Last Sunday I attended a neat little party called “Headshots and Happy Hour”.
Hosted by the lovely Alex (@clippo, I Don’t Blog), it was an opportunity for a handful of bloggers to get together and have new headshots taken by the very talented Cherie-Lynn Buchanan (@clbuchanan, CL Buchanan Photography).
As each of us waited for our turn in front of the camera, Alex’s husband served warm, homemade cinnamon buns and fancy-looking lattes (I’m not a coffee girl, but they sure looked good!) and we had a chance to get to know each other. (I think I’m the only one who hadn’t met anyone in the group…so aren’t you proud of me for actually agreeing to attend? This is big, people.)
While I wasn’t thrilled about having my picture taken, the highlight of my day was finally meeting my best-writer-friend, Sarah (@SarahNewk, Sleeping Is For Losers) for the first time in real life! She has been an amazing professional support as we both navigate the freelance writing/media world, and you wouldn’t believe how much you can go through with someone without ever seeing them face-to-face!
Cherie-Lynn had a very warm and complimentary manner – very important when trying to get women to relax and pose for photos – and only needed a few minutes with each of us to get the job done.
Within days she provided us with a very handy online process for checking our proofs and making selections. Our package allows three different poses, in both black and white, and it took me a while (and a few other opinions) to make my selections. I think I have a healthy attitude about my appearance in general, and I don’t obsess over how I look in day-to-day candid shots with friends and family, but for some reason I have high expectations for how I will look in official, individual photos like these. I can always find something to critique, but I’m making an effort not to be so hard on myself. (The other ladies’ shots were AMAZING, by the way. They’re lovely women to start with, but Cherie-Lynn really brings out the best in her subjects.)
You will soon be seeing some or all of these pics popping up on the blog, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, my front lawn, etc., but here’s a sneak peek:
Which one should I start using first? Do you prefer the colour or the black and white? I am well aware that I am the only one who cares about this, but humour me here, would you?
They are lovely pictures Kate, and I love the choice of pink. Its a nice touch.
My favourite is #2, and colour. Black and white are nice, but I think the colour is so nice and fresh. And Yes, on the front lawn is a terrific idea.
How much fun was a photo shoot!
#2 Color for sure. You look really relaxed, like your about to chat with some close friends. A blog is a great platform for communicating with others. Your readers will feel much more comfortable commenting on your blog posts, if your picture is inviting and natural.
Beautiful! I love the colour ones 🙂
One of my dear friends is going to be coming to my house to take some new head shots of me – I'm so nervous – any tips?
Thanks so much!
Tips…try to relax and have fun with it. Trust the photographer (which will be easier if she/he is already a friend) and go with the flow. Some of the poses feel crazy, but end up looking great. And if it's just a headshot, focus on preparing what will be seen on camera. My situation was different, since I was also trying to make a good first impression on several new people, but don't worry about your nails or shaving your legs! And remember no one is harder on you than you are. When everyone tells you how great your shots look – because of course they will be awesome – believe them! Good luck – be sure to share afterwards!
I like the colour ones and the first one you showed I think is the best! Great photos Kate.
My preference is for the B+W #3. It is very nice.
Cheers.
Sorry, I'm not going to be much help BECAUSE I think they're ALL beautiful!!!
Hi Kate!
They are all great but I also prefer the second shot in colour – the one that is a bit more of a side profile. Beautiful!