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Does the friendly headshot win? 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.  Does the friendly headshot win?  See more headshots in the gallery.  Contact me to book your professional headshot today!

Does the friendly headshot win?

Yes, absolutely, the friendly headshot wins every time.  The professional headshot is potentially the most important tool for introducing yourself to new customers, clients, patients, and business partners.  In today’s digital marketplace, your online presence is vitally important.  And with the Covid pandemic, it’s even more important to have a great headshot.  When you use a headshot on your website, marketing materials, and social media, it’s important to be friendly and welcoming.  That’s how people relate to people.  It’s the psychology of making a connection with another human being.  If you appear friendly and welcoming in your headshot, that connection is made more easily and with more confidence.  I’ve always promoted the friendly headshot with only slight variations for a subject’s industry and role.  However, even in this article from FindLaw, lawyers should remain friendly.

Stern or friendly? Go with friendly, hands down. Smile, at least a little bit. A forbidding look might communicate authority, but to a non-lawyer, it also says “I will talk down to you.”

Similarly, an article from the University of Washington, confirms that we should be smiling in our headshots.

Your job: Look approachable. Time after time, I notice this as a key common denominator separating good profile shots from bad ones.

So, the bottom line is smile for your headshot.  Go ahead and practice in the mirror a few times before your headshot session and you’ll be ready to greet your newest connections!

Headshot Examples

The latest from the smiling headshot galleries…

Does the friendly headshot win?outdoor environmental headshot for magazineprofessional headshot friendly professional 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

A small snapshot of the teams I’ve worked with recently 📸👇🏻

Headshots are one of those things that are easy to put off… until you realize your photos no longer reflect where you are now.

Outdated images, inconsistent team photos, or a mix of styles across platforms can quietly take away from how your brand is perceived.

A headshot refresh doesn’t have to be complicated—it just needs to be intentional.

If your team’s photos haven’t been updated in a while, this is a good time to take a look at what you’re currently using.

📩 If you’re ready for a headshot refresh, you can book a consultation through the link in my bio.

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Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 17948665287227148
A small snapshot of the teams I’ve worked with recently 📸👇🏻 Headshots are one of those things that are easy to put off… until you realize your photos no longer reflect where you are now. Outdated images, inconsistent team photos, or a mix of styles across platforms can quietly take away from how your brand is perceived. A headshot refresh doesn’t have to be complicated—it just needs to be intentional. If your team’s photos haven’t been updated in a while, this is a good time to take a look at what you’re currently using. 📩 If you’re ready for a headshot refresh, you can book a consultation through the link in my bio.

Some of my favorite senior photos always include something personal.

Instruments, sports gear, pets, cars—these are the details that make your photos feel like you.

Senior sessions aren’t just about getting a few good pictures—they’re about capturing this season in a way that feels real and meaningful.

And with senior year right around the corner, now is the time to start thinking about it.

Spots tend to fill up quickly once the school year gets going, so planning ahead makes all the difference.

If you’re ready to start planning your senior session, you can book a consultation through the link in my bio.

12 0
Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 18220900369332453
Some of my favorite senior photos always include something personal. Instruments, sports gear, pets, cars—these are the details that make your photos feel like you. Senior sessions aren’t just about getting a few good pictures—they’re about capturing this season in a way that feels real and meaningful. And with senior year right around the corner, now is the time to start thinking about it. Spots tend to fill up quickly once the school year gets going, so planning ahead makes all the difference. If you’re ready to start planning your senior session, you can book a consultation through the link in my bio.

“Pick something you’d do for free…” It sounds simple—but building a career around it is anything but.

There’s a lot that goes into turning photography into something sustainable—learning your craft, understanding lighting, figuring out your gear, working with clients, and continuing to grow.

But if you’re willing to put in the time, it’s one of the most rewarding things you can do.

If you’re just getting started, I have a few free resources to help you figure out what actually matters (and what doesn’t).

🔗 You can grab them with the link in my bio.

35 1
Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 17962580388138281
“Pick something you’d do for free…” It sounds simple—but building a career around it is anything but. There’s a lot that goes into turning photography into something sustainable—learning your craft, understanding lighting, figuring out your gear, working with clients, and continuing to grow. But if you’re willing to put in the time, it’s one of the most rewarding things you can do. If you’re just getting started, I have a few free resources to help you figure out what actually matters (and what doesn’t). 🔗 You can grab them with the link in my bio.

At the end of the day, it’s not about the title—it’s about what the photos actually do for you.

For most teams, the hardest part isn’t getting the photos taken… it’s coordinating everything around it.

Schedules, availability, keeping the look consistent across everyone—it adds up quickly, and it’s usually why it gets pushed off.

That’s exactly why I created a Corporate Team Headshot Planner—to make the process simple, organized, and easy to execute from start to finish.

📥 If updating your team’s photos has been sitting on your to-do list, this will help you finally get it done—link in bio.

36 0
Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 18116997898903617
At the end of the day, it’s not about the title—it’s about what the photos actually do for you. For most teams, the hardest part isn’t getting the photos taken… it’s coordinating everything around it. Schedules, availability, keeping the look consistent across everyone—it adds up quickly, and it’s usually why it gets pushed off. That’s exactly why I created a Corporate Team Headshot Planner—to make the process simple, organized, and easy to execute from start to finish. 📥 If updating your team’s photos has been sitting on your to-do list, this will help you finally get it done—link in bio.

If headshot lighting feels confusing, I put together a guide with 3 simple setups that will get you consistent results—link in bio.

If your headshots feel a little “off”… it’s usually not your camera—it’s your lighting.

Here are 5 mistakes I see all the time:

1️⃣ Lighting from below
Creates unflattering shadows. Keep your light slightly above eye level.

2️⃣ Too much (or too harsh) light
Softer, controlled light will always look more professional.

3️⃣ No direction to your light
Flat lighting = flat images. You need some angle to create depth.

4️⃣ Mixing multiple light sources
This is how you end up with weird color and inconsistent tones.

5️⃣ Ignoring catchlights
Small detail, big impact—this is what brings life to your subject’s eyes.

Lighting doesn’t need to be complicated… it just needs to be intentional.

Curious—what’s been the hardest part about lighting for you?

34 0
Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 17870461365628869
If headshot lighting feels confusing, I put together a guide with 3 simple setups that will get you consistent results—link in bio. If your headshots feel a little “off”… it’s usually not your camera—it’s your lighting. Here are 5 mistakes I see all the time: 1️⃣ Lighting from below Creates unflattering shadows. Keep your light slightly above eye level. 2️⃣ Too much (or too harsh) light Softer, controlled light will always look more professional. 3️⃣ No direction to your light Flat lighting = flat images. You need some angle to create depth. 4️⃣ Mixing multiple light sources This is how you end up with weird color and inconsistent tones. 5️⃣ Ignoring catchlights Small detail, big impact—this is what brings life to your subject’s eyes. Lighting doesn’t need to be complicated… it just needs to be intentional. Curious—what’s been the hardest part about lighting for you?

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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.