Professional Headshots Are Way Better Than Selfies
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When I first connected with MOVATI Athletic, they were in the market, positioning their brand as a more upscale, elevated fitness experience for clients.Â
Looking at their staff photos on the website, I immediately noticed the quality wasn't there—selfies with inconsistent lighting and not-so-great cropping. That's okay for some things, but a brand trying to compete in the premium fitness space needs professional headshots that better match the vibe they want to achieve.
Here's my perspectiveá…³I used to work for a gym in a similar space before becoming a photographer. I know the industry and what needs to be in place to compete for high-end clients. It's got to be premium all the way aroundá…³from the website and assets to the moment a client enters the fitness space. The experience from A to Z has to be polished.Â
Still, it took a bit of effort to secure them. At the end of the day, I went with a show-don't-tell strategy with my pitch. I offered free professional headshots to the general managers in Toronto.Â
The big turning point came at an employee awards ceremony where my headshots were displayed alongside the selfies on the slideshow as they called people up to accept awards... That was the real "aha moment" of seeing what a professional headshot looks like versus the shots they had of staff taken with their mobile phone. Those with the quality shots just hit differently.
After that, they contracted me to photograph all their club managers, key executives, and corporate staffá…³talk about a turnaround!Â
Make Professional Headshots Seamless for Busy Clients
The key to providing a successful corporate shoot is making it easy for everyone involved. For me, that means simplifying everything—from scheduling and leveraging my booking system to choosing an accessible location and creating an enjoyable experience.
In my most recent photo shoot in Ottawa for MOVATI, I set up at their Nepean location—it's central to all their sites. Managers and staff booked their appointments and drove in from locations across Ottawa. All they had to do was show up. I'd help them feel comfortable (let's be honest, not everyone likes having their photo taken), shoot their portraits, and handle everything else—editing and delivery—that's all on me.
Telling the Story in Every Shot with Professional Headshots for Branding
What I try to do is use the background to tell a client's story. For someone like MOVATI you need information about the person who gives a piece of the story. I shoot it in a way where the background is blurry but you can still make out it's the gym. It showcases the people behind the brand, while the amazing facility helps tell the story in the background. The headshot should tell your story, and for MOVATI, that means having the "gym" as part of the information in the headshot.
A Professional Headshot Give you Assets Beyond your Logo
Every single manager and general manager I've shot at MOVATI has updated their headshot to my photo—that says something, doesn't it? Here's the truth: members walking into that place see the managers and the people more than they really see the logo. They represent the brand by helping to personalize it (they are the brand, aren't they?). A gym can be intimidating for people, but if you know the faces and see that people are welcoming, friendly, and ready to help you along your fitness journey, then it makes it that much easier to join—it does for me, anyway.
Headshots are a critical part of the assets needed to showcase a company's brand story online, in presentations, and in print. You don't want to leave it to a selfie to showcase your story, do you?
That's why companies like MOVATI have started to work with me. They see the value in having a complete, quality set of images that help showcase the brand to the client.
If you have questions about how to get professional headshots for branding your employees or help to build an inventory of brand assets for digital and print, reach out. I'm more than happy to chat and answer your questions.
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