Expert Toronto Headshot Photographer
As a Toronto headshot photographer, I see the wide variety of industries in desperate need of good-quality headshots. Here is an insight into the benefits of a new headshot, why you might need to get some, and how you can achieve success with the help of the right professional.
Find what you’re looking for…
● Who needs professional headshots? (and why can anyone benefit from them)
○ Actor Headshots - Great First Impressions
○ Models Headshots, Digitals & Ensuring You Look Great
○ Influencers, Entrepreneurs & Personal Branding
○ Realtors - Building Trust and Marketing with Headshots
○ Student Headshots - Employment Opportunities & Looking Professional
● Successful Professional Headshots vs. Amateur Snaps - Creating an Image
Who Needs Professional Headshots?
In theory, anyone could benefit from a professional headshot, whether it’s for work, perhaps a social media platform like LinkedIn, a website, or anything else. In Toronto, people from all walks of life invest in professional headshots and see the return on investment that they offer.
A professional headshot is much more than a photograph, and many of our clients see great success as a direct result of using their new headshots to get in front of the right people.
It is common practice now for people in business, especially customer-facing professionals and entrepreneurs, to have expertly taken and edited headshots. Not only does it reinforce professionalism, but it also highlights personality and tone of both the individual and the business.
Headshots for Business Professionals
Business headshots may be used on websites, business cards, blogs, press releases or social media, among other things, and studies show that profiles using a headshot on LinkedIn, for example, receive on average 36x more messages than those without a professional headshot on their profile.
A surprising number of professionals still do not have a headshot to use online, and although many businesses are now investing in company-wide shoots to ensure a uniform online presence for the business, there is a distinct and trackable advantage for those who are ahead of the curve and actively using and updating their headshots.
For these headshots, professional posing and editing is crucial. Studies show that we can subconsciously analyse the expression in a photo without knowingly taking the time to process it, and that the muscles in our face will often mirror the image we see. Psychologically, this is important for those who use online profiles for things like sales and relationship building to ensure that the right image is being shown to potential clients.
Business professionals trust our Toronto studio for their company headshots and photographs for their personal profiles. Find out more about booking in your professional headshot here.
Headshots for Actors - Creating Memorable First Impressions
Headshots are an essential part of an actor's toolkit and are often the very first thing a hiring party will see - making a great first impression is absolutely essential.
For actors, it’s no secret that top casting directors and agents will pay close attention to the professionalism of a headshot, it can be an instant indicator of how well someone understands the industry.
Has the headshot been taken by a professional or an amateur?
Is the headshot up to date?
Is the headshot over-edited (or badly edited)?
Does the headshot reflect the real appearance of the actor?
Our private headshot studio based in the Toronto city area, is a popular spot for actors to get their headshots updated or to even get a first set taken in an encouraging and comfortable environment. To book in, get in touch.
Models Headshots, Digitals, & Ensuring You Look Great
Modelling is an industry that places great importance on visuals, with good headshots being an absolute essential part of a portfolio for anyone who wants to succeed in this competitive industry.
A good headshot is arguably the most important photo an aspiring model can have and is a core component of modelling digitals sent to potential agents when you’re getting started.
A good headshot photographer will be able to photograph you in multiple styles to show your best work while also emphasising your unique features that agencies often look for when scouting models for shoots or shows.
Expert headshot photographers in our Toronto city area studio will also help you to perfect the tone and styling for your headshot. Expression, lighting and composition can be key to getting your headshot in front of the right people at the brands and agencies that you would like to work with.
Headshots for Influencers, Entrepreneurs and Personal Branding
Influencers can be anyone, in any industry. They can be representing a business, a product or even just themselves.
The appearance of professionalism that a good headshot can offer can be an indicator to brands or other potential working partners that an influencer knows the industry and conducts themselves professionally.
It’s also a great opportunity to show off your personality. As an influencer, there is a chance that you already have a dedicated following that are invested in you and your life. A good headshot is a brilliant opportunity to show that personality to brands and other professionals before you make contact.
We understand that a shoot can feel daunting, particularly for people who are not used to being in front of a professional camera, so we always take it at your pace.
Our private studio in the Toronto area is staffed with only a couple of people to ensure that you feel comfortable during your shoot and we can help you with posing and setting of the photograph to ensure you really get the most out of your shoot.
