More Than Headshots: Creating Unexpected Portraits
Not Just For LinkedIn
When most people book a headshot session, they’re thinking LinkedIn, a company bio page, or maybe some marketing materials. That was exactly the case when a client came to see me in Grand Rapids. He needed a couple clean, professional headshots for work and marketing purposes.
We captured those first, and he was happy with the results. But I could tell his excitement level wasn’t really there. So I asked him a question I love throwing out:
“Do you have a little time to experiment?”
Thankfully, he said yes. That’s when the session started to transform.
Lighting Setup 1: The Professional Headshot
We began with my classic, professional lighting setup. This style is designed to work for everybody. It minimizes shadows therefor making wrinkles or blemishes harder to see. It's very commongly used for LinkedIn, company websites, and business materials. It's how I start all of my sessions.
Lighting Setup 2: More Dramatic Portrait
Next, we shifted to a moodier setup. This one had more depth and character, leaning into a portrait style rather than a standard headshot. Right away, his reaction changed.
He had brought his baton, since he’s a band director, so we incorporated it as a prop. Suddenly, the photo told a story about who he is, not just what he does.
Lighting Setup 3: Silhouette Style
For the final setup, we created a silhouette-style portrait. This was even further from a traditional headshot, but it added shape, intrigue, and personality.
When he saw the final image, his reaction said it all:
“These are the shots I wanted, without knowing what I wanted.”
TLDR
Headshots are important, and they will always have their place. But when you walk into a session, do not be afraid to let your photographer experiment a little.
The best photos often come when you allow space for creativity. You might book a session asking for “just a couple headshots” and leave with portraits that capture more of your personality than you ever expected.
