Have you been putting off getting a professional-looking headshot for your business? Wow, but do I have a great resource for you!
Since I got back from speaking at the IECSC show in Vegas, I was thinking about how two people came up to me to say how I look so much younger in person than in my photos--something I hear quite often. It's a compliment, but one that sure made me want to get new pictures taken! This week, I was reading Erin Ferree's blog (a branding expert I've worked with) and she wrote a great article called "How to Get an Affordable Headshot." What did she do? She went to the mall and got her photos done at one of those chain store family-oriented studios that people take their kids to. She got her 8x10 headshot for just $18!
Yesterday, I Googled for a "mall portrait studio" in my area and a coupon for JCPenney Portrait Studios came up for a free 8x10 portrait and free sitting fee (good until 9/1/09.) I called and made an appointment for this morning. They asked me what color background I wanted (white) and told me I could also bring one change of clothes if I wanted. They suggested solid colors. I was scheduled and confirmed. So easy!
When I arrived this morning (at the Santa Rosa, CA studio) they gave me a warm welcome and told me my photographer was getting ready for me. Marsha brought me into a private room with good lighting and a seamless white background. I told her I wanted my photos to be "Happy, friendly, and bright. Smiling. Not too serious." Then she guided me into some easy poses and photographed me. It took fifteen minutes at the most.
Upon re-enentering the lobby, I was told that my screenshots would be ready momentarily (they were.) I viewed them on their computer, while the front desk manager helped me select the best one to be printed. I asked her if I needed a special release form for internet usage, and she said no; I could freely use my images for websites, blogs, twitter, etc. She also explained that if I just wanted small low-resolution photos, I could pay $4.99 and they would email me download links for all my screenshots. Great! What a super bargain:
- Free sitting fee with coupon (regularly $9.99)
- Free 8x10 print with coupon (regularly $9.99)
- Smiles by Wire low-res downloads $4.99
And the quality of the photos? Super! Here is a composite of my 3 favorites:
I can hardly believe that I spent just five bucks today on my new photos! I hope you like them, too.
If you've been procrastinating on getting updated photos because of either time or money, I strongly suggest you give the mall photography studios a try. If you use that coupon-link I shared above, your financial risk is zero. Show us that gorgeous face of yours!
Great tip, I am going to do this. There are also pretty cheap online touch up services like http://www.pixilu.com/ to
Posted by: Ronit Gesundheit | August 09, 2009 at 03:13 PM
Thank for mentioning retouching, Ronit! My favorite do-it-yourself image editing software is this online service: http://www.picnik.com/app
They just added a slew of portrait retouching tools such as blemish-remove, airbrush, etc. It's terrific!
Posted by: Jaya Savannah | August 09, 2009 at 04:09 PM