Outdoor Photoshoot Singapore – Fort Canning Park

Photoshoot at Fort Canning Park in Singapore

These are all images from a portrait shoot in Fort Canning Park – Singapore. The session was with extended family but the focus was on the youngest daughter. As you see the outfits fit extremely well with the green background.

We got all these shots within a circle of probably 50 meters. Which just proves, that there is not need to trek around very far to get a diverse gallery.

 

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Headshot Photographer – how to prepare for your headshot

Finding the right headshot photographer can be tricky

All photographers have their own style. It is very important you find  a headshot photographer with  with a style you like and that appeals to you. All photographers have a portfolio which shows their shooting and editing style. It is vital that you check that portfolio out before you book. That portfolio is the representation of their style and best work, If you like what you see then go with it. If not, then keep looking. I would strongly advice you agains asking a headshot photographer for a ‘different style’. If you don’t like said photographers style, then move on to the next, until you find one you like. 
professional headshot Singapore

Price matters!

Price matters to everyone. I see it over and over again “can someone recommend a photographer who doesn’t break the bank”. However, as a rule of thumb, you get what you pay for.  Some photographers do it for free, others charge $1000. Please look at the portfolio before you book, them make sure you are OK with the price. It sure is cheaper to find the right photographer first time around, rather than having to reshoot, because you have selected your photographer base on pricing.
Lastly, please double check what you pay for! Do you get high resolution digital images? Low resolution images? Are they edited? It is important to understand the exact package you pay for. 

How many images do I need

I often see the request of a ‘good headshot photographer who doesn’t cost and arm and a leg and who can give me 100 digitals tomorrow by noon’. In this case I would like to remind you that less is more. You need 3-5 good headshots to cover all social media platforms and a website. If you run your own business you may consider an extended shoot for personal branding, to show yourself with different expressions and in different environments. If you need personal branding. please get in touch to chat about your options and what I can do for you.
https://www.theresaolesenportraits.com/sessions/headshot-offer/

What style should I do?

I get this question all the time, and unfortunately I cannot give you the answer. Simply because only you know the answer to this. However, here are a few pieces of advice that I give to everyone who have booked a headshot session with me.

Stick to your own style!

You need to dress according to who you are. You need to match your brand and what you do. If you are an artist you would most likely be more relaxed in style, yet still looking professional in a good choice of colours.… If you are a criminal defence lawyer you would wear a suit.… You should keep your style in line with your brand and your profession. If you wear relaxed attire every day for work, then do the same for your headshot portrait. People will find it odd if you are wearing a suit and formal attire in your picture and you rock up in jeans and t-shirt when they meet you.  Of course you want to look your best. So you go with ‘the best outfit’ within your normal work wardrobe. 
headshot in white outfit

Ask your friends how they see you.

 Ask them which colours look good on you. If you are considering buying new clothes for the shoot then send a picture to someone who know you really well and ask them what they think. Close friends / family are often ruthlessly honest. If they give you that OMG face, well then that new top is not the one you should wear for your headshot. If they say ‘oh that is just you’ then that is exactly what you should wear. 

Iron your clothes!

 Not much to elaborate here, but why pay for a headshot and wear a wrinkled top. Make sure your clothes is clean and ironed. 

Dress comfortably!

It is so important to feel comfortable with what you are wearing. I always recommend people to wear their favourite clothing items as they will 100% feel comfortable. This is much better than new outfits bought for the purpose of a headshot photo shoot. 
I often see people who have bought new clothing look uncomfortable. 
If you are concentrating on sucking in your tummy or not showing your upper arm, it will show in your expression. And lets make this clear, your expression is so much more important than what you wear. So make sure you wear something that makes you feel at ease and happy. 

What colours should I wear for my headshot. 

This is entirely up to you. Again, go with your style and your brand. And most importantly go with a colour that suits you. You will definitely have a dominant colour in your wardrobe, most likely because you love that colour and it suits you. Just pick that colour. Again it is more about looking relaxed, and you won’t look relaxed if you are not wearing a colour you love. 
If in doubt, go for solid colours! Solid colours always photograph well. I would avoid very colourful tops with heavy patterns, as it takes away the attention from your face. At the end of the day the headshot is about your face and not your outfit. 
However, if you are a colourful top kind of person then absolutely go for it, you would look odd otherwise! 
You can always spice it up your outfit with layers… A top with a light jacket is a great ida. You can then easily make a shot a more formal with the jacket if you want. 
singapore professional headshot

Bring one extra outfit!

