Let’s talk about something simple, powerful, and often underestimated: your headshot.

Your headshot is the most important brand photograph you’ll ever have. It shows up everywhere. Your website. Your email signature. Your social media profiles. Your bio. It’s often the very first impression someone has of you, long before they read a single word you’ve written or hear your voice. And whether we like it or not, that first impression carries weight.

I know the phrase personal brand can feel a little awkward. But really, it’s just your vibe. It’s the way you naturally show up in the world. Everyone has one. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a creative, a corporate professional, or a small business owner, your energy is your own. Your headshot should reflect that. And not just a polished version of you. An honest one.

Your Headshot Builds Trust Before You Ever Meet

We live in a world where trust often begins online. Potential clients, collaborators, and employers are forming opinions long before they meet you in person. They’re scrolling your website, glancing at your LinkedIn profile, clicking through Instagram. Your headshot is quietly doing a lot of work in those moments.

A strong professional headshot builds familiarity. It helps someone feel like they already know you, just a little. It creates ease. It signals confidence without trying too hard. And most importantly, it starts forming trust.

When someone sees a headshot that feels natural and grounded, they’re more likely to reach out. When they see one that feels stiff, outdated, or overly posed, something subtle can break that connection. They may not know why, but they feel it.

This is why good headshots aren’t about perfection. They’re about alignment.

The Feeling Matters as Much as the Image

When someone sees your headshot, I want them to feel something. Calm. Warmth. Confidence. Approachability. Authenticity. The feeling should match who you are and what it’s like to be in a room with you.

A great headshot doesn’t shout; it doesn’t rely on heavy posing or trendy styling. It doesn’t feel like a performance. Instead, it feels quiet and intentional. That’s why I focus on light, expression, and presence more than anything else. I pay attention to how someone naturally holds themselves, how their face changes when they relax, how their eyes soften when they stop thinking about the camera. My clients and I talk and laugh our way through the session, as I’m shooting, ensuring that genuine emotion and reactions are captured.

“I Hate Being in Front of the Camera”

This is something I hear all the time. People tell me they’re awkward, unphotogenic, or uncomfortable being photographed. They worry the camera will highlight everything they don’t like about themselves. Here is what I tell my clients: they just haven’t had the right photographer yet.

My job as a headshot photographer isn’t to force a smile or tell you how to pose every second. My job is to help you relax enough to forget the lens is even there. That’s when the real expressions appear. The version of you people already recognize and trust.

A professional headshot session should feel calm and collaborative, not rushed or performative. When you feel at ease, it shows. And that ease is exactly what viewers respond to later.

The Power of Before and After Headshots

I often photograph clients who bring in headshots they’ve been using for years. Images taken quickly, without intention, or during a time when they were told to “smile for the camera”. When we compare those images to the headshots they use after our session, the difference is striking. The after images don’t just look better. They feel more aligned, more confident, and more true.

Those are the headshots clients actually use. The ones they feel proud to put on their website, their social profiles, and their marketing materials. The ones that quietly say, this is me, without explanation.

Editing Is Part of the Art

Another thing people don’t always realize is how much of a photograph is created after the shutter clicks. The session itself is just the beginning.

Editing is where light is shaped, details fixed, and the image comes fully into itself. It’s where consistency and balance are created across a gallery. I use a light hand, because I don’t like the plastic-like quality of overedited photos. I like my clients to actually have pores! The final result should look exactly like you; albeit you on the best day, feeling super well-rested, and having the best skin you’ve had in months.

More Than Just a Photo

In the end, a headshot isn’t just a picture of your face. It’s a tool. A first impression. An introduction. It helps people feel comfortable reaching out before they ever meet you. It reassures them that you’re someone they can trust. And when it’s done well, it becomes something you’re genuinely proud to share.

That’s what I focus on in every headshot session. Not just creating a good photo, but an honest one. One that feels like you. Because when people see you clearly, they’re far more likely to want to work with you.