This extremely long review is written for the person who is hemming and hawing about 1) whether to take a professional headshot and/or 2) can't decide which photographer to choose.
Taking my headshot was something that had been on my to-do list for an embarrassingly long time. There were always reasons to put it off, including being too busy, not knowing what photographer to work with, or wondering if I should just ask a friend to do it instead. Also, I'm self-employed which means that me/my business would be covering the cost of the photos and not some corporate expense account.
I decided to finally turn to Yelp to find out who does the best headshots. I was immediately drawn to Tracy because she had such high and consistently positive reviews and her website was clean and professional. There were dozens of examples of photos she had taken, including quite a few people I recognized. I opted for the "Entrepreneur" package that included two retouched headshots--one business/formal, one casual. I paid for the session upfront on her website and she contacted me the next day to confirm that my desired appointment date was available.
Tracy's in-home studio is professionally set up (with amazing air-conditioning, thankfully) and she coaches you to get a great shot. Surprisingly, it's not as easy as just sitting down on a stool and smiling! She'll sit down with you to review the photos taken and helps you to narrow down your choices based on what's important to you, what image you're trying to project, what will inspire confidence in clients, etc. As a small business owner herself, I felt she really understood what my needs were and cared about ensuring that I got specifically what I wanted. Ultimately, you get decide what your final two photos will be.
The final photos arrived back to me FAST. Like, two-or-three-business-days-later fast. If I had known that the turnaround would be that quick, I probably would have done this a LOT sooner.
Overall, this is a complete five-star experience. and you get what you pay for. While it's not as cheap as buying your aspiring-photographer friend a six pack in exchange for pictures, the value and return on investment makes the cost more than worth it. For me, I know I'll use these photos for at least three years and they help my current and prospective clients to see me in a more professional light.
Lastly, Tracy is friendly, full of personality, and extremely experienced and professional. She'll make you feel comfortable and relaxed. There is a reason that everyone goes to her for their headshots!
TIPS
* If you are a woman, I would strongly encourage you to have your hair and makeup done professionally. While it does add to the expense and is something you could technically do yourself, I was thrilled with the results in-person and when I saw the photos. Tracy can coordinate this for you.
* Pick your outfits ahead of time! I read through the brief that Tracy provided but still waited until the night before to decide what to wear. It ended up being a little stressful at the last minute because while you may have shirts, dresses, or blazers that you love wearing in person, they may not work for headshots. I avoided fussy or trendy details that would make my headshot appear dated, so I can use the photos for as long as possible. read more