Blog
blog/bläɡ/noun – a regularly updated web page, typically one run by an individual or small group, that is written in an informal or conversational style.
What’s a Headshot, and Who Really Needs One? | Northern VA Headshot Photography
As professional photographers located near Tysons Corner, in Northern VA, we specialize in family photography and creating beautiful family portraits which you’ll treasure for years to come. However, we also provide professional headshot photography. After all, you work because you love and want to provide for your family, and a well-done professional headshot can go a long way in accomplishing that.
What’s a Headshot?
It’s a photograph of a person’s head. Pretty simple, right? If it’s a great one, then yes. But getting a great headshot isn’t simple!
In the past, professional headshots have really only been used as a promotional image by actors, models, artists, authors, bank presidents, and other famous — or infamous — persons, building their image in the eyes of their fan base, or to rise through the ranks against their competitors. We’re now in the 21st Century, though, and headshots are no longer just for supermodels and CEOs! The growth of the technology age and the breadth of the internet has forever altered the way headshots are used.
Who really needs one?
Today anyone can join a social network or build a website and promote themselves practically worldwide. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and many others are very visual. For each of these social networks, you’ll be asked for a photo when setting up your profile. The image you choose to use will be the first impression others have of you. As we all know, a bad first impression is difficult to overcome.
We’ve all seen some truly bad headshots. Be honest here: How likely would you be to hire or work with someone if your very first impression was an image that had obviously been cropped from a group photo? How about a very casual photo of a guy playing with his dog? Or the worst of the worst, no photo at all, just that grayed-out head?!
In this day and age, you’re already ahead of the pack if you simply have a headshot that’s actually of you, one that hasn’t been cropped from a group shot. But you don’t want to merely be ahead of the pack; you want to completely separate yourself from the pack! To do this, you need a really great headshot.
Why do I need a really great headshot?
• There will come a time when a prospective employer, a potential business partner, or a future client will see a photograph of you, either on social media, on your website or through some other platform. You want to make a wonderful first impression with just that one photograph!
• People tend to do business with those they feel they can trust. Having a professional headshot will help people feel like they know you before you’ve ever even met. So make it a great one!
• Whatever your business, you’re a professional. Whatever you’re selling or service you’re providing, you are the master of it! You want to convey that mastery and professionalism through your headshot.
• Face it: In general, people spend more time looking at images on your website than at the text! We live in the visual age, so it’s important that a personal element be introduced immediately by having some of those images be of the people involved in the business. If you are the business, this means there should be an image of you!
• Lastly, you want to maintain the sense of trust you’ve built. So use the same headshot across all your social media, on your website, and any other platform you use to represent you and your business.
• To sum up, a great headshot from an expert in headshot photography is now a must for anyone in business!
How do I get a truly great headshot?
So now you know why you need one, but is any headshot okay? If not, how do you get the very best one?
Headshots come in all kinds of sizes and shapes. However, to get a truly great headshot, you need to hire a professional photographer, one who is an expert in headshot photography.
You first need to put some thought into this process. What do you want your headshot to say about you? Do you want it to communicate confidence? Business acumen? Trustworthiness? Compassion? Humor? Warmth? No matter what it is, let your photographer know in advance what you feel exemplifies your brand or your field. A professional headshot photographer can pull these feelings out of you and capture them in your headshot.
How do I ensure I get the best headshot photography and headshot for me?
To ensure that everything comes together to give you a perfect headshot, keep these things in mind both for yourself and in choosing your headshot photographer:
• Lighting: This is first on the list because a professional photographer knows how to use lighting to highlight the good — and disguise the rest! Let’s be frank here: We all have something we don’t want to “stand out” in a photograph! The way lighting is used is integral to making your headshot the best it can be.
• Inside or outside: There is absolutely nothing wrong with doing your headshot a little differently than most people. Even as simple a change as having your headshot be taken outside against a backdrop of trees can make you stand out. If the weather isn’t conducive to that, discuss with your photographer using an atypical backdrop in the studio instead of the usual solid color or black or white backdrop. This can make a huge difference and set your headshot apart from the rest.
• What to wear & styling: Choose an outfit that works well with your body, reflects who you are style-wise, and connects you to your profession. Your outfit, hair, grooming, makeup and even jewelry “speak” about you, so spend thoughtful time on this. If you’re a suit-wearing professional, now is not the time to choose a laid-back, casual style of dress. However, if your business is Bohemian style jewelry-making, then a boho-chic, flowing dress is practically perfect. Discuss this with your photographer. A good photographer will guide you through this styling process.
