(And What Actually Changes That)

Almost everyone who books a session with me opens with some version of the same sentence: “I should warn you, I’m really not photogenic.”

Nearly twenty years in, I can say with confidence: this isn’t true for almost anyone who says it. What’s actually happening is much simpler. Most people have only ever been photographed in situations with no direction, a colleague grabbing a quick phone photo at an event, a stiff corporate headshot session with thirty seconds per person, a selfie taken at an awkward angle out of necessity. None of that is really about how someone looks. It’s about the complete absence of guidance in the moment the photo was taken.

A good portrait session isn’t about finding someone’s “good side.” It’s about giving someone enough time, calm, and direction that the version of them that exists day to day, capable, composed, themselves actually has a chance to show up in front of the camera too.

This matters more than people expect once you consider how images are actually used. A senior professional’s headshot isn’t just a profile picture.

It’s frequently the first impression a prospective client, employer, or collaborator has of them, often before a single conversation happens. An image that undersells someone, or simply doesn’t match who they’ve become, is quietly working against them every time it’s seen.

The fix isn’t more photos, more outfits, or more time in front of the camera. It’s usually one calm hour, with someone whose only job is paying attention to what makes that particular person look like exactly who they are.

If your photos are doing that for you already, you don’t need to change a thing. If you suspect they’re not, that’s usually a much smaller fix than people assume.

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