Headshots That Don't Look Corporate
If you have ever stood against a gray backdrop in a conference room while someone with a flash unit counted to three, you know exactly what I am talking about.
Why I Hated Corporate Headshots
I will be honest: I used to dread headshot work. Not because the photography was hard, but because of what headshots usually looked like. Batch sessions in a hotel ballroom. A seamless backdrop. A ring light. Somebody directing you to tilt your chin down slightly and smile but not too much. Every person walks away with the same photo, just with a different face in it.
I shot a few of those gigs early in my career and every time I thought, "This is not photography. This is an assembly line." The people in front of the camera looked uncomfortable because they were uncomfortable. Nobody is relaxed standing in front of a backdrop while a stranger tells them what to do with their face. The resulting photos looked exactly like what they were: forced, stiff, and completely devoid of personality.
So I stopped doing batch headshots entirely. I will not do them. What I will do is shoot individual headshots, one person at a time, in real locations, with natural light, where the goal is to make a photo that actually looks like you.
How I Shoot Headshots Differently
Every headshot session I do starts with a conversation. What do you do? Who is going to see this photo? What do you want people to think when they look at it? A real estate agent in Louisville needs something different from a yoga instructor in North Boulder, and both of those are different from a software developer working remotely from a home office in Superior.
Here is what makes my approach different from the typical corporate setup:
- Real locations, not backdrops. I shoot on Pearl Street, along Boulder Creek, at Chautauqua, in your office, at your favorite coffee shop, outside your storefront. The background tells part of your story. A gray backdrop tells no story at all.
- Natural light, not studio strobes. Colorado gives us incredible light, especially during golden hour along the Front Range. Natural light is more flattering, more relaxed, and produces photos that feel warm instead of clinical.
- Personality first. I want your headshot to look like you on a good day, not like a mannequin. We talk, we walk, I crack jokes (some of them are even funny), and somewhere in that process the camera captures you being yourself. That is the photo you want.
- One person at a time. No assembly lines. No waiting in a hallway for your turn. Just you and me for 30 to 45 minutes, figuring out the shot that works.
Where Boulder County Makes This Easy
One of the reasons I love shooting headshots across Boulder County is the variety of locations within a short drive. We can start at the red rock formations at The Peoples' Crossing, walk down to Pearl Street for something more urban, and finish at a coffee shop for a casual, lifestyle look. Three completely different feels in one session.
Some of my favorite headshot locations around Boulder County:
- Pearl Street Mall. Brick textures, string lights, interesting storefronts. Great for entrepreneurs and creative professionals who want an urban but approachable feel.
- Chautauqua Park. Meadow grass and Flatirons in the background. Works well for outdoor industry professionals, coaches, therapists, and anyone who wants that Colorado connection.
- Your own workspace. If you are a chef, I want to shoot you in your kitchen. If you are a mechanic, let's do it in the shop. The most authentic headshot is one taken where you actually work.
- Boulder Creek Path. Trees, water, dappled light. A relaxed, natural setting that works for almost everyone.
- Local trails. For outdoor professionals, fitness trainers, and anyone whose work connects to the landscape. A short hike up the Royal Arch trail or along the Mesa Trail gives us backgrounds you cannot fake.
Who These Headshots Are For
I work with a wide range of people who need professional photos but want something that does not look like it came from a corporate catalog:
- LinkedIn profiles. Your LinkedIn photo is the first impression for recruiters, clients, and colleagues. A real, natural headshot stands out in a feed full of gray-backdrop photos.
- Company About pages. Team photos on your website should look like real people, not a stock image collection. Individual headshots shot in your workspace or around Boulder County give your team page actual character.
- Speaker bios and conference materials. If you speak at events, present at conferences, or get quoted in articles, you need a headshot that looks professional without looking generic.
- Personal branding. Coaches, consultants, freelancers, therapists, real estate agents. Anyone whose business is built on personal connection needs a photo that shows who they are, not just what they look like.
The First Ten Minutes
Here is a secret about headshot photography: almost nobody looks good in the first five minutes. You are stiff. You are thinking about what your face is doing. You are smiling in that way that is not actually how you smile. This is completely normal.
I plan for this. The first ten minutes of every session is warmup. We walk, we talk about anything other than photography, and I shoot casually while you are not thinking about it. By the time we get to the "real" part of the session, you have forgotten you are being photographed. That is when I get the photos that look like you.
People always tell me after a session, "That was way less painful than I expected." That is the whole point. It should feel like going for a walk with a friend who happens to have a camera, not like an appointment you have to survive.
What You Get
After a headshot session, I deliver a curated set of high-resolution images plus web-ready versions cropped for LinkedIn, your website, and social profiles. Most people end up with 15 to 25 final images, including a mix of tight headshots and wider environmental portraits. You pick your favorites, but I have yet to have someone pick just one.
You own the photos. Use them wherever you want, as many times as you want. No licensing fees, no usage restrictions, no stock-photo nonsense. They are yours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you shoot headshots indoors or outdoors?
Both, depending on what fits your personality and profession. Outdoor sessions work well along Pearl Street, at Chautauqua, on local trails, or in front of your own business. Indoor sessions can happen in your workspace, a coffee shop, or anywhere that tells your story. I do not use a generic studio backdrop. Every session is shot in a real location.
What should I wear for a headshot session?
Wear what you would actually wear to meet an important client. If you are a financial planner, that might be a blazer. If you run a climbing gym, it might be a branded pullover. Avoid busy patterns, bright logos, and anything you would not normally wear. Bring two or three options and we will figure out what looks best on camera.
How long does a headshot session take?
Individual headshot sessions usually run 30 to 45 minutes. That gives us time to warm up, try a couple of locations, and get past the awkward 'I hate having my photo taken' phase. Most people relax about ten minutes in, and that is when the good photos happen.
Can I use these headshots for LinkedIn and other platforms?
Absolutely. I deliver high-resolution files and web-optimized versions cropped for LinkedIn, your company website, speaker bios, email signatures, and social profiles. You own the images and can use them wherever you need, no extra licensing fees.
Photography Services
These services connect to the topics covered in this guide.
Have a question about your session?
I am happy to help. Send me a message and let's figure out the details.