Prepared, Professional and Polished

A good headshot is one of the most fundamental tools you need for promoting your business. This photoshoot was for both Paul Larsen, owner of WFG Chilliwack, and his wife, Ketevan Larsen, of Ketevan Larsen Inc. I first met Paul through a mutual friend. As the owner of WFG Chilliwack, he hired me to shoot a Google street view virtual tour for his office. After spending some time with Paul, it was evident that he is very knowledgeable within his field. His genuine desire for his clients to succeed in their financial goals was also obvious. As we talked he mentioned that his wife, Ketevan, could use some new headshots too. She is a social media strategist & educator having worked for the City of Vancouver and the Chamber of Commerce in Chilliwack.

I couldn’t have asked for a better couple to do headshots for. On the day of the shoot, they showed up looking very professional, polished and most of all brought their sense of humour. Taking headshots can be intimidating, as it’s not every day that you have a camera pointed in your face and lights from all directions. We tried different angles and experimented with light too. It’s so great to be able to share the shot concept right away and gain feedback. Everyone has a different style and knows their own angles best, so I find this makes it a win-win for both parties. Many photographers share the shots after because editing augments the photographs significantly. Although that is the case, I do like to give the people I work with a glimpse to ensure we are collectively moving in the right direction.

In total, we took three hours for the shoot. Normally headshots can range from 30 min to an hour and a half per person, depending on what you are looking for. In this case, the couple wanted a few different versions of them separately and together so we took our time. While Paul was getting his headshots done, Ketevan, snuggled their four-month-old baby girl. Then it was Ketevan’s turn and Paul took over on baby duty. When it was time for the couples shot, little Sophia fuelled up on some milk.

One of the things I loved about this shoot is that both subjects were very natural in front of the camera. Ketevan, in particular, knew exactly what she wanted and how she was to look in her photos. It definitely helps when you know what you are looking for and what the images will be used for. Pinterest is a great resource for finding examples and so is Google of course. My job is to offer instructions and angles, as subjects obviously don’t see themselves. Posture is of importance here are well.

“I was looking for headshots that would be professional but also captured my personality and not be too serious, as some headshots can be. My goal was to be able to use them in different online marketing materials, which is not always an easy task. Jody did an amazing job and totally understood my language”

The beauty of doing digital photo shoots is that we were able to look at the proofs right after we finished shooting and select some favourites. Sophia was a natural and although there is no individual headshot of the her, she did jump in a few photos and I have a feeling she will be a natural. You can follow Paul and Ketevan on Instagram. You can also find Paul and Ketevan on Facebook.

To see more samples of our headshots go here. If you are looking for a refresh of headshots, it would be our privilege to serve you.

We offer different onsite packages or you can come to the studio located on Vedder Rd in Chilliwack. Feel free to contact us with any of your questions or booking requests.