I had a session the other day with a really cool guy who needed headshots for his grad school applications. We hit it off immediately because he is also a Stony Brook alum (go Seawolves!) and it turned out we had a lot in common. His dream is to be a dentist and he is in the midst of applying to dental schools.
During our session, I started throwing out dentist jokes left and right to make him at ease in front of my camera. I told him about my old dentist, and how I ALWAYS had multiple cavities, and how my cavities always seemed to coincide with my dentist’s boat payments (LOL).
Somewhere along the line, I looked up from my camera and said to him, “You know, being a dentist and being a headshot photographer are a lot alike!” We both obviously laughed at the absurdity of my statement, but I was actually onto something with my silly comment. Headshot photographers and dentists do have a lot in common. Both work in close proximity with their clients, and both need to have their clients at ease during the process in order to get the best results.
My dentist (the new one, not the boat payment guy) has the wonderful ability to make his clients, even children, feel relaxed and comfortable when in his chair, and almost forget they are at the dentist. This ability is equally important for headshot photographers. In order to get really killer headshots, you need to make your client forget that there is a camera pointed at them. I have had clients tell me many times that they became so comfortable at my studio that they forgot I was photographing them!
If a client feels unsure, uncomfortable, and uneasy behind your lights and lens, then you can be certain that your results will also look the same. And that’s why it’s vitally important to make clients feel comfortable when in your studio, and forget that they are in the “chair.”
As for my dental school guy, he was completely at ease with the process and did great, as you can see from the photos. If you need a new headshot and are a little apprehensive, don’t worry! A top headshot photographer will make the process fun and even enjoyable, and not like “pulling teeth!”
Pete Coco is a headshot and portrait photographer located in Garden CIty, NY who specializes in headshots for business people, actors, models, and performers.
