If you use speaking as part of your personal brand, you’re an expert at showing up and connecting with your audience live (either in person or virtually). That’s great once you’re actually in front of people, but in order for your brand to reflect who you are as a speaker, you need still photos that capture the essence of your speaker persona.

You want your branding images to make people feel like they’re already part of the conversation you have with your audience from the stage. Without these photos, your dynamic speaker personality won’t come through to potential booking agents or clients who are looking for exactly what you deliver from the stage.

Key Reasons to Keep Your Headshots Updated

Here are some recommendations and reasons to make sure your headshots are always updated and on point for your brand:

• Ideally, you should update your professional images every one to three years. NEVER use a photo for your business that’s more than three years old

• Professional photos are a must if you’re doing business online. No matter how great you look in a candid, amateur shot, there is no substitute for professional-looking images when it comes to your business brand.

• Not only do your looks change over time, but so does your life experience. A good photographer will make sure your personality and interests shine through in your headshots. The only way to ensure these reflect who you are NOW (and not who you were ten years ago), is to have updated professional photos taken.

• An up-to-date anchor image (or headshot) that you love and are proud of builds your confidence, which is also a huge business asset. I've seen my clients put themselves out there more often once they’ve gotten images they’re proud of.

• Photos that are updated regularly are a clear indication that you’re active and engaged with your business, something potential clients want to know and is looking for.

Happy February! It’s been an awesome few weeks down here in the Arizona desert. In between working with new clients, my husband and I found time to attend “Quartzsite RV Show” a few weeks ago. If you saw the movie “Nomadland” this should ring a bell.

Every January, as many as 750,000 to 1,000,000 people (mostly in RV’s) converge on the sleepy little desert town of Quartzsite, located just 20 miles east of the California border on Interstate 10, for the rock, gem, and mineral shows and numerous flea markets. The main attraction, though, is the Quartzsite Sports, Vacation & RV Show. This phenomenon started over 40 years ago and is now billed as “The Largest Gathering Of RVers in the World.”

As a photographer who prides myself on capturing the unique personality of every subject I photograph, I’ve loved this trend and I’ve made a name for myself in Virginia as the go-to corporate photographer for that reason.

Last June, I was approached by the senior manager of brand photography and videography for Ferguson,

It’s a new year with new goals. It’s time to update your LinkedIn profile or at least make sure it checks these boxes.

You only get about 3 seconds to make a first impression on LinkedIn. Your profile image will be the very first thing your potential client or employer looks at.

Fun Fact:

Did you know that humans process images 60,000X faster than text?

Be sure you’re telling the story you want which is consistent with your personal brand and putting your best foot forward.

Your profile image should position you as the professional and the authority figure you are.

Remember when you started dating as a teenager? It was all exciting and new, and probably fun. If you’re coming out of a relationship or have been widowed and are thinking about starting to date again, it can feel like the polar opposite. It’s scarier than exciting for most people.

I jumped back into the dating pool after my divorce and I was definitely more scared than excited. The difference this time around was that I was doing it online, which is a whole new ballgame, and it felt like a game I had once known but had forgotten all the rules too! I was amazed at what people could find out about me with a simple Google search, and I was determined to make sure that my dating profile was an accurate representation of who I was and what I was looking for.

While I’m definitely not an expert on online dating rules, I can share some tips on creating dating images that you’ll be proud of.

With the help of the right photographer, you can catch the attention of more casting directors and agents. In fact, visuals can often make or break your chances of landing your dream audition, which is why it’s essential to get your headshots right.

Here are some tips that will help:

#1 Stick with a basic background

Let’s talk about your headshots.

I know, this probably isn’t one of your favorite topics, because having your picture taken probably isn’t in your top 10 (or even 25) list of things you love to do.

The hard truth is, though, if your current photos are more than two years old, they’re out of date and need to be updated (especially if you are a professional of any kind).

Whether you’re thinking about taking headshots for the first time or you want to refresh your current photos there are some common myths about headshots I’d like to debunk so you can book your next photoshoot with confidence and peace of mind.

