Shannon's New Headshot

With winter in full force, Shannon met me at the Libertyville studio for a headshot session. Her last headshot didn't quite capture her current career standing. With additional education and new responsibilities, she had basically advanced out of her current photo.

So we worked through a few different options and a range of expressions that will set her up for the next few years! Obviously, she nailed it! Her LinkedIn profile will now have the right photo to match her executive level resume.

If you're headshot isn't keeping up with your resume, give me a call or drop me a note!

Headshots and The Chicago Acting Community

Much of my recent adult headshot work, was made in a studio environment. This is a sharp contrast to my children and family portrait look, which has a lifestyle flavor. Each style serves a different purpose. Studio headshots offer a very clean and consistent image, a handy feature if you need several headshots of your company staff. And the lighting is very flattering–all those photons find their way into every corner of your face. Wrinkles and imperfections fade away…

But as I continue to expand my headshot work, I happened to meet a couple Chicago actors. Actors need headshots. And interestingly, Chicago headshots tend to carry a natural lifestyle look. So that got me thinking… why not bring a few lifestyle headshots into my work?

So Pam, Christian and I met up in the city for a round of headshots. It was fascinating to hear them discuss the differences between New York, LA and Chicago. The look of a Chicago headshot is distinctly natural. You’ll see very little sense of a studio in the finished shot, but luckily, light still behaves the same. Chicago’s acting community is very supportive and collaborative. In fact, just before our session, Chicago had suffered a couple tragic losses in the acting community. It was clear, these women had lost not just a colleague, but a dear friend.

So who or what set this style? I had the same question. But there’s not a definitive answer. Chicago’s midwestern brand is probably most as work here. And there’s an expectation to see ‘normal’ people filling the roles. They’re not supermodels (and proud of it) and they don’t have handlers. But they work just as hard, if not harder than their colleagues on the coasts.

Working with Pam and Christian was a real privilege. It was a true collaboration, and we made some great art! As a photographer, working with actors is a blast. A good actor can change expressions on a dime–from a powerful district attorney to down and out single mother. It’s my job to capture this range because they never know what the next role will demand.

Thoughts On iPhone 6

The point and shoot camera is dead. That's right. As a portrait photographer and father, I declare that the point-and-shoot camera is history. An iPhone (millions actually) has taken it’s place.

I grabbed this shot while on a jog. Apple's built in HDR function is way beyond most 'pro' cameras.

In the last few weeks, I’ve gotten questions from several friends asking the “what camera should I buy” question. The budget for each was around $500 or less. In each case, without hesitation, I recommended simply sticking with an iPhone. If you’re still itching to spend a few dollars, look for a good book geared towards photo composition or study the detailed features of your phone’s camera. Practice taking pictures in low light, bright light, or try following a moving object.

Why am I so confident of this claim? For most people looking to make snapshots of kids, family & friends, or to record the next vacation, an iPhone 6 is a near perfect solution. The iPhone has an amazing ability to do things that even professional level cameras can’t or can’t do as easily. Time-lapse and slo-mo videos are two features that come to mind. Each distorts time, one slowing it down, the other speeding it up. Used appropriately, these features are very effective in telling your visual story. Slow motion videos are very handy with kids, water, or anything that moves fast. My only worry is that they’ll go the way of cat videos–so use your discretion. And for time lapse videos, pick up a little smartphone tripod, and go crazy! The video below is just a quick sample of the possibilities.

Another huge reason why iPhones are the superior option is that they’re usually within arm’s reach. They’re ready to go with a flick of a thumb. Most people carry their bigger cameras packed in a fancy case. At first glance, it seems to make sense. You keep nice things in a case for protection. But a case works against you when that special moment occurs. You have to stop, find the zipper, open the case, get the camera, remove the lens cap, turn it on, and hope the settings are about right. Odds are, by the time you can push the button, the moment is gone (especially with kids). And the moment makes the picture (not the technical details).

So save your money, read up on your phone’s camera features, and enjoy the moments! And don’t forget to back up those photos...

A Headshot with Randy in Libertyville

Randy dropped by the new Libertyville studio just last week for a headshot session. Officially retired, he doesn't need to worry about the job hunt. But he lives a very active life in retirement. So his new headshot will serve him well for years as he takes on new roles around his community.

In fact, he just signed on as treasurer at his church. That's some serious responsibility, and he's got to look the part. His new headshot is perfect. It conveys his confidence and provides assurance to anyone browsing the church bios.

A Day In The Life Family Session

How was your last family portrait session? Were you worried the kids might not cooperate and that you’d have to bring out the bribes early just to salvage the session? Or maybe someone spilled a snack on his shirt (sometimes husbands need a little extra help).

As a family photographer, what if I told you not to worry about any of that on your next family session?

In any given day, your family has a lot going on. Weekdays are packed with school, homework, after-school activities, and don’t forget dinner! The weekends can be busy with birthday parties and special outings, and those moments of relaxed downtime feel too precious to interrupt by grabbing the camera. Whether they’re crazy or quiet, these are some of the most authentic times you share together. So why not trust a professional to capture them? It’s better than crossing your fingers that everyone will be on their best behavior for the 45 minutes of a staged family session.

I had a great time using this approach with Courtney, Vanessa, and their parents. I spent a few hours at their house in Libertyville — home is always a perfect location — and simply photographed their lives on a typical weekend afternoon. We colored, played in the doll house, baked cookies, and rolled around in the grass. Vanessa even snuck in the chance to literally hose down her big sister!

Get the whole story with this video, but beware of Vanessa with that hose! 

As a parent, this type of session is a huge stress reliever because stage fright isn’t a problem. Maybe someone’s a little nervous at first, but there’s plenty of time for things to settle down. All you really need is a handful of basic activities on hand. Then just let the kids make the agenda.

With the images captured, I’ve thought a lot about how best to showcase the session. Elizabeth, Courtney and Vanessa’s mom, summed it up perfectly. It’s not the type of session where you’re looking for a ‘bingo’ shot. In fact, we’re telling a story, which has a range of emotions and details that maybe only a few close friends or family members would catch. How do we tell stories with pictures? With an album! These sessions will include a keepsake album for your family to enjoy, share with friends, and pass on to your children. Another option will be a video slideshow (as shown above) highlighting the images that best tell your story.

I’m so excited for these new day in the life family sessions. If you’d like to schedule one, drop me a note, we’ll have a chat and set up a shoot!