Finding out about hospitals, procedures and general medical advice is done when patients, and their families, are thrown into research out of necessity. 

The healthcare, aged care, and medical facilities that patients use,  are valuable when providing that general information, but even more, when they are positively giving reassurance of their care, ethos, and patient guidance.

When that patient trust is affirmed, there are real-world benefits that include: a perception of better health care, a better understanding of how the care will be provided, the expectations of how the system itself works, and a greater link between patient, family and provider.

A website won’t necessarily answer every question or show all the beneficial things and services that might help with your patient relationships, but it certainly can illustrate things like honesty, caring, and respect.

On top of that, it can show the workings, reveal the resources, provide a portal to a world post-facility, 

The facilities that fail at this have unnecessarily complicated website navigation, cluttered with industry jargon, and too often fall into a trap of using stock, or stock-like imagery.

What does your current website say about your people, organisation, patients and staff? Is it accurate to the experience that patients currently receive?

In looking at imagery it is comforting for patients and families, at a very vulnerable time in their lives, to be given an objective sense of what they’re dealing with, even if there is only going to be short exposure to the facilities.

And as important as it is to show those facilities and equipment, for many people their vested interest is in knowing who will help them: the people – from medical specialists, rehabilitation staff, palliative care workers, nurses, kitchen staff, and the myriad others who make up the heart of medical facilities.

What sometimes gets lost outside of specific industries, is that most people don’t know or understand what they’re about to experience. For the cost of the content, so much of what a patient might experience can be explained.

It needs to be remembered that patients remain disconnected and uneducated about the familiar world of medical personnel. That lack of knowledge, provided with the internet’s worst-case scenarios, as inevitably happens when searching online about health matters, doesn’t dispel fears.

Photography can help create a connection for prospective patients who are making decisions about their care. Healthcare facilities and practices that utilise thoughtful imagery will elevate trust by showing how they care.

Healthcare facilities can work with their future patients by providing a calm and gentle entry. The stories of care, in combination with imagery, have the power to create a connection and affection to facilities and staff.

Rather than having patients discover via warnings “When things go wrong here’s what could happen,” we can help steer the conversation to something more reassuring, “Here’s how you’ll be looked after.

Be deliberate with creating your content, focusing on your business. Too many deal with this generically. Armed with specific casework, your facilities and locations, your staff, and the expertise derived from the patient load your teams have dealt with, use that knowledge to help new patients.

If words could describe everything, if a quick conversation could reassure, and if a website could work well without being updated, photography would be unnecessary.

When walking into providers, I bring the experience of someone who has photographed facilities, staff, patients and volunteers for the past 25 years. I have helped craft messages and provided complete and ongoing image libraries that have been continuously added to and used for years. I have told stories through the use of photography and video. I have quietly, calmly and patiently dealt with some of the most vulnerable people and their families in the community, providing content that has helped tell the story of aged care, therapy, hospitalisation, and more. And importantly, I have helped illustrate the journey of aged care for the patient.

Just a few of the ways you can contact us for a quote for your healthcare sector photography:

Email: info@intothepicture.com.au
Phone: 0411 137 747
Request Quote

The post HealthCare Sector Photography appeared first on Into The Picture.

The sticker shock of professional headshot pricing often prompts exclamations of disbelief, followed by the decision to have an amateur, yet ‘talented’, acquaintance snap a quick photo. After all, it’s ‘just’ a headshot, some might argue, underestimating the value of a professional photo in their portfolio.

Although we don’t typically encounter such reservations from our clients, we’re aware that the cost of professional headshots can be a topic of debate for some individuals considering their options.

There’s a misconception that professional headshots are an extravagant indulgence and that cutting corners won’t significantly affect the outcome. Many believe that settling for less will yield results that are ‘good enough’, not recognizing the impact of a corporate headshot on their professional image.

So, what’s the flaw in this logic? Why should you consider investing in a professional headshot, and what advantages does it offer? The answer lies in the undeniable benefits of presenting a polished and professional picture to the world.

It’s clear that when you present your image to the world, whether through writing, video, or a photo of yourself, you hold the reins of perception. You have the power to shape how people perceive you, so it’s crucial to choose professional photo representation that aligns with the image you wish to project.

