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How to pick a Denver photographer for your dating profile pictures

In our current virtual world, it just makes sense to consider dating online. But outside of price, what criteria do you use to narrow down your list of qualified headshot professionals? Here is some criteria you can use to find the right Denver headshot photographer to do YOUR dating profile pictures.

Tips to consider when looking for a Denver photographer to do your dating profile pictures:

Does the photographer SPECIALIZE in headshots specifically FOR dating profiles? Or are they a “jack of all trades?”
Visit the photographers’ website. Do you see ‘HEADSHOTS’ as well as ‘DATING’ (or any form of the word) specifically mentioned and highlighted on the HOME page? OR, do you see a hodge-podge sampling of families, weddings, children, newborns etc.? Finding a specialist who not only does headshots but also focuses on Denver daters is an important combination to look for.
Pick a dating profile photographer with a marketing focus:
Let’s get real, dating profile pictures are a way of MARKETING yourself to your “target market” (your potential partner.) Ask the photographer how they will market YOU and help you attract the RIGHT person. Do they have a questionnaire of phone consult to find out about YOU as well as WHO you are trying to attract?
Look at the sample images on their website:
Do the images look professional, yet approachable? Are the poses natural and flattering? Or do they look somewhat forced? Can you see yourSELF in these images?
Does the photographer have a commercial space around Denver?
Those photographers who have a commercial space have obviously done a few things right and are serious enough to have made a commercial investment. Also, If the photographer has a commercial space, ask if they have a natural light, REAL setting vs. studio (blank wall/studio setup) background. Having a real setting that looks and feels like a place you are likely to meet someone, will convey the right message. Also, having a commercial space offers the ability to do the photo sessions in a warm comfortable, climate controlled environment and not just rely on only outdoor settings (not easy in the Winter).
How long has the photographer been in business?
Look for a photographer who has been in the industry at least 10 years works full time in the photography industry (vs. a side job hobbyist).
These days, there are a lot of amateur photographers starting a photography business because they can easily get a “good camera”, but there is so much more that goes into a good headshot beyond the equipment used… such as lighting, flattering poses, putting the client at ease, capturing a natural expression.
Google Reviews:
Yes, what other clients say matters. Look for a photographer with at least 100+ reviews and has at least a 4.5 overall rating. Read many of them to see if there are sticking points.
What are the deliverables?
In this case, more files is not better. Rather, it’s important to get a few WELL done images with light retouch that speaks to your personality and targeted specifically to your prospective client. With technology there are a lot of “shoot and burn” photographers who may take many “so so” pictures of you and just share them all with you (with little or NO editing, or editing that doesn’t look right). The reason that many photographers follow this model is because it’s easier for THEM (very little backend work). Find a photographer who takes the time to do fewer, purposeful poses that flatter you.

Kelly Weaver Photography is a Littleton based headshot photography studio with 17 years experience. The studio specializes in headshots for marketing as well as online dating profiles.

Why it pays to invest in professional online dating photos

Nearly a quarter of all adults in the United States have used an online dating app, including almost half of all adults aged 18 to 29. As most Denver dating site users will tell you, the centerpiece of an online profile is one’s portrait.

The importance of a dating headshot can’t be overstated. It’s the first impression prospective dates get of who you are. Sure, they may gain some valuable insight checking out your hobbies and favorite books. But visuals make the most impact. Profiles with pictures are astronomically more likely to encourage interaction than those without.

Most of these pictures are cameraphone snapshots or selfies. There’s something to be said about the straightforward, unvarnished nature of a phone camera shot, at least in terms of being quick and relatively unaffected. But as sites like Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble become more sophisticated, a hopeful romantic using these services is more likely these days to hire a professional dating app photographer.

For those who take online dating seriously and are looking to maximize their experience, hiring a professional Tinder, Bumble, or Hinge headshot photographer can be a small investment that pays off handsomely.

A Tinder, Hinge or Bumble headshot photographer finds the real you

Many are the tales of online dating meetups where one party looked nothing like the stunning photo they presented in their profile. For the most part, online etiquette has caught up with this practice — it’s now considered deceptive to misrepresent yourself.

