This was my first time to visit Bernardus Lodge for a photo shoot out in Carmel Valley. I was contacted by Guardant Health who were having some executive meetings at the lodge and while everyone was in one place, asked me to make team headshots. I do not often know what available space there will ultimately be for setting up my mobile headshot studio. This time, it was a real challenge, with every inch counting even after moving furniture around! After that though, it was actually one of the smoothest 20+ person team headshot shoots I have ever had. Each person came on time and even though some said they did not like their picture taken, everyone was friendly in front of the camera and left liking the headshot I made for them! Thank you to Lorin and the Guardant team for making it a smooth shoot and for choosing me as their photographer. Thank you also to Elysha and Derrick for assisting on this shoot that required a little extra physical labor than usual.
Zara is a new graduate and wanted professional headshots for her LinkedIn profile. We discussed background colors when she came to the studio, and she chose dark gray, which has been a very popular color the past few years that more and more professionals are choosing for their headshots. Zara liked the background, so to add variety to her two headshots there was a wardrobe and pose change. I am glad to listen to and create in real time with clients based on exactly what they want in terms of their headshots, even if they do not know until the see their headshots live on the big screen in my studio. The benefit of shooting tethered and showing clients like Zara their headshots live in real time, are that feedback is instant, and thus so can adjustments and changes be in terms of seeing what works for background color and poses as well as wardrobe. Thank you Zara for choosing me as your headshot photographer!
A Photography Experience Unlike Any Other in 17 Years
This was definitely one of the most unique photography jobs I have had in my 17 years as a professional photographer. I traveled to the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad for my first ever visit inside a prison, where I made than 30 headshots for Delia Cohen and Proximity for Justice as they prepare for TEDxSoledad.
Dante visits for a team headshot for his new law firm position on the Monterey Peninsula
It was great to hear from Madison of Bradford & Barthel, LLP again saying another new attorney was joining their firm in my area and could I make a headshot for him consistent with their established headshot style. I looked up the headshot I made for the first attorney, Diego, they sent to my Pacific Grove, CA photo studio and my BTS shot from that shoot refreshed my memory on how to get things setup for when Dante would soon come for his headshot. Providing consistent results, even a year apart, is what I offer clients with my team headshot system approach. It was great having Dante in the studio for his headshot session, where we found a pose that felt natural for him while still matching the overall look of his firm’s brand. Thank you to Madison and the team at Bradford & Barthel for continuing to choose me as their headshot photographer for their lawyers!
Start Your Career with a Professional First Impression
A professional headshot is one of the simplest ways for a recent graduate to look ready for the job market. Instead of using a cropped phone photo, graduation snapshot, or casual social media image, a studio headshot creates a more intentional and professional introduction. Whether you are applying for your first full-time position, looking for internships, entering graduate school, or building your LinkedIn profile, your headshot helps people see you as prepared, approachable, and ready for opportunity.
Studio Headshots for a Monterey Actor and Theatre Creative
Lloyd Brewer, also known professionally as LJ Brewer, came to my Pacific Grove studio for an actor headshot session. Lloyd is a local actor, performer, creative, and co-owner of Paper Wing Theatre & Supper Club on Cannery Row in Monterey. Lloyd had ideas for his headshots, but we were also very freewheeling in the studio seeing what worked best. For the first time, a client brought their social media consultant to a shoot! So it really was a team effort in creating the look of all these headshots for Lloyd. We set out with a goal of making a series photos that show a range of emotions that can open up Lloyd to roles other than villains, which he said he often plays. His Instagram profile name is even “reluctant_villain.” It was great working with Lloyd and his social media consultant, and very interesting to also see their own process for choosing the final photos from the session which we did in studio at the end of the session. Good luck in New York Lloyd and thank you for choosing me as your headshot photographer!
It was great having Max visiting my photography studio here in Pacific Grove, California for an extended actor headshot session and portfolio shoot. He was very expressive in his poses and the impression he wanted to give in each photo. I was glad to setup the lighting and background to best capture these images to complement his ideas as we worked together to make them. Several of the photos I thought were well suited to converting to black & white as well and offered them as a bonus in his edited photo gallery I delivered shortly after our shoot (I like to get edited photos to clients asap!). Thank you Max for choosing me as your actor headshot and portfolio photographer!
