Before the Shutter Starts Clicking

Oct 4

3 min read

By Shea Swinford, Founder of The Personal Brand Studio

Shea Swinford photographing a session, standing behind a camera on a tripod.

At a conference, someone might have only a few minutes for a new headshot. That is enough time to make a useful photograph if the conversation starts before I ask them to stand on a mark.

“Where are you going to use this?”

“What do you want people to recognize about you when they see it?”

Those two questions can change the experience. The person stops trying to produce a generic version of “professional” and starts thinking about what this photograph is for. I get direction that matters. We are working on the same introduction.

Before the session: give the person a voice

Someone may need a portrait for a new leadership role. Another person may be ready to speak at conferences and wants an image that reflects that work. A third may already have a photograph they like but notices it doesn't feel like the person clients meet today.

I don't need them to know photography terms. I need to hear what is changing and what they hope comes through. The Authority Image Audit™ can begin that conversation before a person steps in front of the camera. It considers the image they currently use, along with relevant LinkedIn or website context when provided, and gives them language for what is working and what to consider. https://authorityimageaudit.netlify.app

There is a difference between arriving with “I hate my headshot” and arriving with “I want my experience and warmth to come through together.” The second statement gives us somewhere to go.

During the session: make space for the person

Good direction is specific. I may change the camera distance, ask someone to turn slightly, or keep a conversation going long enough to catch the expression that appears when they stop thinking about the camera. I may show them a frame while we still have time to adjust. They can tell me what feels like them and what doesn't.

That matters in a high-volume setting. A line of attendees does not mean each person has to feel processed. A short moment of attention, real-time selection, and a clear purpose can make the experience personal even when many people are being photographed in one day.

In a longer branding session, the same principle gives us room to make different images for different jobs. A recognizable portrait, a photograph of the person doing their work, and an image with space for a speaker announcement may all belong in the same library. They don't need to look identical to feel connected.

After the session: put the image to work

The image should not disappear into a download folder. Where will it replace an outdated introduction? Does it belong on the LinkedIn profile, the company site, a speaker page, or all three? Are there other photographs needed to show the work behind the portrait?

This is where a Blueprint can be useful. It turns the conversation about intention and perception into decisions about what to use now and what to create next. The exact recommendations depend on the person's role and where their image needs to work.

A headshot can be quick. It can also be thoughtful. The two are compatible when the experience begins with the person and ends with an image they know how to use.

Take the Authority Image Audit™ before your next session. Bring a clearer intention to the camera. https://authorityimageaudit.netlify.app