Very few people in this world actually enjoy having their pictures taken. The minute a camera is aimed at us, we tend to feel self-conscious and uncomfortable. I’ve even had a handful of professionals tell me they used to skip school on picture days! That can relegate “Update my executive headshot” to the very bottom of your “to-do” list (right below having a root canal or paying a late fee on your credit card bill for a mistake your bank made) headshot.

I get it! I’m an award-winning professional photographer and I feel the same way about having my picture taken. Since I specialize in executive headshots, part of my goal is to make even the most nervous client feel comfortable, confident, and as relaxed as possible. Most of my sessions even actually end up being fun for my clients.

Here’s how I accomplish this:

Nowadays, having an intentional personal brand is more important than ever.

But does that mean that everyone needs to work hard at building their personal brand? How do you know if scheduling a personal brand photoshoot is right for you and your business? Here are five great questions to help you find out.

Every quarter in Richmond, Virginia, and nationwide, I get to work with amazing leaders and companies throughout our country to help their brands to shine. I do this with my photography practice. Of all the ways I could serve my clients, I focus on creating branded portraits for executives and entrepreneurs.

Visuals are an integral part of making a lasting first impression online. When potential clients, business partners, or employers want to put a face to your resume, what would they see?

A professional headshot session is a sound business investment for a number of reasons, but only if you use it to your advantage.

Here are the mistakes you should avoid.

Making It a National Park

The effort to designate the Grand Canyon as a national park started in the 1880s, but at first, Congress kept failing to pass a bill that would do that. But President Teddy Roosevelt loved the area so much that he finally declared it a national monument in 1908. The bill that finally made it a national park was signed by President Woodrow Wilson in 1919. The Grand Canyon is cared for by the National Park Service, the Hualapai Tribal Nation, and the Havasupai Tribe.

As a professional headshot photographer, I know from experience that you can have the best photographer money can buy, but if you don’t look relatable, comfortable, and engaging in your photos, they’re not going to have the effect you’re hoping for.

I’m sure you know that being relaxed before and during a headshot photo session makes it easier for your personality and professionalism to shine through. The question is, how do you get to a relaxed, comfortable state while doing an activity that most people avoid and dread? Great question! Here are some ideas I share with my clients that have made a huge difference in how their final photos turn out.

We checked out Zion National Park which is absolutely gorgeous! More red rock, varied plants and trees, and there ARE fall colors even in the desert. We went on a short hike and came across a Jerusalem Cricket that is described as a Frankenstein-like insect with a nasty bite.

The thing that cracks me up is the cow grates you pass as you enter or exit a freeway. They are designed to make the cows think they’ll fall if they walk on them. Very effective barriers.

Moab is in eastern Utah, near Arches National Park with its red rock formations. It has a rich history that includes uranium mines, World War II internment camps, being used as a movie set, and rock art created by indigenous people.

We stayed in Thompson Springs which was about 45 minutes away from Moab. Next time, we promised ourselves to stay closer. Driving back and forth got old quickly. We stayed a week at Moab and wished we had two weeks to explore and enjoy it. We enjoyed it so much, that we promised ourselves to come back in the Spring of 2022.

Elk mating season lasts from the end of August through October and the official name for elk mating is rutting. We were excited to be at Estes Park for their big elk rut.

The male elk are called bulls, the females are cows and their young are calves. When a big herd breaks up into smaller groups of cows and calves, they’re called harems. The cows come into estrus (heat) only every 20 days, so as soon as a cow is ready to mate, the bull has to be ready. Cows can have up to four estrus cycles each season, but most cows become pregnant during the first or second cycle.

In May 2021, we made it to Estes Park, CO! Estes Park is 10 minutes outside Rocky Mountain National Park, which has timed entries until 6:00p. We’ll be here from May through the end of September and we’re able to stay this long in a resort town because of Workamping.

In May 2021, we made it to Estes Park, CO! Estes Park is 10 minutes outside Rocky Mountain National Park, which has timed entries until 6:00p. We’ll be here from May through the end of September and we’re able to stay this long in a resort town because of Workamping.