Is It Reckless Abandonment?

You've hired a professional to perform a service. So why aren't they guiding you through the most important part of the process?

When you have a professional headshot or just about any other professional image created, chances are your photographer sends you on your way. Within a day or two the photographer emails you a link to an online gallery to make you selections.

Like most people, you’ll seek the opinions of family, friends, and colleagues. You’ll receive conflicting opinions based on who knows what. Then it’s up to you to decide based on the opinions of people with no training in imaging and marketing, let alone how both need to interact in order to be effective tools. A decision that will influence the trajectory of your business and career.

?When a photographer does this to you, they are not doing their job. It’s the equivalent to reckless abandonment.

?In addition to providing all my clients guidance in preparing for their sessions, I also guide them through the image selection process right there, in the studio, immediately after we’ve captured the last image. Both before and during the session I’ve learned why they need the images, how and where they are going to be used, and the career and business goals they will be supporting. Using that information, the images are displayed on a large screen where we can evaluate, compare, and select the images that best fit each usage scenario. We’re not just selecting images that look great, we’re selecting the images that effectively communicate your message as well as positively connect with your target audience on an emotional level. Once the process is completed, there’s nothing left to do except to look forward to receiving your retouched images, typically within seven days.

?Does this mean your session will take more time? Yes. But it also means my clients leave confident they have selected the right images for the job. No wasting time waiting for a link to an image gallery, not relying on the opinions of untrained friends and family members, and no added stress in their lives. The job is done.

What about location sessions where sitting down to select your images is not feasible? We schedule a time to meet at my studio or setup a Zoom call for me to guide you through the selection process.

?Your headshots and images have a huge impact on your level of success. Yet they are typically the most neglected aspect in planning for marketing and career advancement. Always be sure you are receiving professional guidance when selecting the images that represent you and your business to support your specific goals.

Charlie Cotugno is the owner of Charles Cotugno Photography and is a Seattle headshot photographer/specialist and Seattle commercial photographer whose clients range from individuals to Fortune 100 companies. He is also a sought-after speaker on the topic of leveraging photography for career advancement and marketing success as well as implementing the creative process for innovation in the workplace. To learn how Charlie can guide you through your visual imaging process, visit www.CCheadshots.com, email [email protected], or call/text 425.501.9725.