Question 1

Do I need to arrange for professional hair and makeup for my photography session?

Accepted Answer

We highly encourage you to have your hair & makeup done professionally for all session types. We can assist you in arranging these services when you book a custom session with us.

You will love your photos so much more if your hair and makeup look amazing! Please ask about our partnerships with local hair and makeup artists that will come directly to our studio and use the uniquely designed hair & makeup space for your session styling.

Shooting in your home? We can arrange for your styling team to come to you! If you have a relationship with a hair and makeup stylist and prefer to work with them, give them a call well in advance for tips and recommendations.

Please keep in mind that the best hair & makeup artist availability is on any day but Saturday--many of our stylists are working on weddings every Saturday. Consider booking your shoot for a weekday for best availability of professional hair & makeup artists.

Question 2

How do I sign up for your newsletter?

Accepted Answer

Click here to sign up for my newsletter! I usually send updates 1-2 times a month when I have special offers as well as news about events, and helpful tips to get the most out of your portraits .

In the meantime, follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

Question 3

How much retouching do you do on headshots?

Accepted Answer

I take great care to get your images loaded into my computer straight from the camera. My goal is to make sure that you look your best by using appropriate lighting along with flattering posing techniques. Any shots in which you are blinking or out of focus will be eliminated. Post-processing typically involves color correction and cropping, and then your selected images will be retouched for a more polished look. This includes removing flyaway hairs, smoothing skin, and can include more extensive enhancements such as slimming and shaping.

Question 4

What do I wear to my headshot session?

Accepted Answer

Always wear clothes that match your style and personality. Color is great for tops, but keep in mind that bright colors tend to draw attention away from your face, so consider choosing something neutral that complements your eye color and skin tone. Be sure that your clothes are clean and neatly pressed. This is especially true for collared shirts and suits. Have them looking sharp, as the camera picks up a lot of detail. If you are doing a headshot, your lower half won't make it into the final pictures. But don't neglect wearing pants or a skirt that will make you feel confident for your appointment. Make sure to dress comfortably, but in attire that is appropriate for your line of work. Confidence and comfort help you achieve your best image. Stay away from clothes are are too tight or uncomfortable. Don't underestimate being well-rested, and be sure to drink plenty of water in the days before your shoot.

Question 5

What is the difference between a headshot and a branding portrait?

Accepted Answer

A headshot will provide a picture of your head and shoulders only. This is best for your LinkedIn profile, your Website, or other purposes in which it's helpful to share your image and personality. We shoot these in our studio and use a simple, neutral background usually.

If you need something a little more specialized but don't have time for a location shoot right now, we offer a compositing service, which means that we can take your headshot in our studio and add your selection from our library of unique and interesting backgrounds after your shoot, using editing tools. We can even simply change the background from a neutral color to the color of your choice.

Headshot:

Headshot of Pittsburgh Physician

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/MN0dlYh75t/resources/u5FUy5vVZk/Headshot%2001.png (Headshot of Pittsburgh Physician)

Composited Headshot:

Composite image headshot

A branding portrait is suited for more involved shoots where you will need a full length portrait, an environmental portrait, or more extensive imagery for the purposes of personal branding or business. This type of shoot is best if you need anything more than a head and shoulders portrait in our studio. For example, you might want to shoot on-location outside or in your place of business. You might want lifestyle-type portraits of you doing your work. You may want to showcase interesting tools of the trade or equipment unique to you and your business. We have worked with everyone from physicians and lawyers to personal trainers, musicians, and real estate agents, and we love coming up with creative and commercially-viable imagery for our clients in their workplaces.

Branding portrait of a personal trainer:

Branding Portrait of a Personal Trainer

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/MN0dlYh75t/resources/aJSkG6k9fg/Parker-020.jpg (Branding Portrait of a Personal Trainer)

Branding portrait of a Pittsburgh Executive:

Question 6

What is the pricing for a portrait session?

Accepted Answer

We serve a range of clients with different needs and budgets. Some want a smaller experience with a curated selection of image files and prints, and some want to be pampered with a full-length photo shoot experience, hair, makeup, and wardrobe styling, and custom portrait design & install.

The following will serve as a general guideline of what people spend when they work with me, though some clients spend outside of these ranges:

Custom Newborn & Family Session spending range is typically $1500-5000+.

Little Session (baby, child, milestone, maternity, headshot) spending range is typically $375-2000.

Once we get to know your needs and expectations, we will design a custom shoot just for you! As long as you are comfortable with the price ranges listed above, we can come up with something that works for you.

Question 7

What is your style for headshots?

Accepted Answer

My style for headshots is simple, clean and expressive. The goal is to end up with a portrait that feels like your best self caught on camera.

Question 8

What is your style?

Accepted Answer

My visual style is clean, simple, and timeless, and my shooting style is fun and active! Please see examples here of my style so that you will know what to expect from your images if you choose me as your photographer.

Question 9

What should I wear?

Accepted Answer

I have session-planning information and tips that I will share with you once you book with me. To get started, I invite you to check out my Pinterest pages. I include wardrobe styling with a professional stylist with every custom session, and we will help you plan outfits for every family member, from head to toe! Once you book your session with me, I will set you up with your complementary wardrobe consult with our styling team.

Question 10

Where will we be shooting my headshot?

Accepted Answer

Headshots are usually taken in my studio located in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. I have great lighting and beautiful backdrops that will make your portraits look great. You can even have you hair and makeup done there!

For branding portraits, we can shoot on your site, on location, outdoors, or in my studio.