before we capture the first photograph, we need to go over a few things to make sure that we capture the headshot that is best for you. if you are an actor, i will probably recommend that we shoot outdoors for an hour or two to create an image rich in detail and full of character. but if you are an executive and you have been instructed to have a white background for the company's website, then i will probably recommend a pure-white background and maybe that we only shoot for one hour. in the end, this is your photo shoot and i strive to capture the image that is right for you.

we will also go through the different poses that we are going to use as the building blocks for the photo shoot. once again, the approach will be tailored to your particular needs. if this is your first time getting your headshots, i will explain various poses, and once we start shooting, i will direct you through them. but if you are a consummate professional in front of the camera, and you want to give me your favorite pose, i'd be more than happy to work with you and build on that. regardless, i believe everybody should experiment with lots of different angles and poses. very often a client will say to me, "my left side is my good side" only to find out as we review the images that the right-side and straight-on photos are just as good if not better.

after we finish the first round of shooting, we will review all the images to hone in on what is working best for you, and we will continue doing that as the photo shoot goes on.

i am aware that many of my clients find being in front of the camera very intimidating. don't worry; a very important part of my job is to create a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. and once you see how good your images look, you will relax even more and your photos will turn out even better. at the end of the photo shoot a lot of my clients say with some disbelief: "wow, that was fun!", and if you ask me, that is key to getting great images.

finally, i will burn all the images we took on dvd. i strongly recommend that you retouch the photos that you decide to use. i work with one of the leading retouchers in the industry who ensures that the images look natural but radiant. in the end, i want you to walk away with an image that puts a big smile on your face.