In today’s digital landscape, we’re afforded a significant level of control over our online presence. It’s imperative to leverage this opportunity by choosing professional headshots that reinforce the brand and image you want to convey to your audience.

While you may be exceptionally persuasive and articulate in real life, not to mention friendly and a great problem solver, these qualities are challenging to convey in a single image. However, professional headshots can bridge this gap. A well-crafted professional picture goes a long way in showcasing your approachability and competence, even if it’s just a glimpse.

As experts in headshot photography, particularly for capturing the essence of individuals through their faces, we’ve honed our craft to ensure that your headshot helps you stand out and benefit your business.

Our understanding of headshot photography extends to knowing what draws people to you and what might deter them. We’re adept at creating professional headshots that resonate with viewers, ensuring they remember you long after they’ve seen your corporate headshot.

Cutting corners with your professional headshot can result in an image that’s as forgettable as beige wallpaper: bland and unremarkable. A professional photo should make people take a second look and feel compelled to engage with you, not just because you think you look good, but because it truly stands out.

Your photo should be more than just a placeholder; it’s an opportunity to make a statement about you, your brand, and your company’s narrative. A well-executed corporate headshot can tell your story in a way that aligns with your professional ethos.

Investing in professional headshots is an affordable yet powerful way to demonstrate your company’s professionalism, showcase pride in your work, and connect with your audience with authenticity.

Leverage your competitive edge by ensuring that the words and images representing you, such as your corporate headshot, truly reflect professionalism. Move beyond the cliches and platitudes of corporate imagery and choose to present a professional picture that resonates with genuine professionalism.

Are professional headshots a luxury?

Investing in professional headshots is far from a fruitless endeavor when executed with excellence. It’s a small yet significant investment in presenting your talents through professional photography. When you get a corporate headshot done right, it’s a brilliant way to showcase your professional picture to the world.

High-quality professional headshots can dramatically elevate the perception of your personal brand and business. Capturing your unique personality and professional stance, these images are a compelling way to broadcast your skills and expertise. Avoid settling for average headshots that fail to stand out; leverage them as a dynamic asset to underline your professionalism and make a memorable impact on potential clients and colleagues. It’s more than just an image; it’s a narrative of your dedication to quality and professionalism.

Never had a professional headshot of yourself that worked? You can.

Click here to view our Professional Headshot Photo Gallery

Just a few of the ways you can contact us to book a session

Email: info@intothepicture.com.au
Phone: 0411 137 747
Schedule Appointment

The post Why have “expensive” professional headshots done at all? appeared first on Into The Picture.

But like many who are involved in a profession, we don’t regularly do the things we recommend that other people do. I usually think of health professionals who offer advice but don’t necessarily follow it themselves – like a GP who tells their patients not to smoke, but heads outside all too often…

Sarah and I don’t necessarily follow through on the process of getting professional photographs done regularly enough. Mea culpa. But it certainly makes sense to allow ourselves the time to experience what we are offering so that we can refine and refocus the process, from the inside.

Laurel came and started working on Sarah. These days, that’s a process that usually takes about one hour, but if the chat is flowing, and it usually does, it goes a bit longer. Whichever person we use for hair and makeup, will usually come to the studio well beforehand, and get set up for our client.

When the client arrives we will have a brief chat. We’re confirming the client’s requirements, looking at the wardrobe, asking how our client would like to be “seen” in their images, and what the intention for the photography is, and then checking colour preferences, both about the clothing and makeup preferences.

It’s probably fair to add that some people haven’t understood the value of having their hair and makeup done by a professional. After all, by their own admission, the majority of our clients have never had experience with the process.

The hair and makeup artists are really good at helping clients achieve a specific look. For corporate looks, most of our clients are looking for their professionalism to show through, with warmth, friendliness and approachability.

Our clients inevitably love the attention, and the detail, that comes with having their hair and makeup done for their headshots. Most have challenging jobs, so it can be quite relaxing to have that pampering for a while. And, if they choose, to have a lovely chat too.

