One of the most useful questions I ask before a session is also one of the simplest: where is this portrait going?
It sounds like a practical question, and it is. But the answer shapes everything about how we approach the work — the tone, the framing, the light, the wardrobe conversation, and what we need to walk away with at the end of the session.
LinkedIn is not the same as a press kit.
A headshot for LinkedIn is designed to be seen small. It needs to read clearly at thumbnail size, which means a tighter crop, a clean background, and an expression that communicates approachability and confidence at a glance. There is not much room for nuance in a 200-pixel circle.
A portrait for a press kit or a speaker profile operates at a different scale. It may run large in a program, a banner, or a magazine layout. It can carry more compositional weight, more presence, more intentional use of space. The image has room to breathe.
Both can come from the same session. But only if we know in advance that we need both, and we plan accordingly.
Print versus digital use.
Digital images and print images have different requirements, and a portrait made only with a screen in mind may not hold up at print scale. If you know you need a 24x36 print for your office wall, or an image for a conference backdrop, or a large-format display, that needs to be part of the brief before we start. It is much easier to plan for a large print from the start than to try to work backward from a file that was not captured with that end in mind.
I deliver all files at 6240 pixels at 300 PPI — built for both. But knowing the intended use helps me make compositional decisions during the session that serve the final format.
Multiple uses, multiple looks.
Many clients need portraits for more than one context. A nonprofit leader might need a clean headshot for the organization's website, a warmer image for the annual report, and something with more personal presence for a speaking biography. A founder might need a professional headshot, a lifestyle image for their personal brand, and a candid for social media.
When we know upfront that you need three distinct images for three distinct purposes, we can structure the session around those needs. Wardrobe changes, lighting adjustments, and location shifts all become intentional choices rather than afterthoughts. One well-planned session can produce a full library of images that serves you across every platform and context.
Start with the end in mind.
Before your session, take a few minutes to think through where your portraits will go. Your website, your social media profiles, upcoming press or speaking opportunities, internal company use, personal or family legacy. Write it down if it helps.
When we connect before the session, that list becomes our creative brief. It tells me what we need to capture, and it ensures that when you receive your final gallery, every image has a purpose and a home.