The most vital aspect of your online photo is that it should give and fair and accurate representation of who you are. So wouldn’t hiring a professional Tinder headshot photographer that frames you in the best possible light be getting away from how you look in everyday life?

Not in the least. Think about the complete job description of a professional photographer. Even if they’re taking photos of a subject in a pose, they capture something authentic about their personalities and characters. In fact, photographers actively look for it. Photographers are trained to find the traits about their subjects that are most captivating and arresting to the objective eye.

A skilled, professional Tinder photographer sets their subjects at ease, helping them to relax during the shoot. The whole goal of that tactic is to make you act more like yourself, letting down your guard just enough to reveal what’s consistent, dependable, and likable about you to others. In that way a professional Hinge photographer is almost like a sounding board for your natural qualities.

A Bumble, Tinder, or Hinge photographer finds your beauty without touch-ups

Most of all, a professional Bumble photographer knows how to get excellent headshots without a ton of retouching from Photoshop or image manipulation software. While those programs are great for artistic purposes, overusing them can be the ruin of an online dating profile — and online lookers can tell when you’re trying too hard to obscure yourself.

A professional dating app photographer knows how to achieve an honest depiction of you and what makes you most attractive without a lot of post-photo editing. Their talent is bringing out who you are, not covering it up.

Denver’s most accomplished dating app photographer

The next time you’re thinking about how you can make your online dating profile stand out from the crowded field of suitors, consider setting up a headshot session with Kelly Weaver. Her long and successful history of capturing Denver professionals in their best light can help you open up unexpected doors in your dating life.

Make your ZOOM meetings/gatherings more fun!

The world is “going virtual” in a lot of ways, which means we are meeting and even CELEBRATING via Zoom and other virtual conference software. So, if we’re going to meet this way, let’s have fun doing it! Don’t forget you can use zoom for meetings AND celebrations (don’t cancel them, just do them differently!)

Set up your Zoom account: You can set it up on your phone, laptop or computer. You will need to set up an account but its painless, it will take about five minutes to do so.
Smaller gatherings work best: Smaller groups are ideal because you can see everyone on one screen and the conversation won’t get lost.
Choose a theme: Themes are fun and give you direction. Ask guests to join in on the fun with a dress code, or costumes, hats, crazy shirts/hairdos, fun quotes on cups/mugs, stories, etc.
Be careful what you say: Any event on Zoom can be recorded so don’t say anything you would be embarrassed about later.
Invite your guests privately: Email the zoom link and don’t forget the meeting ID and password. Do not post invites to social media platforms. If you find you are victim to a bomber, end your party immediately.
Time frame: Keep your party to one hour or less as people are on “zoom overload” now.
Take the Lead: As guests chime in, welcome them and perhaps give them a funny ice breaker question to answer.
Curtail “side chats”: Encourage guests to only use the chat box to call your attention to a question or if they want to speak to the group.
Be sure your device is fully charged: You don’t want to miss the fun, because your battery is low, and make sure to sit near your router for the best WI-FI connection.
Don’t SKIP your celebration: Instead of cancelling your event or postponing it, trying using ZOOM

For Zoom parties or future live events please consider using Willie Ripple Events. Visit Willie’s WEBSITE or EMAIL her.

Kelly Weaver Photography is the premier Denver headshot photographer, specializing not only in headshots, but also online Denver dating profile images and Littleton high school senior pictures.

How to look AMAZING for your video call

These days we are meeting more and more online. Just as you would set the stage for your headshot, you want to put as much attention to doing the same for your “video headshot”, appearance and how you come across.

Here are some tips on how to look amazing for your next video call:

