About
Does the idea of getting your headshot or portrait taken kind of make you want to vomit? Then you have probably gone to the wrong photographer. In my experience, the most important thing a photographer can do is make you feel comfortable. I mean the lights, the lens, the smoke-machine (just kidding, I don't have a smoke machine), can all make you feel very nervous. Having someone treating you like you are made of plasticine doesn't help. Of course, the "nervous-look" is rarely what anyone is going for...
My most common criticism of headshot photography is the over-photoshopped look. This can be cool if the image is going to be used to sell something else - but if you are at all interested in using it as a calling card, you need to look like yourself. I use photoshop to make the shot look natural, but in the best possible conditions. If the light isn't perfect, or your hair or make-up isn't perfect, I'll fix that up. I don't believe in taking off 20lbs and 10 years, or making it look like laser-beams are shooting out of your eyes - that isn't doing anyone any favours (I mean, I can do it if you want, I just don't BELIEVE in it..)
I always try to dress nice for self-portraits.
All images copyright Tom Mullins. All rights reserved.