Expression Coaching — We Don’t Just Photograph Faces
We don’t just photograph faces —
We create and capture expressions. When booking headshots, it’s easy to look at a portfolio and forget — but important to highlight — that being on camera is a fairly uncommon occurrence for most, and requires guidance to create expressions that look genuine, natural, and appropriate for the role.
The Challenge of Being on Camera
The ability to project expressions intentionally is the job of an actor, not the clients that come to State Street Headshots.
But just because our clients haven’t been crafting their “game face”, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be able to have a headshot that supports a linkedin post with the message of “We Fight For You!”
The ability to generate whatever expression best supports a “personal brand” or a global brand for that matter, is a lot to ask of professionals who are rarely on camera, but exactly what we do when we help coach our clients in front of the camera to generate a range of expressions to choose from,
Companies and individuals can rely on the coaching to pick the headshot that not only looks flattering, but aligns with the context of the marketing and branding.
“For that proposal deck, let’s slap an awkward forced smile next to the call-to-action for effect,” said nobody ever.
Our Process For Intentional Results
Not only is it tough to emote on command without years of practice, when you factor in time restraints of most sessions, it’s no wonder so many people find corporate headshots stressful.
We eliminate the pressure and stress with a simple process that balances technical detail with candid moments to create natural reactions, not forced discomfort. It’s a process that works efficiently, without feeling like there is a rush.
With our coaching, the session shifts from “hopefully we can find one that works” to carefully selecting what works best. This way, wherever the headshots appear — email, LinkedIn, proposals, website — they add rather than detract from the message and context.
As we guide each person through a range of expressions during their shoot, we also leave time to review and select in real time, further helping them produce even better, more compelling expressions, and leaving their session confident in the final selection.
Within just a few minutes, even the most camera-shy individuals are able to generate a range of usable expressions that feel natural and aligned to how they want to be perceived.
Individuality Within Cohesion
Considering different roles and personalities lend themselves to different looks, our coaching also gives the individual the luxury of choice:
Sales may need approachable but credible.
Legal may need strong but not arrogant.
Leadership may need a blend of authority and poise (and likely a few different expressions)
With our coaching, these nuances are no trouble to capture. We tailor our coaching to the individual while ensuring the final deliverables all feel like part of the same team — whether the photographs were taken on the same day or across years of different sessions.
Your Investment
Many teams come to us after prior sessions technically “checked the box” but failed to produce images that marketing and/or individuals themselves actually wanted to use.
To avoid these headaches, wasted time, and wasted money, it’s important to recognize that a headshot photographer’s job isn’t just to set up, shoot, and retouch — but to elicit expressions that truly represent the individual in the picture, and by extension the company.
Otherwise, the outcome is better suited for ID badges to simply confirm someone is not someone else.
For companies who understand the value of their brand, we deliver headshots that say, “we’re proud to work here.”
