Did you know that headshots today are the new first impressions!

Back in the olden days, people often thought they could tell a personality by their handshake. “I was a little wigged out by how strong this lady’s grip was. She must be a bit controlling.” Or what about, “His handshake was like a dead fish. I bet he’s a spineless jellyfish.” Harsh, right? But people absolutely think this way when they meet you. The handshake is still a great a way to determine a personality, BUT what if they are not meeting you in person? These days, with job recruiting and business dealings being online, you may not even GET a chance to shake someone’s hand. So how are you making your first impression? And how can you differentiate yourself in a sea of others in the online world?

Imagine your headshot as the “new handshake” for online.

Think of how often you use: Facebook, LinkedIn, dating sites, Google+. The social media platforms are endless, and your profile picture SAYS something about you. If your picture is either an iphone #selfie or a picture of you with someone else that you cropped them out, what do you think that communicates to future whatevers (boss, significant others, clients)? (Cough. Yen Studios can help with this dilemma. Email me to set up an appointment!! Cough.)

So now that we have established why you need a good headshot and you have already set up your appointment 🙂 , we now come to the age-old question of what do I wear and what do I bring??

First of all, we offer two kinds of headshots: the Corporate head shots, which I like to call the “One and done’s;” and then the professional headshot package (I don’t really have a cool name for that one). Think of corporate headshots as schoolday pictures for adults, and the professional headshot package as senior portraits for adults. And no, I’m not kidding you. These two types of headshots require different outfits.

Corporate headshots are offered on a white, grey, or blue background. They are very simple and to the point – great for corporations. This is most likely the kind you will want if your employer asks you to get one or if you are on the prowl for a new job.

For these headshots, I recommend business professional dress. That means a suit, guys! You don’t have to wear a tie if that’s not your thing, but you definitely need a button up with a suit jacket that fits. You can wear any color button up and jacket as long as it doesn’t detract from your face. If it’s too loud, choose something else. And it needs to be ironed or wrinkle-free. Ladies, you can also wear a button up, a blouse, or a dress with a jacket. Sweaters will suffice too. Typically for a biz professional outfit, people should not wear sleeveless shirts without a jacket, but that’s up to you. Bring a few jewelry pieces for that extra pizazz, including earrings and possibly a statement necklace. It really does make a difference. (Again, not too loud though.) Also, note that your legs will not be in the picture, so your pants do not have to match, but it may get you in the “money making/let’s get down to business” zone if you’re rocking a powersuit.

My best advice for the corporate headshots are to pretend you are going on a job interview. With that mentality, that is what this headshot can do for you – open doors for job interviews. It shows people you mean business and that you can dress up and be the star player you are. Employers will be drooling over it, too. Here’s some examples of a corporate headshot.

For the professional headshot package that we offer, you will not only get a corporate headshot, but you also get casual shots. These shots are great for a more casual feel, and it says to the viewer, “yeah, this person looks like they can be fun AND professional.” 😉 I love these sessions because you can really express yourself through the clothes you bring, the poses you do, and the locations we choose together. It adds life to your profile and differentiates you from the rest of the pack. In addition to checking out my list below, refer back to one of my earlier articles on the DO’S AND DON’TS! There are some great tips on there and minor overlap.

For these photo sessions, you will want to bring:

1. Many outfit options. It’s better to be over-prepared with great options than stuck with only one that you may not be happy with. Don’t forget to coordinate shoes. And if it’s chilly, bring a nice jacket. We MAY do some outdoor shots, and a nice jacket is definitely a breath of fresh air. (ha – get it?? Outside, fresh air…nevermind.) For outfits, here’s what I’m talking. 1 business professional outfit. 2-3 swanky outfits. (Something that you would wear to go out on a date or to a semi-nice party, aka snappy casual.)  1-2 casual outfit with jeans, but still a semi-nice shirt/blouse or polo. Like I said, bring a couple of different tops/options that you can rotate out of if something isn’t working.

