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May 4, 2015

A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words | Houston Headshot Photographer

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.

I agree. The most important and unique asset we all possess is a smile.

A smile welcomes a stranger.

A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.

Professional Headshot

It opens or closes a conversation.

It sends a positive message.

It’s a sign of confidence and radiance.

The world always looks brighter from behind a smile.

In a lot of the mentoring I do, I often find women (and men) want to know more about how to develop a personal brand. Today’s social stage requires us all to build a presence. Before anything else, it’s about putting our best smile on for the camera. And that means taking a quality headshot.

THREE STEPS TO A SUCCESSFUL HEADSHOT: Professional Headshot

1. No selfies. Hire a professional. I’ve seen awful photos on LinkedIn profiles ranging from vacation shots to soft porn. Yes, I love Disney World too, but there’s a place for those photos: Facebook. The best investment you can make in taking a quality shot is to hire a pro. It used to be that meant spending lots of money. That’s changed. Most photographers charge $150-250 for a session and if you can arrange a group session, you can save even more. So just put aside a month of lattes and the calories you’ll save, and make the investment.

2. Your clothing choice is important. The goal of taking a nice shot is to bring you to the forefront. You want to wear flattering clothing so avoid anything that’s distracting. Go for muted tones that are a bit subdued and bring colors that compliment your skin tone.

3. Have fun. Sometimes the best shots are the ones in between those formal posed shots. So don’t be afraid to let loose and be yourself – that’s what people want to see!

Written by Katie Mehnert

http://www.katiemehnert.com/

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@taraflanneryphotography

Standing out professionally matters more than ever—especially when you’re competing for someone’s attention before you ever get the chance to meet them.

Your LinkedIn profile, company bio, website, or online portfolio may be someone’s very first introduction to you. And while your experience and qualifications are what really matter, the way you present yourself can help shape that first impression.

That’s where a great professional headshot comes in. 📸

A current, polished photo helps you look confident, approachable, and intentional about how you show up professionally. And in a tough job market, those little details matter.

If your current headshot is several years old, doesn’t really look like you anymore, or is still a cropped photo from your camera roll…it might be time. 😉

Let’s create a headshot that actually represents the professional you are today.

📸 Book your headshot session through the link in my bio.

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I think family photos mean something a little different to me now. 🤍

For years, I was the mom hanging new portraits on the walls while my kids were still living at home. Then came senior portraits, graduations, and eventually watching both of them head off to start their own next chapters.

Now that my youngest is off at college, the house is a whole lot quieter.

But everywhere I look, there they are.

On the walls. In frames. In albums. All of these different versions of our family and my kids at ages I can’t go back to.

And maybe that’s why I feel so strongly about family portraits.

When you’re in the middle of raising your kids, it’s easy to think there will always be another year. Another fall. Another chance to schedule the photos.

There probably will be.

But they’ll never be exactly this age again.

Take the photos. Print them. Put them on your walls. Let your home fill up with the people you love.

Someday, you’ll be really glad you did. 🤍

📸 I still have a few weekend dates available for fall family portraits. If you’ve been telling yourself you’ll get around to updating yours, maybe this is your sign.

Head to the link in my bio to reserve your session.

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Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 18090608813278341

I think family photos mean something a little different to me now. 🤍

For years, I was the mom hanging new portraits on the walls while my kids were still living at home. Then came senior portraits, graduations, and eventually watching both of them head off to start their own next chapters.

Now that my youngest is off at college, the house is a whole lot quieter.

But everywhere I look, there they are.

On the walls. In frames. In albums. All of these different versions of our family and my kids at ages I can’t go back to.

And maybe that’s why I feel so strongly about family portraits.

When you’re in the middle of raising your kids, it’s easy to think there will always be another year. Another fall. Another chance to schedule the photos.

There probably will be.

But they’ll never be exactly this age again.

Take the photos. Print them. Put them on your walls. Let your home fill up with the people you love.

Someday, you’ll be really glad you did. 🤍

📸 I still have a few weekend dates available for fall family portraits. If you’ve been telling yourself you’ll get around to updating yours, maybe this is your sign.

Head to the link in my bio to reserve your session.

Capture One, if you’re looking for someone to sponsor… I’m your girl. 😉📸

But seriously—if you’re a headshot or portrait photographer and you haven’t tried shooting tethered yet, let me introduce you to one of my favorite workflow upgrades.

Tethering simply means connecting your camera to a computer so your images appear on a larger screen as you shoot. I use a wired connection straight into Capture One, which makes it easy to review images during the session, catch the little details I might miss on the back of my camera, and favorite the strongest shots as I go.

And when I’m finished? My selects are already organized, so I can transfer everything to my main computer at home and jump into editing without sorting through the entire session all over again.

