Professional Head Shots- Why Every Wedding Planner Needs One

By: Tracey Manailescu

The good, the bad, and the just plain ol’ ugly. (Yes, I will share some of mine…)  Since I am sharing mine, I might as well drag Danielle into this, too 🙂

You all know what I am talking about…Don’t be embarrassed. I have some REAL doozies from the not so distant past.  One thing I am famous for, is wearing an elastic on my wrist. Somehow, I always forget to take the darned things off before I am photographed at events, and for impromptu head shots (See a few of Danielle’s and mine below.)  The really bad ones won’t make it here, I am afraid…LOL!

Professional business head shots are important for many reasons:

• Shows potential clients that you take your wedding planning business seriously, and have invested in your marketing as well as your brand. You ARE your brand!
• Shows potential clients a little bit about you, and your personality, by the way you choose to present yourself. Don’t be afraid to show your true self in your head shots. If you are going to wear jeans and a blazer, with an amazing pair of shoes in your client meetings, then wear THAT for your photo. If you can rock a business suit, and still show your amazing sense of style, then do it!
• Shows how you will probably represent yourself at their wedding. Makeup done, hair under control (speaking for myself, here) and an outfit you feel confident in.
• Shows potential clients if your style matches their expectations of a wedding planner. if not, they will move on.

Here are some that I have liked over the past few years:

Here are some of Danielle’s:

Where can you get professional head shots taken?

• Book a head shot session with your favourite wedding photographer.
• Scope out, and contact a photography company that you admire, and are hoping to work with in the future. Hire them!
• Ask other wedding professionals where they had theirs done (WPIC Alumni Association would be a great place to ask).  If someone is happy with their head shot, then they will most likely happily refer you to the photographer that made it happen for them.
• WPIC has held 2 professional working head shot events for WPIC Alumni with some of Toronto’s most talented photographers. (My photo in the top left hand corner, is from the last event in September at Paletta Mansion.)
• Networking events
• FAM trips
• Conferences and Trade Shows

 Tips to get good head shots:

• Bring a change of clothing for two different looks.  Be comfortable in what you will be wearing. Yes, go out and buy yourself a new outfit for it if you can!
• Make sure that you are comfortable with the photographer to ensure real smiles and photogenic poses.
• Tell the photographer if you are uncomfortable with anything about yourself that may interfere with the photos and your comfort level.  ie. You look way better photographed from your left side, you hate your mole, double chin, etc.
• Make your eyes smile.  Think happy thoughts and even giggle if you want in the photos.
• Avoid clothing that wrinkles easily.  It will look messy in the photos.
• Avoid skin coloured clothing (it’ll look like your naked and/or washed out). This means if you have light skin then avoid tans, pale yellow, pale peach, etc.  If you have dark skin then avoid dark or muted colours. Do the opposite of your skin colour.
• ***TIP***Apparently, jeweled tones look good on every shade of skin.
• If you wear glasses 99% of the time, then wear glasses in your head shot. Your photographer can work around the glare.
• Avoid wearing shiny or sparkly makeup. It will stress out the photographer with the lighting on your face.
• Avoid large or chunky jewelry. (It will be distracting, and take the viewer away from your face.)
• Drink lots of water the week before.
• Get a good sleep the night before.
• Avoid red wine and heavy foods the night before.
• Invest in a teeth whitening product.
• Have enough time scheduled for your session.  Typically an hour works well.

How much will it cost?

• Anywhere from $150-$400+ with a professional photographer.
• If that stresses you out at the moment, then department stores like Sears,The Real Canadian Superstore,  and Walmart are also there for you, if you are in a pinch, and can provide a much cheaper alternative to get you going.

Working Shots:

Working shots are a great way to show what you will look like on their wedding day.  It shows clients what they can expect from you appearance wise when you are working at their wedding. (FYI- Flip flops, tank tops, cut-off jean shorts, gym outfits, micro mini-skirts, etc. should not be an option).

***TIP***Ask the couple and the photographer to take a photo of you, with the couple. This is a great for future blogs, your portfolio, and memories!

So really, there are just no excuses for selfies, passport photos, and night out with the friends photos as your professional head shot. Invest in yourself (this is just one of the ways to do so) and clients will appreciate it, and invest in you!