When it comes to using a hair and makeup artist, some clients worry that they won’t look like themselves. We’ve probably all been a bit puzzled by some of those “Before-and-After” makeovers, wondering what happened to the person along the way. But that’s definitely not the point of corporate headshots.

The actual point when using a professional hair and makeup artist is that the result shows a professional person, in the best possible light. It’s not an exaggeration. It’s you on a really good day, and even if you never use and are never seen with makeup, it’s still worth thinking about. And once you’ve almost convinced yourself, do it, because it genuinely makes a positive distinction.

We’ve previously talked on the blog about the influence of studio lighting on hair and makeup. It makes sense to do several test shots, view them onscreen, and check back with the hair and makeup artist. A little adjustment might be needed here and there, plus a check on the hair, and then the session is underway.

Sometimes clients, after checking themselves in the mirror, find it’s necessary to adjust one or two things to get the look they’re after. From my observation, it most often tends to be lipstick colours that clients adjust. For some, it’ll be obviously too dark, whereas, with others, the initial thought that they’d only need a very light lipstick is corrected after seeing the initial studio images.

Some clients might regard the addition of a professional hair and makeup artist as a bit of an expense and a gamble. I take the opposite approach. It’s a gamble without one. Beautiful lighting, great poses, and gorgeous clothing will get a good result. Going the extra step gets compelling results, with the added benefit that the images highlight and project the professionalism that the client desires.

Never had a professional headshot of yourself that worked? You can.

Click here to view our Professional Headshot Photo Gallery

Just a few of the ways you can contact us for your updated headshots with hair and makeup

Email: info@intothepicture.com.au
Phone: 0411 137 747
Schedule Appointment

The post Headshots with Hair and Makeup appeared first on Into The Picture.

It’s a given that all photographs that end up in our client’s hands are edited, even on the infrequent occasions that RAW images are handed to clients, so writing an article on understanding editing vs retouching is essential.

The majority of images will never be retouched. It’s not needed. But for hero images that might end up on posters, billboards, website headers, printed statement pieces, fine art, there is always a reason to closely inspect the image and then decide whether to retouch.

For example, in our work, it’s imperative that the studio headshots are retouched, but not all outdoor headshots require it. In addition, interior design and architectural shots benefit from retouching, as do landscapes.

Event photography only needs editing to keep to the essence of the truth. That crosses directly into news and sports, where retouching is unethical.

Finally, there is a truism that editing is a relatively basic skill. Still, retouching is an artist’s work; where the results are needed, it is a skill worth its payment.

How involved is the client with retouching?

Any final image is, in part, a collaboration between the client and photographer (and retoucher). Therefore, we listen to and respect your retouching requests. However, sometimes we are asked to do things that won’t benefit you, so we advise against it.

The most obvious thing, with respect to headshots, is to remove things like wrinkle lines. But even this requires thought. Since we already shoot to flatter our clients via lighting choices and poses, wrinkles are often significantly reduced. So, using great posing initially is the in-camera fix we’re aiming for. We are okay with reducing the effect further via retouching, but to eliminate them (in this case, wrinkles) entirely is to ignore your built-in years and decades of experience.

And that’s not us being lazy. On the contrary, there’s now enough proof that, in Australia, we are happy to see the truth (told respectfully and aiming to flatter, of course). Heavily retouched photographs inevitably unsettle the viewer. We’re so attuned to facial features that the human appearance needs to match viewer expectations.

What are the differences between editing and retouching?

The images we shoot are edited, but not all are retouched, so let’s briefly explain both ideas.

Editing can be a basic set of instructions, either given in camera or, more often, created in individual software programs post-capture. Lightroom and Capture One are more common choices among programs that help define those edits.

After the basic camera choices of ISO, f-stop, shutter speed, and focus, in-camera decisions can make the editing process more straightforward. Still, they can all be overridden in our software.

Outside of photojournalism and sports photography, it’s probably correct to assume that most photographers shoot RAW files, not jpegs.

There are ethical and moral areas to explore within both conversations, and that now includes the role of AI, but let’s leave that aside for another day.

What’s the difference between RAW and jpeg?

Let’s liken it to something else entirely. In restaurants, a list of ingredients is made into a specific dish for a customer. That’s the jpeg equivalent. It’s the final outcome of all the decisions made with the ingredients, the preparation, the cooking style, etc. Then, of course, the chef or the customer can still do other things to that final dish, but it’s more challenging.