I used to tether wirelessly, but switching to a wired setup has made the process much more reliable and seamless for me.

It’s one of those small workflow changes that makes a BIG difference—especially when you photograph a lot of headshots.

And if you’re just getting started in photography—or looking for ways to improve your setup, lighting, posing, and workflow—I have a whole collection of free resources for photographers waiting for you at the link in my bio. 📸

Photographers, are you shooting tethered yet? 👇🏻

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“But what if my kids don’t cooperate?” 😅

If that’s the first thing you think about when you imagine family photos, I promise—you’re not alone.

Your kids don’t need to sit perfectly still, smile on command, or be on their best behavior for us to create beautiful photos. They can move. They can be silly. They can need a snack break. They can take a few minutes to warm up.

That’s all part of photographing real families.

Swipe through for a few of my favorite ways to make family portraits with little ones feel easier (and a whole lot less stressful).

And if you want help preparing for everything else, grab my FREE Family Session Welcome Guide! I’ll walk you through what to wear, choosing a location, preparing for your session, what to expect from start to finish, posing, finished photo ideas, FAQs, and more.

🤍 Grab your free copy through the link in my bio—and then come to your session ready to love on your family. I’ll handle the rest.

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“But what if my kids don’t cooperate?” 😅

If that’s the first thing you think about when you imagine family photos, I promise—you’re not alone.

Your kids don’t need to sit perfectly still, smile on command, or be on their best behavior for us to create beautiful photos. They can move. They can be silly. They can need a snack break. They can take a few minutes to warm up.

That’s all part of photographing real families.

Swipe through for a few of my favorite ways to make family portraits with little ones feel easier (and a whole lot less stressful).

And if you want help preparing for everything else, grab my FREE Family Session Welcome Guide! I’ll walk you through what to wear, choosing a location, preparing for your session, what to expect from start to finish, posing, finished photo ideas, FAQs, and more.

🤍 Grab your free copy through the link in my bio—and then come to your session ready to love on your family. I’ll handle the rest.

Family photos with a 4-year-old? You just have to roll with it. 😂🤍

Little kids aren’t going to stand perfectly still, follow every direction, and smile on command—and I don’t expect them to!

I’d much rather meet them where they are. We’ll play, move around, be silly, take little breaks when we need them, and work toward those sweet moments in between.

That’s part of why I love family sessions so much. The goal isn’t perfectly behaved kids or a picture-perfect hour. It’s capturing your family as they are right now.

And yes, we’ll still get that beautiful everyone-looking-at-the-camera photo for the frame. 😉 But sometimes the personality-filled moments end up being the favorites.

🍂 I still have a few fall family portrait dates available! Head to the link in my bio to reserve your session.

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Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 18085228853701691

Family photos with a 4-year-old? You just have to roll with it. 😂🤍

Little kids aren’t going to stand perfectly still, follow every direction, and smile on command—and I don’t expect them to!

I’d much rather meet them where they are. We’ll play, move around, be silly, take little breaks when we need them, and work toward those sweet moments in between.

That’s part of why I love family sessions so much. The goal isn’t perfectly behaved kids or a picture-perfect hour. It’s capturing your family as they are right now.

And yes, we’ll still get that beautiful everyone-looking-at-the-camera photo for the frame. 😉 But sometimes the personality-filled moments end up being the favorites.

🍂 I still have a few fall family portrait dates available! Head to the link in my bio to reserve your session.

Honestly… a little bit of everything. 📸

From professional headshots and personal branding to senior portraits and family sessions, I love creating photos that help people and businesses tell their story.

And there’s plenty more I can help with, too—large team group composites, in-office headshots for teams with different schedules, acting and modeling headshots, office branding, and more.

Basically, if you need photos for yourself, your family, or your business, let’s talk about what you have in mind. I’ll help you figure out the best way to make it happen.

📸 Not sure where to start? Book a consultation with me through the link in my bio.

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Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 18078523865357162

Honestly… a little bit of everything. 📸

From professional headshots and personal branding to senior portraits and family sessions, I love creating photos that help people and businesses tell their story.

And there’s plenty more I can help with, too—large team group composites, in-office headshots for teams with different schedules, acting and modeling headshots, office branding, and more.

Basically, if you need photos for yourself, your family, or your business, let’s talk about what you have in mind. I’ll help you figure out the best way to make it happen.

📸 Not sure where to start? Book a consultation with me through the link in my bio.

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Serving the Greater Houston, Texas Area

tara@taraflannery.com

713-412-5437

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Tara is a member of the Professional Photographers of America PPA.

Tara is a Certified Professional Photographer.

Tara is a member of TPPA Texas Professional Photographer's Association.

Tara has earned her Master of Photography degree.

Tara has earned her Photographic Craftsman certification.

Tara is a member of the Professional Photographers Guild of Houston PPGH.