Frequent asked Headshot Photography Questions

This is really a question that doesn't need to be answered, your Headshot is your first impression. Connecting with your current or potential network is vital to business relationships. Your headshot is the logo of your personal brand and tells people how seriously you take your work and professionally present yourself. There are so many ways in which you can market yourself in the digital world and if you are looking to connect with potential employers/clients, or you’re trying to meet that special someone on a dating website, you need that first impression to be the best impression. In a competitive market that picture of you at your friend’s wedding or a cropped picture at a party, doesn’t cut it and could unknowingly damage your career potential. At Simon Rochfort Photography we recommend that you update your headshot every 2 years.

You want to choose a headshot photographer that not only meets your style but also makes you look as great online as you do in person. You need to find a photographer that has a proven engagement service and believes that everyone has a great headshot in them, even if you feel you're not photogenic. Why choose us? We're here to help you create the best online image, it's your business marketing tool, your branding and logo and we can help you create the right professional image.

We offer our clients a 5 star experience! We tailor our sessions and approach to make it the best relaxed experience for you. We don’t just produce a photograph but we help you to create an image that represents your personality and an image that you are proud to use! We also don’t do packages or set time limits. Our shoots are fully directed in a relaxed environment to help create images that reflect our subjects' true personality while creating the right professional image. We will take as much or as little time as you need to get that awesome headshot!

Before coming into the studio it’s best to understand that we are there to help you. Many clients come into the studio nervous like they are going to the dentist or doctor. Our headshot sessions are always fun and relaxed, and often full of laughter...maybe some bad dad jokes! We will hang out, get to know each other and chat during the session. I will however ask you to do some weird stuff with your face and probably pose in some strange ways. Don’t worry as there is always a method to the madness. I am not your photographer but I’m also your coach, I’ll help you work on your expression, posture and confidence level. If you come prepared to take direction, I promise you will leave with an amazing headshot! MUSIC: Think about putting together a playlist of your favourite songs. We have a Bluetooth speaker at the studio and always encourage our clients to play their music during the session. Having upbeat music that you like helps put you in a good mood and gives you the energy for the session. MOISTURISE: Moisturizing your face makes a big difference. Aim to moisturize the night before and the morning of your headshot session. Try to avoid alcohol 24 hours before your headshot sessions as this will dry your skin. If you’ve hired a make-up artist, do not apply any make-up before your session.

This is just a term that means the number of outfits you will be wearing during your headshot session. For corporate headshot sessions most clients will only need 1-2 “looks”. They need to think what message they want to convey on social media, websites or print materials and sometimes a different outfit is needed for that. For actors and models it’s a little different, it has a lot to do with casting and what roles you are usually cast in. We help you choose different looks to help with different casting options. Most actors and models would want to have at least 3-4 different looks and for women they would want to change their hairstyle at least once during the session. For men it would be common for them to shave half way through the session, giving them various “looks” regarding their facial hair. These are all things that we would discuss ahead of the headshot session so everything runs smoothly.

Yes, we do travel on occasion for on location headshot sessions, however we think that our clients get the best experience at our studio at 1037 West Broadway. We are set up to shoot on location at your office or other locations with battery operated strobes and our mobile studio setup. Please note that for on location headshots a reasonable amount of space is needed and not every space will work. All on location shoots include a site visit so that we can check the location and decide what gear is needed and where we can shoot. Group discounts are available for groups of 3 and a travel fee is applicable to all on location shoots.

Shooting is almost done exclusively indoors in the comfort of my commercial studio. However, pending on the clients needs we are flexible and able to accommodate. However, weather, time, location etc needs to be taken into consideration for outdoor shoots. Please contact me to talk more about this.

White, grey and black don’t distract much from the face and can do a lot to compliment clothing, skin and hair. There are times when I use texture, colour or natural backgrounds but this generally depends on specific needs i.e. corporate colours, specific style needed or casting requests. My aim is for you to be the main focus of your headshot and keeping the background simple aids that.

In one word….yes! Our hair stylists are all trained professionals and we would recommend booking them. The person that knows your hair the best is you and if you are confident in styling it yourself that is ok, however since your headshot is an investment we recommended letting a professional help. We will talk about hairstyles before the session so we can guide you in what hairstyles to go with and what to avoid.

I always recommend booking one of our make-up artists. Yes, you know your face best but doing make-up for a headshot is different to going to work or even going out for an evening. My stylists are awesome and have an amazing knowledge of our lighting techniques and how the camera perceives colour. If you have specific needs or requests we can discuss that and I will communicate that to our make-up artists who will take all your needs into consideration. For men, I typically don’t recommend that they wear make-up, unless they want to.

