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May 22, 2019

Define Headshot | Houston Headshot Photographer

Tara Flannery is a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) based in The Woodlands and Conroe, TX. Tara Flannery Photography specializes in corporate headshots. See more headshots in the gallery. Contact me to book your professional headshot today!

Define Headshot

“A head shot or headshot is a modern (mostly digital files ) portrait where the focus is on the person. The term is usually applied for professional profile images on social media, the ‘about us page’ or a corporate website and promotional pictures of actors, models, and authors.” ~ from Wikipedia

Actually, the scope of people who need headshots in today’s business world is much broader than it used to be. Anyone with a small business will tell you that they are the face of their business. The headshot is the first introduction to potential clients, customers, and partners. Realtors need headshots before they can even really begin to market their business. Most corporate websites include at least a leadership page with professional headshots of the executive leadership team. Some companies benefit from including the entire team’s headshots on the website because they have direct interaction with clients.

As we define headshot, we should keep in mind that it is the likeness of a person with a focus on the face. The background, wardrobe, and jewelry play an important but secondary role to the main purpose of the headshot which is to see the face. A professional headshot photographer will use lighting, posing, and expression to provide the best headshot for you.

Headshots for George

George needed new headshots for his corporate job. He’s a financial guy and so a suit and tie fit his role and career. With a grey suit and background, the focus of the headshot becomes the face. We tried different expressions for the headshot – sometimes a happy, smiling headshot is appropriate and sometimes a more serious expression is appropriate. George ultimately chose two images with different expressions so that he can use each headshot as needed for his company. As we define headshot, recognize that it will be different for each individual and that’s what makes a personalized headshot session so valuable!

Define Headshot

Tara Flannery is a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) based in The Woodlands and Conroe, TX. Tara Flannery Photography specializes in corporate headshots. See more headshots in the gallery. Contact me to book your professional headshot today!

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@taraflanneryphotography

Photographers: the secret to family sessions with little kids? Stop expecting them to follow the plan. 😂📸

Young kids are going to move. They’re going to get distracted. They may decide halfway through that they’re completely DONE with your ideas—and that’s okay.

Instead of fighting it, work with it.

Keep them moving and engaged. Give them something to do instead of constantly asking them to smile. And don’t forget to coach Mom and Dad, too! Encourage them to interact with their kids, keep looking at you when you need the classic family shot, and trust you to get the moment.

Because some of the best images happen in between the poses—the laughs, cuddles, movement, and little expressions you couldn’t have planned if you tried.

You don’t need perfectly behaved kids to create beautiful family portraits. You need patience, flexibility, and a few tricks ready when your original plan goes out the window. 😉

📸 If you’re growing your photography business, I have free resources covering everything from gear and lighting to posing and more. Check them out through the link in my bio!

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Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 17908907229552968

Photographers: the secret to family sessions with little kids? Stop expecting them to follow the plan. 😂📸

Young kids are going to move. They’re going to get distracted. They may decide halfway through that they’re completely DONE with your ideas—and that’s okay.

Instead of fighting it, work with it.

Keep them moving and engaged. Give them something to do instead of constantly asking them to smile. And don’t forget to coach Mom and Dad, too! Encourage them to interact with their kids, keep looking at you when you need the classic family shot, and trust you to get the moment.

Because some of the best images happen in between the poses—the laughs, cuddles, movement, and little expressions you couldn’t have planned if you tried.

You don’t need perfectly behaved kids to create beautiful family portraits. You need patience, flexibility, and a few tricks ready when your original plan goes out the window. 😉

📸 If you’re growing your photography business, I have free resources covering everything from gear and lighting to posing and more. Check them out through the link in my bio!

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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Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 18499470895099554

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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Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 18098492174377247

“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.

16 0

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.

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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.