LIGHT YOURSELF: Avoid shooting INTO the light (backlight) which makes your face look too dark. For many, fully lighting the face is most pleasing. Find a window that does not have directional light coming in and place your camera/computer in front of it letting the light fall onto your face. If you have a FULLER face, and need some contouring, position the camera/computer PARALLEL to a window (again with no directional light), which will add shadow to the opposite of your face (thus thinning the face). If the shadow is TOO harsh, position a white towel/sheet on a rack on the shadow side to fill the shadow. Another option for lighting is to literally position a light in front of you (like a lamp or video light). Here, I’ve used a RING light, but you can use any external light source positioned to shine into your face.
External light added to the scene to shine on the face
RAISE THE CAMERA: Place your camera/computer on top of a box (or some books) and tilt it downward. No one looks good from underneath.
CREATE DISTANCE BEHIND YOU: It’s ideal to have a least 6 feet behind your head to the nearest wall (otherwise, the background becomes too competitive).
NOTE THE BACKGROUND and CREATE A PLEASING SCENE: Consider adding a lamp with warm light, stack of books, or a candle. You’re setting a MOOD here. Avoid lots of crazy pictures behind you (but a vision board off center can be fun!).
Here’s how my video headshot looks in the setting
DRESS WITH SOLIDS: yep, you guessed it, dress is important. Consider a SOLID color shirt (so as not to distract from your face). Shirts with sleeves are especially flattering (because the eye will go to your arm/skin otherwise). Accessorize how you normally would (just not TOO flashy, but heck, I love big earrings because they suit my personality).
MAKEUP/HAIR: ladies, you can POOF your roots to give yourself a little volume, and do your eyes UP a notch adding a bit more liner and shadow to make sure they POP!
POWDER! Yep, just like in the movies, add translucent POWDER to decrease shine.
SMILE OFTEN: even if you are not speaking (people are checking you out, and you don’t want to scowl, even if you’re presenting your “concentrating face.”
LOOK AT THE CAMERA: This way people feel as if you’re speaking to them
TURN ON ‘DO NOT DISTURB’: so you’re not constantly “binging and bonging” in the background

Have FUN playing with different options! And remember people ARE watching you, even when you’re not talking! 🙂

Kelly Weaver Photography is the premier Denver headshot photographer, specializing not only in headshots, but also online Denver dating profile images and Littleton high school senior pictures.

How to Get the Best Pricing on Photography Packages

Every photographer will charge something different for their photography packages and available options. You’ll also find differences in prices depending on the type of photos you are looking to have done – wedding packages will often include more and have a higher cost when compared to senior portraits or yearly family photos. Finding the best price for the photos you need done is a bit of a tricky job, but entirely possible if you know where to look.

Understanding Photography Package Pricing

Your photographer’s main goal with their pricing is to make a profit. They don’t want to lose money when it comes to time spent, materials used, or skills applied. For most photographers, this is their job and main source of income, so you need to be realistic when you look into photographers and available packages.

That said, most photographers will have a scaling pricing guide, with packages that can be adjusted for each budget. Denver photography pricing doesn’t come in a one-size-fits-all formula, but instead will be unique depending on where you go and what you are wanting.

The first step in getting the best photography price is to decide before you begin comparing prices what you need, and what you can do without. Extra photos and sizes or special sets and props will cost more, and if they aren’t a priority, you need to be ready to resist the temptation to upgrade to a more expensive package.

Getting The Best Photography Pricing Deal

Step One

Talk to your photographer! Ask what packages they have available and be 100% honest about the amount you’re looking to spend. Getting pictures taken can be expensive, especially if you have a lot of needs that you require to be met for the particular shoot. It’s important to communicate what you want together and decide on a price point.

Step Two

Do what you can from your end. Depending on the type of pictures you want, you’ll have different needs. Some photos require specific settings, props, or styles. Photographers who do senior portraits may price their packages based on how many outfits are used in the shoot – think ahead and plan everything out so you need to spend less money.

Step Three

Coupons! Look for any sort of online discounts that could help you get a better price on their photography packages. It’s not very generous to try and bargain with a photographer, since they set their own prices, but you could check on their social media to get access to special discounts or coupons, or use a friend’s referral code to get you both some great savings.

Extra Ways To Save

Instead of using a big photography company, consider looking into small, local photographers who are still getting started or have a much smaller clientele. Another idea is to avoid specific photography agencies known for one thing, such as wedding photography, and using a more generalized but equally skilled photographer who may charge less since they operate outside of a specialty. Finally, with the holidays coming up, utilize any fun deals or specials that Denver photographers may be running for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or the New Year and schedule your shoot to match their special.

Contact Kelly Weaver Photography for a Denver Photographer who will help you stand apart. Call: 720-201-0402

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