• Body positioning: The relationship between your head and your body is very important when it comes to a headshot. Positioning is key. Work with a professional who knows how to guide you into the best position for your body type.
• Expression: Arguably, the most important part of your headshot is your expression. You want your image to radiate sincerity, to emit that feeling that allows the viewer to connect with you. Many of us are not comfortable being photographed, though, so this can be the hardest step of the entire process. Relax and be yourself! Work with a photographer with whom you’re comfortable.
The visual age is here to stay! Set yourself apart from all of the rest by taking these tips to heart when considering your headshot.
[show_if not_one=’Free Resource Member’]
[/show_if]
Headshot Photography and Portraits
Ever After Portraits is comprised of Mindy and Joriana Belcher, a mother-daughter professional photography team located in Northern Virginia, near Tysons Corner. They specialize in candid, emotional and artistic images. We also provide professional headshot photography to clients throughout Northern Virginia.
Family means everything and capturing those precious moments to preserve forever will mean family heirlooms for you to share for years to come.
Best,
Mindy & Joriana – Contact Us!
View Our Portfolio | professional photographer
New Product, Rembrandt Finish | Portrait Studio | Northern VA Family Photographer
As portrait photographers with a portrait studio in Northern VA, near Fairfax, we offer you the very best in quality and in options for your family portraits. As professional photographers, we choose the products we offer very carefully and with the highest quality in mind. To that end, we’d like to introduce you to a high quality product we now offer, our “Rembrandt Finish” for your framed family portraits.
Rembrandt Finish for Portraits
Our REMBRANDT FINISH for framed canvas portraits mixes photography and painting and is enhanced with oils, painted with the love and talent of a portrait painter, creating depth and dimension. The result is exquisite, amazing and, above all, priceless as it has the realism of a photograph but the beauty, style and feel of a free-hand painting. The painting style is customized to the look and feel of the image.
The Rembrandt Finish is available with our Masterpiece Framing line. It is the marriage between the realism of a photograph and the richness of an old world oil painting. These “old world” artistry methods are used to create an original piece of artwork for each portrait client.
Once your portrait has been printed to the highest standards, it is then turned over to one of our talented artists, who applies lavish layers of oil-based, hand-finished artistry to your portrait. This brings out the subtle details of the portrait. Desirable enhancements are added along the way. The artist carefully awakens each highlight of the portrait, bringing it to its fullest grandeur and beauty, similar to an exquisite oil painting.
read more…
Family Photography, Jason & Anne Goodwin | Northern VA Family Photographer
As professional photographers located in Northern Virginia and serving the Fair Oaks area, we know how very much family pictures mean to you. We specialize in family photography and creating beautiful portraits which you’ll treasure for years to come.
When Anne decided it was time to have family portraits done this year, she brought her family to Ever After Portraits. Jason, Anne and Jocelyn are a beautiful family who value portraits and normally have a portrait done each year. They love doing things together as a family, just hanging out or socializing. Jason enjoys sports, and Anne enjoys an occasional trip to a winery/vineyard. Having an active little girl keeps them running and busy!
To Anne, the most important thing about their family portraits was capturing the three of them together, the history of their family.
As is often the case with Dads, Jason doesn’t love having his picture taken, but he was truly a good sport, and we captured some lovely moments within this family.
read more…
Today’s Classics, Fine Art Family Portraits | Northern VA Family Photographer
Ever After is a family photographer located in Northern VA, near Cascades. We strive to be the very best family photographer in the Northern Virginia area.
clas·sic / ‘klasik / adjective – judged over a period of time to be of the highest quality and outstanding of its kind
Today’s Classics, Fine Art Family Portraits
Today’s Classics by Ever After are fine art family portraits that truly last a lifetime. Set in our indoor studio, complimented by architectural elements, these images combine the classic techniques of the past with the modern spirit your family.
Inspired by the grand museum masterpieces, these images are perfectly preserved for future generations, irreplaceable memories on canvas.
Our Today’s Classics are your family, as you are, in a studio setting.
Museum Quality Framing | Photography | Northern VA Family Photographer
As family photographers located near Oakton in Northern VA, we specialize in family photography and creating beautiful portraits which you’ll treasure for years to come. We strive to be the very best family and best child photographer in the Northern Virginia area.
What does “museum quality” mean in framing?
The term “museum quality” means a high level of protection or preservation used in the framing process. The frame and the framing materials are made with high quality materials and techniques; basically, a cut above the rest.
