creativity. Some common bad headshot challenges you should avoid include:

• Self-consciousness
• Inappropriate colours or patterns in your background or outfit
• Facial expressions that seem scared, timid, intimidating, unfriendly -- you get the picture
• Poses that look unnatural and awkward
• Lighting or angles that make you look older, not like yourself, or worse, downright scary
• Anything that makes you look like you're trying too hard (i.e., makeup, clothes, poses, quirkiness, etc.)

Effective professional headshots for creatives appear comfortable and candid while projecting your uniqueness.

You can avoid bad headshots by consulting with your photographer to discuss the following:

• Your outfit
• Locations
• Poses and possible props
• Hair and makeup

Sharing favourite photos of yourself with your photographer helps them capture the look you wish to project.

The right location helps tell a story that reflects your brand yet can't be so distracting that it competes with your image. Think of edgy, fun, or exciting backdrops like:



• Deserted buildings
• Graffitied walls
• Fire escapes
• Natural settings with an out-of-focus view of the city (think Riverdale Park, the Island, cool rooftops, etc.)
• Brick walls
• Industrial settings like lofts, warehouses, etc.

Many people are uncomfortable in posed photos. When you feel self-conscious, you unintentionally recreate your high school yearbook photo sans the cheesy backdrop. This is not a good look.



To overcome self-consciousness, find ways to flaunt your personality, such as:

• Professional hair and makeup to enhance your inner beauty and boost confidence
• Poses and facial expressions that make you look natural, confident, and approachable
• Outfits you typically wear so you feel more yourself and can effortlessly flaunt your personality, creativity, and self-expression
• Aspects of your work or workspace that show you're comfortable in your profession
• Aspects of your life like your pet, backyard/balcony, or a spot in Toronto you frequent, etc.

Once the shots are ready to review, eliminate any shots that:



• Look like you're trying too hard
• Just aren't "you"
• Have artificial smiles or awkward poses
• Feel out of context for your brand or art
• Look too much like all the other shots you've chosen
• Don't look like you due to bad lighting or unflattering angles
• Lack confidence
• Have too many distractions, like the antler art on your wall appears to be coming out of your head
• Have noticeable imperfections
• Technical issues that look unprofessional, like bad framing or lighting
• Shadows on the face (although sometimes these work for certain personalities)
• Tension in your mouth that makes it look like you're hiding something

Discuss retouching options that make you look better. However, avoid excessive retouching that looks photoshopped, as overly refinished photos make you appear shady.

Headshots flaunting your true personality and shooting at the ideal location will help capture your creative spirit and attract new clients. Avoiding common headshot challenges with the right photographer is always an excellent place to start.

A good headshot photographer lets you, do you. They specialize in professional headshots for creatives, and their website makes that clear when you visit it.

Learn More

Click here for more information about Stacey's unique headshots for freelancers, artists and creatives.

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