Headshots- How to choose the right service
Decide exactly what you needBefore you make your decision there are a few questions you"ll need to answer. What will you be using your headshot for, and how many shots do you need? Generally for a corporate business shot, you"ll only need one photo that will end up on you website. resume, book cover etc. Models and actors might want to have a number of different looks in their portfolio. This is an important consideration as photographers offer many different pricing schemes based on how many "keeper" photos you want to end up with. What type of background do you want? What look are you going for? For a business headshot, it"s generally better to have a simple background. Solid white is often a good choice, especially if the photo is going to be used online. If you are looking for something a little more creative, an outdoor on location shoot may be your best bet. Keep in mind that there can be extra costs associated with on location work.
Set your budget
Headshot pricing and packages can vary greatly. Photographers often offer different levels of service or "packages". This often encompasses, shoot duration, number of photos taken, number of "looks" (location/clothing/background changes), number of final photos given to client, number of retouched photos given to the client. Some times photographers will offer these services ala cart, so you may be able to save money choosing only those services that you absolutely need.
Quality is key
Before settling on any photographer, take a look at his or her portfolio. How versatile is are they? How well are they able to achieve the look that you want? Could you see yourself in a similar headshot? This is ultimately the most important criteria and you might be surprised how quickly you are drawn to one style over another.
To retouch or not?
In the age of photoshop, retouching is becoming a common service- but is it always necessary? For model and actor type headshots, retouching is quite common. For a professional business headshot some minor blemish retouching might be appropriate, but avoid the "glamour" retouch as this might be perceived as a little tacky in the corporate world.