Gone are the days when the camera-shy could hide behind their desks. The rise of social media and online networking means that practically all of us need to show our faces on the internet. Many people take their own photos and it’s not that difficult to spot – surprised expressions and raised shoulders can lead to an altogether uncomfortable-looking result.
I recently took a business portrait for Rachel Fletcher, a financial coach who is launching her own business. This week, I sent Catherine Osborn to interview her and find out how it went!
CO: What were you looking for in your business photo?
RF: I wanted a really great shot that would look professional whilst letting my character shine through. It needed to be personal.
CO: Why did you decide to go to a professional?
RF: Originally, my husband offered to take the picture and I thought about it seriously. He has a good camera and takes great family shots. I wanted something more businesslike though and I decided that it was worth making that investment as much of my online presence and branding will be built around this photo.
CO: Did you have any concerns or worries and did Alison put you at ease?
RF: Absolutely! I HATE having my photo taken, I’m totally unphotogenic. Alison quickly inspires confidence though and I just decided to relax and let her lead me through the whole process. She’d obviously thought through the process in advance – location, lighting etc. – and I was able to relax knowing that she could picture the final result in her head long before the picture was taken.
CO: Your hair and make-up looked great, who did it for you?
RF: Thanks! I did! I kept it simple – I don’t usually wear a lot of make-up but I went for foundation, mascara and a little lip-stick just to even out the skin tones. Alison advises people on her website to stick to their usual make-up routine, just to make it heavier and that’s sound advice.
For my hair, I just used lots of hairspray and that was it.
CO: What do you think of the photo?
RF: It’s absolutely fantastic and it’s already brought me tangible results. As soon as I put it on my LinkedIn profile, old contacts started to get in touch to say how much they liked it and I have regenerated some valuable business relationships as a result.
I don’t mind saying that Alison managed to shed a few pounds for me in the process! She achieved that by using careful positioning and lighting, rather than massive amounts of digital manipulation. In fact, the only adjustments she made were minor, to remove the odd blemish. She also used some really clever mind techniques so that when she was taking the photo, I was thinking about something I felt totally passionate about, and that comes through in the final picture.
When my husband saw the portrait, he just said, “Wow!” and I think that says it all.
CO: Do you have any advice for people needing a business portrait?
RF: Firstly, do go to a professional, it’s surprisingly affordable and yet, such a key component for your online brand.
When choosing your clothes, make sure they coordinate with the rest of your branding in terms of colour, style etc.
And finally, ask your photographer for a digital print that you can use however you wish – the last thing you need to be worrying about is copyright. It will cost a little bit more than a single print but you can use it again and again.
Rachel Fletcher is the founder of Rachel Fletcher Associates Ltd, Executive Coaching for Finance Managers.
As a Finance Director working in a Global FMCG working with Sales, Marketing and Operations teams, Rachel has specialised in bringing Finance expertise to the heart of business. She is passionate about helping Finance professionals transform into Business Leaders. Rachel Fletcher can be contacted via LinkedIn.
Catherine Osborn is a freelance writer who helps to take the pain out of creating well-written, compelling copy. Find out more at catherineosborn.wordpress.com.