For a piece to be framed and legitimately deserve the term “museum quality,” it needs to have these attributes:
Product, Standard Framing | Northern VA Family Photographer
As a professional photographer located in Northern VA, and serving the surrounding area, including Annandale, we specialize in family photography and creating beautiful portraits which you’ll treasure for years to come. As we have both a 2.5-acre outdoor portrait park and a fully-equipped indoor studio, we provide both indoor and outdoor studio photography. We strive to be the very best photographer in the Northern Virginia area.
At Ever After, we offer two distinct lines of Framing: Masterpiece and Standard. Both are expertly crafted and of fine quality.
Standard Framing
For our Standard Framing line, choose from a variety of quality wood and metal mouldings to complement your lovely family portrait. The genuine natural, solid wood frames have a naturally rich finish and grain. The metal frames make for a lovely modern look. Extra care is taken to ensure your frame is free of flaws. This individual attention makes our Standard Frames all the more dramatic and rich, and each is a beautifully hand-made product you’ll be proud to display on the walls of your home.
We put the same care and attention into what goes around your family portrait as we do in the creation of the portrait.
Child Photography | Tanvi, Bubblegum Princess | Northern VA Family Photographer
Ever After is located in Northern VA and serves the surrounding area, including Burke. We specialize in family and child photography and in creating beautiful portraits which you’ll treasure for years to come. We will provide you with the best photography experience you have ever had.
Tanvi was a perfect Bubblegum Princess! With her long dark hair and a sparkle in her eyes, she was so easy to photograph – an outgoing young lady with a contagious laugh, she appeared relaxed and at ease in front of the camera. In fact, I see modeling in the future for this lovely little lady.
With over 1,000 gumballs to play in and with, Tanvi really had a ball (pun intended) at this special Limited Edition Children’s Portrait Session. Mom and Dad were a true pleasure to work with, and we could easily see they really cherish Tanvi. They played and laughed throughout this session, too, and we enjoyed bringing out the best laughs and smiles from Tanvi.
Joriana and I felt it was the best compliment that one of Tanvi’s portraits is now displayed in her room as a 30×40 – an heirloom she will treasure for many years to come!
read more…
Limited Edition Family Session | Winter White and Black Couch | Professional Photography
As a professional photography studio located near Centreville in Northern VA, we specialize in family photography and creating beautiful portraits which you’ll treasure for years to come. As we have both a 2.5-acre outdoor portrait park and a fully-equipped indoor studio, we provide both indoor and outdoor studio photography. We strive to be the best portrait studio for your family in the Northern VA area!
Winter White and Black Couch Fine Art Photography Sessions
Have a timeless and classic fine art family portrait created in our warm indoor studio! Why not take time today to book a session for your family? You’ll have priceless images of your loved ones that you’ll treasure for decades to come.
read more…
Decorate a staircase wall with artwork of family | Northern VA Family Photographer
As family photographers located near Chantilly, in Northern VA, we specialize in family photography and creating beautiful portraits which you’ll treasure for years to come. We strive to make our site one of the very best photography websites in the area, so you’ll have a great idea of our photography. As both a family and child photographer, we know how very much your family means to you, and we capture that bond in our photographs.
Artwork of Family
A staircase wall makes the perfect place for displaying a collection of family portraits as your very own art gallery.
Stairs are often the first thing you see when you open your front door. For you, opening that door into your home and seeing portraits of the ones you cherish brings a smile to your face and joy to your heart. For your guests, they step in the door and immediately know how very, very much you love your family.
A staircase portrait gallery is gorgeous whether you like color, black and white, or chocolate for your artwork. The simple staircase below benefits from a gallery of family portraits in chocolate, as well as framed. We offer two framed lines, Masterpiece and Standard.
The staircase and wall below are more elaborate, but the color tones and background make a gallery of color portraits the perfect compliment to the wall. read more…
New Product, Masterpiece Framing| Northern VA Family Photographer
As a family photographer located near Vienna in Northern VA, we specialize in family photos and creating beautiful portraits which you’ll treasure for years to come. We strive to be the very best family photographer in the Northern VA area.
Masterpiece Framing
A “Masterpiece” has been defined as “a work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship” and “an artist’s or craftsman’s best piece of work.”
In the world of art, this is a meaningful piece that will be proudly displayed in your home and become the first thing you would grab in a fire. In the world of family photography, this piece of art is your family portraits!
We want to introduce you to our new framing line, one which we truly believe deserves the name “Masterpiece.”
Each frame in our Masterpiece line is carefully hand carved and/or hand gilded, going through a 35-step process to ensure its beauty and integrity.
These frames meet the highest standard of excellence. The finished product is a true heirloom, designed to read more…