Getting a haircut a few days before your headshot session is always a great idea! Don’t get it cut the day of though. You want to look fresh but you’ll want your hair to have grown in for a few days at a minimum.

If you are going to shave, please take your time! Don’t rush shaving and leave your face cut up and with razor burn. For most men, I recommend that they shave half way through the session. This means that they can have the stubble look and a clean shaven look. Since most guys like to have a bit of scruff this gives us the option. We have a bathroom at the studio that can be used for shaving.

Feel free to bring as many as you like! I always say that more the better. Before the session starts we will look through your clothing and discuss your best outfits. We can then mix and match them for maximum variety. Even if you don’t end up wearing a piece of clothing, it’s better to bring it and not need it; rather than only have one option and not liking it.

There are some tips that help you pick the best outfits for your session. Wear something that fits you well and definitely nothing baggy. Please make sure that your clothing has been ironed or steamed and does not have wrinkles. We all love our pets but their hair shouldn’t be on your clothes. Harsh contrasts don’t generally look good. A black jacket and white shirt will be too much of a contrast. Loud and garish prints and colours will distract from your face. Earthy, pastel tones tend to work well and the colour grey is always a winner! Short/sleeveless shirts can work but only if you are confident with your arms and shoulders and are ready to show them off. For corporate clients it’s best to dress as you would for a business meeting. If that’s particularly formal or a bit causal that’s fine. Just dress appropriate for your industry. For actors, solid colours are a safe bet, layering your clothes and a flattering neckline. Just don’t let the clothes draw attention away from your face. Ladies or Gents if you feel particularly confident in a pair of heels or shoes, feel free to wear them. They won’t be in shot but do what makes you feel your best!

Unless you sell jewelry or are very well known for your jewellery, then I would recommend to keep it to minimum. Large necklaces or earrings are distracting and will take the attention away from the main focus of the headshot…you! Feel free to bring your jewellery anyway and we can take a look if you are particularly keen to wear it during your headshot session.

All headshot and portrait sessions are tailored to the client’s needs and personality. We get to know each other by having a chat, we go over clothing options and if chosen, hair and make-up. Before we shoot I will explain some of the poses and facial expressions that I will coach you on. The main aim is for you to be comfortable in front of the camera and have the ability to take direction. We will chat, laugh and joke during the session but ultimately we will get you the best headshot.

During the headshot session, we shoot tethered. This means that all the images shot will appear on the computer screen for viewing. Several times during the session, we will take a break and look at the images. This is your chance to give feedback and to see how you look on camera. Usually the posing feels awkward but it all makes sense when you see how great you look! If you are generally happy with the images, we carry on but if you have feedback then this is a good time to voice any concerns or suggestions. The only photos that won’t be shown are one’s that I don’t think are beneficial for you to see. There will always be some images of eyes closed or mouth half open that doesn’t look flattering. These photos won’t be reviewed during the session.

At the end of your session we will have a coffee or water and sit down and look over your images. During your headshot session I will have already marked the images that I think are suitable for you to see. With so many photos being taken, there are bound to be some bad photos and it doesn’t benefit anyone looking at them. I call it “keeping the studs and dropping the duds”…cheesy, I know! We will look through the images and together we will select your final images to be edited. I find it best to do this together in the studio as you know yourself best and I can give an objective opinion of your best images. Once you have selected your final images, our retoucher works on the editing process. A fee of $50 CAD per image applies for professional retouching.

Professional retouching can take up to 10 working days. The final edited images will be in an online gallery, delivered via an email link. Downloads are available for up to 30 days, after that the link expires. The images can be downloaded in high, low or web ready resolutions. 24hr. Rush Delivery – $50 CAD/image

No we don’t print our headshots but we recommend: Print Time Digital Centre Downtown Vancouver B1 – 319 West Hastings Street back alley entrance between Homer and, Cambie St, Vancouver, BC V6B 1H6 https://www.printtime.ca/

You are able to schedule and pay securely for your headshot session via our online booking system. We accept all major credit and debit cards. If you make a deposit, you can pay for the outstanding amount via square app in the studio. For group bookings, an invoice can be emailed to you that can be paid by card, cheque or e-transfer.

Have you changed your look, career or just want be perceived differently? Yes we offer a 30% discount on sessions for all returning individual clients.