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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 package 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.

Get Your Family Photos Ready for the Holidays

The holidays are upon us! Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years is all rapidly approaching, and one the first one hits, it’s non-stop festivities until next year. One great way to stay ahead of the curve and not fall behind on your task list is by tackling the annual family photo early. No more generic Christmas cards you send out to family and friends without a good family photo attached to show your growth through the year!

How To Be Ready For Family Photos

Taking Denver family pictures is a big event! It memorializes a chapter of many lives within your family to be looked back at for years to come, so everything has to be just so. Unfortunately, this can cause extra stress for whoever is the organizer of the whole thing. To cut out the worry, this simple run-down of how to prepare your photos for the holidays will show you how to efficiently get the job done, and get the best result.

Booking The Photoshoot

Find a trusted photographer and ask about their fees and specialties. Make sure you look at their past work and reviews. If it’s still a good match, you can ask about their availability and openings in their schedule for a shoot.

Once you have booked your appointment with the photographer, it’s time to move directly into the preparation part of the process.

Preparing For The Photos

Here are a few easy secrets that will help you nail the photoshoot and get the best family picture of the bunch!

Pick outfits in advance
Schedule hair appointments for the day of or before
Do all the washing and ironing a day or two before the shoot and leave the clothes out the night before
Arrive 15 minutes early
Tell your photographer the theme or color scheme at the time of the booking (or the soonest you know)
Discuss the options available for retouching, deliverables, and time frames
Allow a little extra time to arrive at the location of the photoshoot (in case of traffic or delays)
Go to the bathroom before you begin taking pictures

On the Scene of the Shoot

Once you’ve arrived to the location, changed and primped yourself for the pictures, and talked through a gameplan with your photographer, it’s time to get started. You and your family will gather on the set, smile and pose, and deal with the flash from a camera for a little while now.

A few good things to remember during this part:

Keep food and drinks off limits until after the pictures are taken
Ask for plenty of variety, and move around to create more unique shots to choose from
Listen to your photographer
Use distraction methods for grumpy or unfocused kids
Take all the pics of the younger kids first, then group shots, and then other solo or partial sets
Allow time for bathroom breaks

Provide direction, if prompted, for how you’d like retouching to be handled

5 Ways to Improve Your Brand – Infographic

Here at Kelly Weaver Photography we see the same questions all the time. How do I improve my brand presence? What types of images do I need on my website? We have outlined the top 5 ways you can improve your brand here. While many of them have to do with photography in some form or another, some are outside of the services we provide. Give us a call today for Corporate Headshots, Individual Headshots, or custom packages today!

Take Advantage of A Photography Package

Since Denver photography package pricing can be expensive, it’s important you get the most out of what you pay for, and take full advantage of everything that is offered within your bundle. In order to take advantage of your bundle, you need to be prepared on what to expect, what you’ll be getting, and how to utilize all that is offered within the package.

Package Pricing Secrets

When a photographer creates their available packages from clients to choose from, they have a set of secret skills and tricks to help guide your desire towards the package they want to sell the most. Most people will never go for the most expensive package, or the cheaper – this is because of the concepts they present.

The lowest tier seems cheap, but the highest will seem unnecessary, and your eyes will be drawn to the middle tier. This is almost unavoidable, but now that you know, you will start noticing this automatic reaction. Knowing this is a good thing!

Most photographers will pack the best features into their middle tier packages, and may intentionally set the top tier package of photography benefits at an elevated price to make the lower bundle seem more appealing. Make sure that before you shell out the money for whichever seems like a total steal, you’re looking closely at the benefits and features within each package. You may realize you’re getting more of what you want with a cheaper bundle!

How To Take Advantage Of A Photography Package

Now, every bundle is different. Wedding packages will be different from business bundles, just like senior portraits will be different from maternity shots. Knowing what you want from your event or experience in a still format is essential to getting the most out of your package.

Many photography packages simply will offer a time slot. Maybe 2 hours of continuous coverage for an X amount of money. Seems pretty straight forward, right? That’s true, but you’re also giving entire creative control to the photographer, and you’ll just have to accept what you get.

If you’re pursuing a photography package with a time limit, such as mentioned above, do so smartly. Make sure you have a list of moments, angles, people, or places you want specifically captured during the time slot you’re paying for.

You also need to make sure you’re asking questions about the touch-up process, editing time frame, and additional upgrades for format and delivery. Maybe your photographer only offers hard copies if images taken with a higher tier bundle.

It’s these pros, cons, and things to watch out for that will help you entirely take control and get complete advantage with your photography package.

What To Ask Your Photographer

Before officially deciding on a photography package, make sure you ask these following questions:

The difference in value from package to package
The most frequently purchased package
The editing process for each package tier
Type of delivery & time frame
Experience with each tier

Doing so will help you get an idea on what the photographer is trying to sell and how it matches with what you’re wanting specifically. Trying to upgrade just for the additional value of one or two benefits in a package may not be worth the extra money, especially if you can work out a different, customized deal together.

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