The RAW equivalent is that the chef has control of that same list of ingredients. He could make and produce something entirely different using the same ingredients. How much will the chef add or withhold? How much extra preparation, or not, to include? The chef decides the outcome of the dish, the direction it takes, and the final presentation when he plates it for the customer. Tomato, garlic, olive oil, onion, and oregano can become whatever the chef wants, what he imagines. It depends on how conventional or fantastic he is.

Within reason, then, a photograph can be interpreted quite differently by the photographer. The scope of variations isn’t necessarily infinite, but it covers a lot of ground: darker, moodier, colder, lighter, open, warmer. Greens can become bluer. Blues can be washed out. Skin tones can become beautifully pronounced. The photographer might make the next step to turn the image into a monochrome with another round of almost infinitely variable options at their disposal.

These decisions are interpretations that the photographer wants to make, has discovered suit their workflow, and has grown to value in the context of their work.

What are the edit decisions?

If a photographer only shoots jpegs, they make all their editing decisions in-camera. And for those that can, it’s a fast way to work, offering great precision, excellent files, and immediate access to completed imagery. Those in-camera decisions include contrast, curves, tones, and white balance.

RAWs taken into third-party software might often have the photographer’s preferred “recipes” imposed on the file. Those recipes can be basic through complex solutions, including noise reduction, lens profile correction, cropping, and colour grading.

Amongst many options we can use to style an image, the photographer can adjust the different colours throughout the photo in incredible ways even before colour-grading. That can create a lot of magic within an image. I’d term it “colour-bending”.

Many edit decisions are made to take a camera RAW file, from its primary and dull “look” to being a client-ready file. But the edit might continue beyond those general, overall decisions. At this point, more specific decisions start to fall into the realm of retouching.

What is retouching?

Retouching allows the photographer to enhance, refine, and simplify the ideas explored in the image. When it comes to editing vs retouching, we start with editing and then finish with retouching. There, we can remove distractions and blemishes, fix certain elements and spots, remove stray hairs or rubbish, and fine-tune the image, which could still include more specific colouring and colour grading. But, unfortunately, there are too many ways a retoucher can improve the photo to describe in a short article.

Never been completely happy with your headshot, then we can help.

Click here to view our Professional Headshot Photo Gallery

Just a few of the ways you can contact us for your updated LinkedIn Headshot

Email: info@intothepicture.com.au
Phone: 0411 137 747
Schedule Appointment

The post Understanding editing versus retouching appeared first on Into The Picture.

The brief we operate from is to present the subject’s character powerfully via the face. So, naturally, we avoid unnecessary additions and providing too much clutter and spurious information.

How do we generally achieve this? Straight away, we use a simple backdrop, or natural background, that doesn’t compete for attention and tends towards being more low-key.

If you intend trying to capture your own excellent Linkedin headshot, that would be the first area to address. Everything else can fall into place after that.

Keep yourself unencumbered by distractions. We talk about this a lot, as it does make a big difference to the final image. Avoid too much jewellery, and keep hair and make-up as an assist rather than a grand statement. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule, but it can be too distracting for most business and corporate images.

The detail work is done by looking for the clutter, the oddities, and the distracting elements and removing those. Then, we can add and subtract elements throughout a shoot to make a more powerful statement.

When we look at advertising imagery, we need to appreciate that the blank sheet that the photographer starts with only shows what’s necessary. A message told in its simplest form is usually (not always) more memorable than something complex. However, it is undoubtedly easily recalled.

Your eyes are a critical feature for the success of the Linkedin headshot. They need to be in focus, lit well, and expressive.

Critically, your expressions either work for you or don’t. Many people can freeze up in front of a camera and show unusual or inauthentic expressions. We’ll take the time to find what genuinely works for you. Some people are good at smiling (most people are), but some don’t. Some can look like they’re trying very hard to be serious, but the final effect is disarming. Some look uniquely uncomfortable, like they’ve been captured mid-thought, stuck between being told to be sincere and warm, yet it’s now alarming.

