Hawaii Headshot Photos FAQ

• We recommend something you feel confident wearing that best represents you professionally.
• Make sure the clothing fits you well and is wrinkle free.

• For business headshots, long sleeves are usually best. (Aloha shirts are an exception) We want to keep the attention on your expression so solid neutral colors like black, gray, blue, green, brown always look great. Splashes of color and white look great underneath business jackets.

• Jewelry – Keep it simple!  Choose small pieces that enhance not distract (unless part of your personal brand) Usually, we’ll see how it looks with and without and make the call from there. Ultimately, it’s up to you!

• Whether you do your hair/makeup yourself or hire someone else to do it for you we recommend styling as you would normally before going to meet an ideal client. You don’t want to show up looking like anyone other than the person in your headshot!
•  Get your new haircut or coloring done a week before your scheduled headshot session so you have a chance to get used to the new look beforehand.
  
• Avoid the sun for a few days before your headshot session. This is so important in Hawaii! Sunburnt or peeling skin is difficult to cover with makeup and no fun to deal with in photoshop. We cannot guarantee you’ll be happy with your headshots if you show up lobster red! Better to reschedule in that case.
  
• It’s important to get your skin looking healthy before the shoot. Hydrate yourself by drinking plenty of water in  the days before and try to come well-rested. 
• Avoid using oily products on the face before your session. Over-moisturizing the skin will create excess shine which becomes highly reflective under the lights.
• Don’t worry about blemishes, they can be retouched.  Aging skin, fine lines, age spots, and under-eye circles can be softened in post-production for your retouch selections.

All your selected images are delivered via e-mail with a digital download link after your session. Your retouching selections will be delivered within a few business days from when you notify us of your choices. If interested, we can handle printing services for you upon request, for additional rates. 

• At the end of your session once you are satisfied with your images you can make payment. We accept credit cards, Venmo, check, or cash.

Have any more questions? Feel free to call or shoot us an Email in the contact form.

Available Session Times by appointment only)  

Smiling helps you seem friendly and approachable, which is helpful, especially in today’s society where so many individuals can be stiff. They also make you appear younger. A smile is the best thing you can do to make yourself look younger. In a headshot, serious photos can make you appear much older.

Do come prepared. Do relax & breath!
Do dress in solid colors. Do practice smiling in the mirror. Before your appointment, practice posing in front of a mirror to relax.
Pose straight on, in left profile, and in right profile. 

Don’t wear loud patterns, pin stripes, logos (unless it’s your company logo) Don’t get sunburnt before your session. Don’t wear wrinkled or poorly fitted clothing. 

There are a few factors that weaken a headshot, so be careful to avoid them: 
 blurry photos, a distracting background, over-done makeup, an obtrusive wardrobe, and poor lighting.

Environmental headshots are photographs without the usual smooth or textured background seen in headshots. These photos, which are typically taken in your business (the setting), have a tendency to feel more authentic. For example, shooting someone at their workstation has an immediacy to it that a headshot does not. The option to include items that help create a mood or tone for your photo makes environmental headshots more able to convey a tale. In any setting, it’s crucial to make sure the subject of the photograph remains the focus of the composition. Images can rapidly lose their effect if they become overly cluttered or attempt to incorporate too many aspects.

You should wear your glasses if that’s how you normally present yourself or if you have trouble focusing on anything more than a few feet away as this can cause unnatural squinting. We’re happy to shoot photos with & without glasses during your session so why not bring them?  Eyewear with anti-reflective (AR) coating, makes the lens almost invisible and virtually eliminates light reflection from the lens surface.

Since the eye is accustomed to seeing them and they have little risk of overwhelming the frame, solid and neutral colors always perform nicely. White and cream are examples of light neutral colors, whereas navy and black are examples of dark ones.

Both smiling with and without teeth are effective for professional headshots, so choose the option that makes you feel most at ease. A forced smile is bad and could even come across as dishonest. A “genuine” smile shows in the eyes. We’ll help guide you to find the perfect balance.

Stick to formal attire like suits, ties, business jackets, and dress shirts. Even if you work in a field where business casual is the norm, think about dressing more professionally for your headshots to appear more confident and capable.

The majority of single image headshot sessions (mini) are finished within 30 minutes. Each session begins with a quick chat to discuss your goals for the images and the feeling you want to convey. When we start shooting, we’ll evaluate the photos as we go so that we can collaborate until we get a photo that everyone likes. For those needing imagery with multiple look where backgrounds or outfits need to be changed sessions generally take about an hour or more depending on just how many looks are needed. 

Bring yourself one or more outfits. We can help you decide on the best option if you’re having trouble making up your mind. Style yourself as you would to meet with your ideal client.  

Plan your day, if you can, to be as stress-free as possible. Your photographs will reflect your mood if you’re tired and anxious. The most crucial thing you can do is relax.

Consider who this photo will be communicating to and the persona you want to project. You can even practice smiling in the mirror beforehand.

Contact us if you have any questions! Our main goal is to help you to be authentic and look your best in front of the camera

Each photographer has their own distinct flair. Take a look at our portfolios to see if you like our work and feel like we’re a good fit for you. Read our testimonials and see what our previous customers have to say.

Although cost is always a concern, choosing a photographer shouldn’t be based on that alone. We’re not the cheapest or the most expensive,  believe we provide fair value for your money.

We offer technical know-how, a keen attention to detail, and a strong desire to produce pictures you’ll be proud to share. We aim to help you project an approachable, natural, and most importantly, confident appearance.

We want make the process as short, smooth and painless as possible. You might even enjoy yourself!