I strongly recommend you to bring an extra outfit / top to make a more diverse range of images. When you book your headshot session with me, we shoot for five images, in this case two outfits will be perfect. With different lighting techniques and two different outfits you will get a good varied range of styles.  
Please don’t bring a suitcase full of clothes. Again a headshot session is five images. Two outfits is absolutely perfect. If you would like a more diverse range of images and more styles, you should consider a personal branding session where we shoot for more images. 

Don’t worry about shoes! 

A headshot is a headshot! Unless you go for an extended personal branding shoot where we do full body images, then don’t worry about your feet – they won’t show in the image

Chill out! Relax! 

We live in a digital day and age. We can delete images we are not happy with. Relax your shoulders and smile your smile. Don’t try to put on a face that is not yours for the sake of the camera. Once the camera is gone, it is that face of yours, that smile and that expression that is selling you and your service. Some people do big smiles, that is just them – its their thing to give a wide smile. Some people don’t do big smiles, looking content and relaxed is their thing. Do your thing, smile your smile!

A few practical notes a out your session

80% of my my  headshot sessions are done on a  grey background. This is the most versatile background. It matches all skin types and any colour of clothes. It puts the focus on you. A headshot is about you and not the background. 
Some people request for a certain background as their image is to match a pre determined style on a website. That is absolutely fine. We can do that, just tell me beforehand if you have any specific requirements for the background. 
I love to do unconventional headshots. Flowers, colours you name it. We do this if that is something you need and if it fits your brand. Again any such requirements and wishes, just let me know and we will create something special for you.
headshot-with-flowers_ singapore headshot photographer

How long does it take?

A headshot shoot with me takes around 45 minutes. There is no time limit, but this is the time you should set aside for the shoot. Headshot sessions for women include one hour professional hair and makeup before your shoot, hence you should set aside 1 hour 45 minutes for the total session. 
Hair and makeup is done in exactly the style you want. Having this done professionally takes the stress away from having your headshot done. You can turn up as you are and the makeup parties till make sure your makeup and hair is done in exactly the style you want it. Your style. Just tell her how you want your look.

After your headshot

Unless otherwise stated, you will get your images maximum 5 working days after your shoot.
Any skin imperfections and stray hairs will be edited. However, if you want freckles, moles, scares removed please state this at your session. 
Don’t feel afraid of asking or being asked about photoshop requests. I photograph people all the time and would much rather hear your requests for photoshopping so I can deliver some images that you will love and use. 
yes, pretty much 90% of my clients ask me to reduce their eye bags! There is no shame in that. It is normal! We all have eyebags and we all would prefer to reduce them a bit:)
Major editing such as making eyes bigger, colour changing clothes, removal of double chins may or may not be possible and can be subject to additional fees depending on the request. 
It is important to state all editing requests at your shoot and not after. Any reedits of the images are subject to a fee of $80 per hour of editing. 

Reach out

If you have any questions, are in doubt what to wear or just want to tell me how you would like your headshots, then reach out. I am always at the other end of the line 9754 1759

 

headshot portrait session with Theresa Olesen Portraits

Headshot of Tony Estrella – Author of Comatose

Tony Estrella – author of Comatose

I recently had the pleasure of doing Tony Estrella’s headshot. Tony is an author and contacted me as he needed a headshot of himself for the Publishizer’s website, where you can pre-order his new book ‘Comatose’! 

I love doing headshots and personal branded shoots. It is so interesting to get to know the person I am shooting and chat about what they do. Tony and I quickly got chatting about his new book ‘Comatose’. The book follows the lives of four strangers who are trying to cheat death. A link between lucid dreaming and comas leads to unexpected alliances in a life-threatening race for survival.

What intrigued me most about Tony’s story is that he literally dreamt the story! Over an 8 year period he took notes of his dreams and these notes became the base of the plot, characters, and key scenes. 

How amazing is that! What unique talent to have. I always wondered how authors get inspired to write a novel, and I am totally in awe of Tony’s story and how ‘Comatose’ was created and written. 

A headshot is not just a headshot. It is so important to know the person in order to create the right setup, lighting and most importantly catch the right expression. From chatting with Tony, it was pretty clear that he cannot stop smiling. He simply is a happy guy! There was no way he could not smile in the picture. If he didn’t smile it wouldn’t be Tony!

‘Comatose’

Being a portrait photographer means that I lean so much about everything and anything through the people I photograph. It was a privilege to spend an afternoon with Tony and learn so much about what it means to be an author and a healthcare futurist like him. I am thrilled to have had the privilege to learn about the process he went through to write ‘Comatose’.

