Executive Headshots | St. Louis Headshot Photographer

Headshots.  It’s funny how a single word can strike fear into the hearts of every executive, small business owner, and professional! We all need them. People like to put a face with a name, especially when they’re seeing your website for the first time or reading about you in the St. Louis Top 40 under 40. A lot of people are under the impression that having a headshot taken is a pretty miserable experience, not unlike going to the dentist. Most people hear the word and imagine wearing an uncomfortable suit, sitting on a hard wooden stool, being forced to smile endlessly and make a “chin shelf” with their hands… Blech! What is this, a senior portrait session circa 1985?

I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be that way!

Think about it…  Your headshot is one of the most powerful tools in your marketing arsenal.  It communicates everything about you and your business to your audience in a few seconds.  Are you relaxed and easy to work with? Maybe you’re an attorney and would like to impart an air of wisdom and gravitas. Or an artist who wants to show-off her quirky side. A realtor who wants to convey friendliness and experience all in one package. Even if you manage a teeny-tiny online storefront, a great headshot could make the difference between a sale or a loss. It lets your customers know that on the other side of their computer is a trustworthy human being!

And in order to effectively communicate your message, to be yourself, you have to feel good. When you feel good, looking good comes naturally! 

Executive headshot sessions with me are sooooooo much different that what you may be imagining. For starters, they’re called *head* shots for a reason. If all you need is “shoulders and up”, that means you can wear PJ pants and comfy slippers on the bottom! And unless you need an expedited, 5 minute session (we can do those!) you’ll never feel rushed. Our average executive session lasts about an hour. If you’ve never had a headshot taken before, don’t worry, I will guide you through every step of the process. Before we even think about shooting, we’ll chat about your strategy and plan the best way to achieve your vision : clothing choices, locations, color palette, etc. If you’re a seasoned pro and simply looking to update your look (maybe you cut your hair this year?) that’s great too!

Just a few weeks ago Janine, of Peace of Mind Organizing, contacted me for an updated headshot. Janine is one of those seasoned pros… We took her first headshot in 2005 and she was looking for a fresh image to use on her website and author bio pages. She’s a professional organizer who works with folks who struggle to get and stay organized. (Just about all of us!) She helps with everything from closets to papers to whole houses filled to the rafters. I know from experience that Janine is a total pro at helping people learn how to let go of stuff!

I photographed Janine in her home, where we could show her in a house setting, as well as in front of a simple white sweep to convey clean and modern. This gave us quite a few options to use with different audiences. Here’s the shot she chose for her website:

And here are some of my favorite outtakes, many starring her adorable pooch, Kirby. It was pretty clear that Kirby liked the limelight — I think he missed his calling to be a famous Hollywood doggie superstar!

Janine and her husband were in the process of redoing their cottage-style garage and had removed the windows for painting. I loved the idea of using these natural “frames” to showcase Janine’s joyful personality!

Doesn’t that shot on the left look like it belongs in a Martha Stewart article about cottage style? I think its the beautiful shade of gray paint.

Kirby was on hand to “assist”!

You can view Janine’s headshot, as displayed on her bio page here. Isn’t that a great website?

If you’re interested in learning more about my Executive Headshot Packages or if you’re a go-getter who is ready to dive right in and schedule your session today, just fill out my contact form on this site or email me. I’d love to hear from you!