I love people photography!  In fact, if I won the lottery, I would be one of those people who continued to do my job, because it is really what I love to do (oh and I would travel all over the world between shoots).  But uncovering how my clients want to be photographed, and always being focused on providing the most amazing portraits that fulfill my clients requirements, can sometimes leave me wanting to do a “just because” photo session.  

That is where styled commercial photography sessions come into play and why they are so important for me to continue to stretch my creativity and develop my photography skills. It also allows me to take a different perspective during the photography session.

For example, last year we decided to do a fun, collaboration styled session with Breathe Autumn Rain jewelry (click on her link to see her amazing jewelry), with makeup by Brittany Norton (brittanynortonartistry) and myself all contributing to a photography session.

We were extremely lucky to get several beautiful girls to volunteer their time to model for us in exchange for providing professional headshots for them.  We all consulted together on wardrobe, overall style and also how to best give everyone involved an opportunity to do something a little different and creative.

For the location we decided to photograph around Laguna Beach and Newport Beach.  The results were that everyone had an opportunity to play, be creative and produce gorgeous images that everyone would be able to use in their portfolio.  Enjoy!

 

 

 

  For many years I have been providing headshots for Orange County professionals without really promoting that Blue Sky’s Studio provides this service. It started out that once we closed our retail studio location in Laguna Hills, I did not have a studio to use for creating headshots.  However, in 2013 when I moved into […]

 

 

Headshots Orange County:   Is it time to update your personal brand with new portraits that truly represent to your clients who you are and what service you provide?  We would love to work with you to create a custom session that lets your brand message shine.  Check out our new style guide that walks you through everything you need to know to create amazing portraits that get you noticed.

Click an image below to enlarge the style guide:

What might look great in real life, might be a disaster for your professional head shots, (or Model for a Day photos).

For the best head shots, let’s go over what women should wear.

headshot-photography

Keep Your Personal Brand in Mind

What image do you want to portray?

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Smart, sophisticated, strong, in charge, feminine, classic? It’s important to keep this in mind when choosing outfits for your shoot. Maybe you love how sexy you feel in that low-cut black dress, but perhaps it’s not the style you’re trying to portray in your head shots. Or perhaps you love that turtle neck, but don’t want to come across as too conservative in your shots. I often include the advice of our stylist in our photography packages and she is great at helping you select pieces from your own wardrobe.

 

Keep Your Options Open

You’ll want to pick out 1-2 outfits (for headshots) and  3-5 outfits (for Model shots) for your session; this way you can evoke a different feel in each style.

 

headshots-jacketYou Don’t Have to Show it All

In Orange County we don’t have to stay away from short sleeves, or tank tops as much. However, if you are going for a highly professional look you may consider showing less skin. Three-quarter to full sleeves look most professional. And while a great V neckline looks fabulous on many women, be careful that it doesn’t dive too deep in the neckline–it’s a head shot, not a cleavage shot. ;)

 

classsic look head shots

Classic Beauty

One of the secrets to a great head shot, really any great portrait, is to keep it timeless.  It shouldn’t be blatantly obvious what time period your photo was taken in (picture the big shoulder pads of the eighties), so stick with a classic suit jacket or shirt styles–timeless styles that always look good.

Checkers are for Family Game Night

If you must wear patterns stick with simple thin stripes, subdued small patterns and subtle variations.  Checkered patterns, big stripes, tight grids or herringbone patterns can obscure in photos, and become a distraction from your natural beauty.

Bold, but Not Too Bold

Bold solid colors can work great for head shots, but be careful not to have too many colors, shiny fabrics, or eye-burning patterns.

Vanilla is Better for Ice Creamwoman's heashots

You may want to avoid plain white unless it’s a part of a layered ensemble; wearing only white can sometimes cause an ethereal or glow effect in photos.

Simple Adornment

Jewelry can be a great way to express a little more of your personality, but avoid flashy, big pieces. They can be distracting, but can also quickly date the photo.

Ever look at a friend’s stunning photo and think, gah, I want a nice headshot like that?

Life is busy, it can be hard to find time to treat yourself. But that’s what our Model for a Day promotion is all about–finding the time to spoil yourself, or your daughter, your mom, or even a friend.  Our goal is to bring out your natural beauty, with a little help from a stylist, a makeup artist, and me.

Here are just a few of the gorgeous shots we have taken during our Model for a Day promotion in the past:

Our Model for a Day promotion is back by popular demand. Check out the details below and book soon, as sessions fill fast:

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