Tony has just launched he’s pre-sales campaign for “Comatose” and he has been selected as a semi-finalist by the William Faulkner-William Wisdom writing competition in the U.S. 

If you are curious to know more about Tony’s book, read the synopsis or do a pre-order of his book, just look at Publishizer’s site for ‘Comatose’. Any pre-order during August will come with a signed copy!. 

Can’t help but add below portrait of Tony. Being a portrait photographer it is hard to not shoot and edit a more portrait styled image. Clearly the shots that Tony will use for his personal branding are the ones where he is smiling. But below portrait simply shows how different you can style a shoot using posing, lighting and editing.

If you need a headshot or a personal banding shoot, you can read more about these kind of photo session here and you can see my headshot gallery here. Or simply call me on 9754 1759 to chat about it.

Booking a portrait session

Theresa Olesen is the only photographer in Singapore specialising in custom made portrait sessions.

All sessions with Theresa are done in the style you want. It all starts with a 1-2-1 pre-session consultation where we chat about your style, who you would like to be photographed with and what type of wall art you would like.

Unique to Theresa’s sessions are:

  • 1-2-1 pre-session consultation.
  • Sessions don’t have a time-limit.
  • All studio sessions include an hour professional hair and makeup (unless otherwise stated). 
  • You only buy what you like. View your full gallery before you commit to any purchase.
  • Enjoy using any outfit from the studio wardrobe, which is full of hundreds of women, girl and baby dresses. You are bound to find several dresses you will love.

The following is a short overview of exactly what happens when you book a portrait session with Theresa

Reach out:

If you haven’t already done so – contact me to book a ‘pre session consultation’. Just email theresa@olesenportraits.com or text/call me on 9754 1759 – this chat costs you nothing and there is no obligation to book any session. It is just a chat where you can ask any question you may have.

STEP 1: Your pre-session consultation:

This chat is completely free of charge and is done over the phone. It is a very important step, as this is when we plan your session. What style you like, who you would like to bring to your session, what shots are important to you etc.  It is your portrait session, you can tailor it exactly the way you want. Therefore it is important to go through everything before the session, so I can prepare the portrait setups before you arrive.

Of course we will stay in contact from this initial conversation until your session, and you can reach out at any time if you have questions or new ideas for your portrait session.

After the pre-session consultation – if you decide to book your photo session – you will be invoiced for $299, which is a non-refundable session fee. Your session date, can be changed up to 48 hours before your session. The $299 does NOT include any images. It is the same session fee for studio and outdoor sessions.

STEP 2: Your portrait session:

This will be either at my studio in Bukit Timah or outdoors at a location of your choice. All studio sessions include 1 hour of professional hair and makeup (included in your session fee).

We will start with hair and makeup. Some ladies choose to come alone for 1 hour relaxing hair and makeup before the rest of the family arrive. This is particularly advised for those of you with small children, as they generally don’t like waiting around for too long. This method can also be applied to teenagers who don’t like photoshoots.

There is no time limit to my family portrait sessions. This is because I like to take whatever time it takes to create a beautiful 20 image gallery. Timing depends a lot on what style of portraits you would like and how many people attend the shoot. As a rule of thumb, shooting time for my family sessions are 1-2 hours (plus the 1 hour hair and makeup).

All sessions are relaxed and fun. There are literally no two sessions that are the same. But I can guarantee that all my family sessions are stress free. All you have to do is turn up and enjoy being pampered, posed and photographed. And of course, most importantly, have some fun as a family, that is what I am here to capture.

STEP 3: Your viewing and ordering session:

Two weeks after your portrait session, we will find a date and time that suits you for your viewing and ordering session. This will be a video Zoom call where I will show you your final gallery of 20 fully edited images. You will then select which package you would like to purchase.

Most people order wall art too, these are frames and canvases. You will of course receive guidance in sizes and types of wall art.

The end result is a beautiful selection of prints and images that fit your needs and home.

Please note, that all orders are taken during this session. There is no online gallery and there is no second ordering session. I therefore advise you to all be there when we do this, so you can make a decision together as to which images you would like to purchase.

Additional ordering sessions are charged at $75 per session.

Before you shoot, please familiarise yourself with the  full pricelist.

All final portraits are of a very high standard. A lot of work goes into the editing process to make every image perfect, this is why you cannot view or purchase  unedited pictures and RAW files, if you want to know why, you can read here.

If you have any question please contact Theresa on 9754 1759. Theresa is always happy to answer any questions you may have, totally free of charge.

P.S If you want to see my portfolio, just click here.