Our skill is helping people be seen as they’d like and deserve to be seen, even when they’ve felt that all the photographs they’ve featured in, let alone a professional Linkedin headshot, never worked for them.

And finally, excellent Linkedin headshots don’t look like they’ve been retouched. In our area, many new advertising hoardings were installed on a recently completed project. Many depict headshots; unfortunately, some suffer from overtly heavily-handed photoshop or retouching. We aim to have the retouching on clients’ headshots look natural.

Never had a professional headshot of yourself that worked? You can.

Click here to view our Professional Headshot Photo Gallery

Just a few of the ways you can contact us for your updated LinkedIn Headshot

Email: info@intothepicture.com.au
Phone: 0411 137 747
Schedule Appointment

The post What makes an excellent Linkedin headshot? appeared first on Into The Picture.

Never had a professional headshot of yourself that worked? You can.

Just a few of the ways you can contact us for your updated headshot photo

Email: info@intothepicture.com.au
Phone: 0411 137 747
Schedule Appointment

The post It’s time to update your professional headshot appeared first on Into The Picture.

Imagine how many times we hear this. Whether it’s said in full belief, resignation, half-heartedly or even with some deep-seated psychological fear (which rarely but occasionally happens), it’s probably worthwhile to hear that you are not alone. So many of our clients come to us like this.

We can help create a photograph of you that you’ll enjoy looking at.

Remember that we generally enjoy looking at photographs of other people. But, conversely, other people like looking at photos of us.

But most of us think we take terrible photo’s. “It’ll break your lens.” Don’t worry, it’s coped so far.

What’s the simple and apparent reason most people dislike having their own photographs taken? It is usually because they’re frequently caught off-kilter.

When we’re compromised and made to feel silly or foolish, it really has a detrimental effect on people wanting to be in front of a camera. No-one photographs well caught off guard, mid-sentence, with a mouthful of food, half blinking, laughing, showing our usually non-existent multiple chins, looking tired, and in the worst possible light.

Once upon a time, in early photography, the intention was announced, and people were prepared to be photographed. The pictures of grandparents, great-grandparents and beyond, show people dressed up, unsmiling, very camera aware and very formal. Enter the studio in the clothing you specifically chose. Be posed in set positions, and allow the light to slowly do its work. Minimal, almost nothing, left to chance.

Photography used to be slow, methodical and deliberate. It had the consequence of being dour and sombre, but the upside of that was a technique that gave predictable results. It didn’t shame or vilify but showed people as themselves, albeit coldly or seriously.

Today, when it comes to corporate headshot photography, we’re still being methodical and deliberate. Still, with the changing nature of digital photography, we can afford to work quickly, lighter, and allow our warmer character to show.

This is done in a more relaxed atmosphere, yet we’re still confident of the photograph working as intended. We still carefully take time to constructively direct clients into better positions and poses.

That’s a really positive change from the photography our forebears used. We’re not too limited to a couple of plates of film or a roll of 36. In the same period, we constructively use the time to create options for you. We watch the change happen in real-time.

We keep reiterating on the blog: clients are very grateful to see themselves reflected as they want and need to be seen. They often feel flattered, all while being presented as themselves.

And that’s the upside. Our clients feel good about a portrait, a headshot, reflecting them as they deserve to be seen.

In the studio, you know that you’re being photographed. You’re prepared, not caught off-guard, and are given concise direction to find good, maybe even flattering angles. Then, via our monitor, you have the direct evidence and confidence of what’s unfolding. And it’s no surprise that people relax reasonably quickly. This process works.

Never had a corporate headshot of yourself that worked? You can.

Just a few of the ways you can contact us for your updated headshot photo

Email: info@intothepicture.com.au
Phone: 0411 137 747
Schedule Appointment

The post I don’t photograph well. Overcoming fear of the corporate headshot appeared first on Into The Picture.

Some cards were works of genius. The good ones had it all — a great font, beautiful ink. Maybe the luxury of embossing, or letterpress, on a thick cotton card, possibly a simple logo. And congratulations if you’re thinking of the scene from American Pyscho, and the presentation of business card fonts and paper stocks. But it’s starting to feel a bit old fashioned. These days I get less than a handful of business cards a year.