Realtor Headshots - Trust and Marketing With Headshots
For realtors, there are many benefits of getting a professional headshot.
When people are making significant purchases, the person they are buying from is extremely important, so showing your face and having a consistent professional image is crucial for building trust.
Not only does it solidify your branding to be able to use the same image across all of your channels, but it also makes you more memorable. Marketing professionals believe that when someone sees an ad or image, they remember it after about the sixth or seventh time of seeing it, so consistency is key.
A good, professional headshot will make you appear trustworthy and help to keep you in the minds of your potential clients.
Student Headshots - Employment, Opportunities and Looking Professional
In much the same ways as headshots for businesses, professional headshots for students can indicate a readiness to step into the world of work. With more recruiters, employers, and headhunters than ever using CV style websites such as LinkedIn to scope potential job candidates, there is a need to seem professional in an online space.
A profile with all of the right information and a professional headshot is an excellent first impression and has been noted by recruiters to be a factor that sets candidates apart from others when deciding who to approach about potential job roles.
Successful Professional Headshots vs. Amateur Photos
…and picking the right professional for you
What makes a professional headshot different to a selfie, or getting a friend to take a nice photo of you to use? Many things impact the composition of a good headshot, from the experience of the photographer, to the equipment, lighting and posing of the subject.
No two headshots are identical, the trick (and benefit of using a professional photographer) is to ensure that the styling and composition of the headshot are fit for their intended purpose and that you're getting the most out of every single photo.
Photographer Experience and Specialisms
As with any other type of professional photography, you’re looking for an expert with the skill, experience and understanding of your needs to ensure that the outcome of the shoot is right for you. Headshots are an excellent marketing, branding and relationship building tool if they’re done right.
An experienced headshot photographer will know not only how to put the subject of the image at ease, but can help with natural posing and expression. A good photographer will create an environment where the experience can be enjoyable and valuable.
Posing and Getting Natural Results
Posing for a headshot will depend entirely on its purpose, as will facial expression, lighting and background imagery.
If you’re, for example, getting new headshots in preparation for some auditions for serious roles, there are styles of headshot and expressions that would be advantageous to send to casting directors.
Similarly, for business, what do your clients expect when they see a photograph of you? Your company could be a creative business or relationship based service. In this case, smiling faces on colourful backdrops are absolutely perfect. If you’re looking at lawyer headshots, maybe some more serious expressions in the images are more suitable because your industry is not only more serious, but your customers and other working relationships expect that professionalism and seriousness.
Sometimes facing a camera square on works, sometimes not. These are all things that your headshot photographer can help you with and these are options you can explore before and during your shoot.
Our aim is to always capture genuine and real expressions. As with other types of photography, an expert in headshot photography is the person you need to get the most out of your photos.
If you’d like help with your headshots, get in touch with us.
Professional Equipment and Getting Great Results
It goes without saying that a significant difference between using a professional photographer and an amateur is the equipment available for the shoot.
Our private studio in the Toronto area has everything you need to get the very best results from your professional headshot session.
Experienced photographer with expert knowledge in headshot composition
Professional camera equipment
Professional standard lighting
Backdrops
Optional hair and makeup services
We ensure that you receive high quality images that are sharp, well-lit and excellently executed, to make sure that you really see a good return on your investment.
Choosing the right shots for success
Nobody looks bad in photos. Our job is to make people feel confident in their natural appearance and expressions to ensure shoots are enjoyable and comfortable.
At the end of a shoot, we will go through the images and you can choose which ones you like and which ones work for you.
As much of our work is based on referrals, ensuring you have a positive experience is really important to us, not just because we want you to go and tell your friends about us, but also because we want to see all of our clients to get the most out of every single shoot with us.
Headshots are extremely effective tools when created and used properly and we love to see our clients succeeding with headshots we’ve worked on together.
Where to Find Jose Palma | Toronto Headshot Photographer
We serve Toronto and the GTA for headshot photography.
Conveniently located near the DVP, Gardener and Queen streetcar stops.
If you’re looking to get your headshot done, or would like to discuss individual or group sessions, get in touch with our Toronto studio for a private and professional space to take advantage of the power of the headshot.
Contact:
Book now or contact me.