We’re just not doing business that way (and saving hundreds or thousands in printing costs each time). However, needing to be seen at the top of the game is just as important as ever.

Today people look us over. What are they seeing? There are snap judgements made quickly in face-to-face meetings. We glance at a watch, the choice of clothing, the beautifully detailed polishing on the shoes, the pen, the cleanness of a phone, the design of spectacles, the quality of handbag or briefcase.

Notice that list avoided the most obvious thing about us. It is, of course, who we are in terms of our physical self, and much more importantly, our character, skill and talent.

Character, skill and talent are our unique selling point. No one else is as good at being me, as myself.

But it’s tough to be ourselves when we stand in front of a camera for a headshot photo. Overcoming our natural tendencies and hesitancy in photography is difficult, especially when headshot photos today need to avoid looking like a lineup for formulaic school yearbooks, sports team photos, or even employee-of-the-month shots. They must be much more personalised.

What we’re doing with photography is presenting you, armed with some knowledge about yourself and the work you do, the type of clients you deal with, the businesses that you mix with, and the sense of professionalism that you need to project.

We mix that with what pleases and appeals to people when they look at photographs.

As the photographer, we’re attuned to looking at headshot photos and quickly help you assess your own images. It’s important to help you maintain your individuality, identity, and professionalism. Our skill and talent is in engaging you, quickly, to finding the best variations for you.

We deliberately avoid a factory style process, as there is the danger of the photographer, rather than the subject, imposing themselves too visibly into the process. Instead, we’re constructing a photograph that is strongly for and about you, the individual.

We use the power of professional photography to assist clients convey positive messages in each headshot. We’ll help you craft a photograph that helps project: strength, honesty, warmth, humour, integrity, calmness, professionalism, experienced, keen, certain, controlled, empathetic.

We can’t roll it all into one, of course, but it needs to be much more certain than that preset of; “This is what I look like.”

Look at your current headshot photo. What message does it send? Is it strong? Is it professional? Is it up-to-date? And yes, is it flattering? If you aren’t using a photograph, is it time to do so? If you are ready to try a strong, flattering and professional headshot, contact us.

Just a few of the ways you can contact us for your updated headshot photo

Email: info@intothepicture.com.au
Phone: 0411 137 747
Schedule Appointment

The post You will be judged on your headshot photo appeared first on Into The Picture.

David

Just a few of the ways you can contact us to update your Corporate Headshot

Email: info@intothepicture.com.au
Phone: 0411 137 747
Schedule Appointment

The post 2020 – A very difficult year for so many appeared first on Into The Picture.

There are undoubtedly cheap ways to get an updated corporate headshot in Sydney, and if you’re looking to do-it-yourself, there’s plenty of online guides to show you how to achieve the perfect headshot. Either way, it’s harder than it appears, to walk away with a pleasing result.

At Into The Picture, we’re crafting amazing corporate headshots for our clients every day. We know we’re getting it right because we please the person most critical of each photograph – you, the client. It’s a photograph that helps introduce you, opens doors, grabs attention, creates work, enables you to be remembered. It an image of you, as you want to be seen.

So it’s worthwhile getting it right. And when it comes time to first get or updating your headshot, go with someone whose online work captures the looks that “speak” to you.

If you’ve already looked at our portfolio, you can tell, with at a glance, that our headshots project strength, confidence, warmth, mixed in with the professionalism that each person brings to their work. We don’t just do the neutral, no emotion, character-less headshots that remind you of a pass for an office.

Certainly in Sydney, the demand for sincere and personable imagery is far higher than the usual corporate creations that defined an earlier era. We now show an openness, and perhaps that’s a reflection of our social media world, or maybe it’s just the type of society we’re developing in Australia. Today’s clients define themselves through attractive traits while remaining professional. It’s our job to help you to be seen and remembered, in one photograph, as someone we want to meet, and to work with. That’s the power of a perfect corporate headshot.

David

Just a few of the ways you can contact us for your updated Corporate Headshot

Email: info@intothepicture.com.au
Phone: 0411 137 747
Schedule Appointment

The post Why you should have an updated Corporate Headshot appeared first on Into The Picture.