2. Things that make you like YOU. If you wear glasses everyday, and people will probably not recognize you without them, then wear your glasses! We can do some without glasses, too. This goes for necklaces, certain jackets, colors, boots…cowboy boots. 😉

3. Clothes that you are comfortable in. This point is more concerning bringing clothes that are a peace of mind. If you think you have big arms, bring a jacket, or a sweater, or something with sleeves. If you don’t like your legs then wear pants, or a long skirt, or tights. You get my point. Do NOT bring things that you recognize makes you look fat. (If you have to ask, don’t wear it). I’m sorry to say this, but the camera will mercilessly add 5-10 lbs to you. Something that may make you look big, can be 1 of two things. One is something that is too tight and unforgiving on your body. Folks, just be honest with yourself here. It’s ok. No judgement from me or my team! The other is something that is too loose and flowy (things with a lot of fabric). These could look great in person, but the camera will capture those times when your flowy maxi creates a nonexistent baby bump on even the skinniest of ladies…

4. Touch up stuff. I’m talking bring the make-up bag. You will want to freshen up your lipstick. Bring a hairbrush just in case. And when/if you get all sweaty bring some powder for your nose and forehead. The shininess will show through and trust me when I say you will be glowing, not in the best way either. Also, a few hairpins are nice if you want to change your hairdo midway through.

5. Check the bra, ladies. Don’t wear a top+bra combo that won’t cooperate. What I mean is: if your bra strap pops out once, it will inevitably pop out again. And again. And again. No, I don’t want to spend hours retouching your 65 photos or however many you choose to retouch out your bra strap. You may not think of it before you come to the shoot, but it will be the first thing that you see when you get back the pictures. Wear a different bra or maybe a different top.

So, do you feel like you are all ready for your headshot? Yes? Good! Let me know if there is anything I can add to this list or more questions to answer! And remember to keep Yen Studios in mind for your first impressions!

Madison

madison@yenstudios.com

Yay, so you just landed your first big time gig shooting for xyz editorial/magazine! Congratulations! You worry, “Omg, what do I wear, bring, do, say? How should I act and pose?” Ok, these are all valid questions. I am going to answer all of them, PLUS SOME! Woohoo, right?

First off, what makes us credible? We shoot a lot of models. We help out small, local businesses showing off their clothes. We also shoot for BIG corporations who sometimes need models to show off their products. We shoot for Click Magazine. Used to shoot for 4Memphis Magazine. And we are constantly building a portfolio of fashion/editorial work. And, albeit biased, we shoot the best fashion/editorial in town. I wanted to create this post because 1. many have asked me to, and 2. there are little things here and there that are downright frustrating things some models do that drive photographers crazy!! So here we go.

First impressions. What if we saw your portfolio, thought it was good and are giving you a try, but we have no previous experience working with you? Here’s a few quick tips.

Honesty! This is Rup’s pet peeve. You better look like your description/portfolio. Be HONEST! If you say you are 5’10 110lbs, you enter the room and we see you are shorter than me and the same size (I’m 5’10…and not 110lbs), we are going to be ticked. We might even send you home, depending on how big of a lie it is. It’s ok to not be 5’10. A lot of our models range from 5’8-5’11. Perfect example, for the October fashion spread, the model was 5’3!! And if we don’t know your ACTUAL size because you’ve lied about it, the stylist pulls the wrong size clothes and nothing fits…aka more retouching for us. So just be honest with us because if you’ve ever met Rupert, he will be brutally honest with you. We are a no bull, no sugarcoating kinda team.

Nails! This is my pet peeve. Your nails should be REASONABLE. As in, I should look at the pictures and NOT notice them. No nail polish, unless it’s nude. And not too long. It’s not good for you and more retouching for us. Or it just ruins the mood. Like what if we are shooting for a senior care center or something, and you’re a nurse, and you’re nails are ridiculously long…? You have to fit the scene. Be versatile. That’s the job of a model and an actor/actress for that matter. So cut them!

Hair. No funky hair color, unless you were hired for funky hair color, or grunge attitude or whatever. No extensions. One girl came in with this really long weave. The hairstylist took it all out! We were 2 hours behind for the shoot, and well – that kinda sucks because time is money.

Tattoos. Be aware of your tattoos. Some photogs want that look. Others don’t. If you know that in this particular pose that your tattoo will be showing, and it’s large (as in bigger than a tennis ball in diameter) find a different pose or ask the photographer what he/she wants to do. Tattoos take time to retouch to make it look like it’s supposed to. And by being aware of it, it shows the photog that you care about the post work they will have to do to remove it. We thank you for that.

So those are quick tips. Now for the questions.

1. What do you wear? Unless the modeling agency, photographer, or art director states otherwise, it  doesn’t matter. Honestly. Wear sweats for all we care. You will be put in clothes to model. Ahhh, makes sense, right? Do NOT wear make-up (unless asked). No perfume – we don’t want to the clothes to smell when we return them to the store. Also, this sounds weird, but do not wear tight socks or any other pieces of clothing that will leave marks on your body, like lines from tight pants or whatever. I don’t want to retouch the lines after we shoot. I would rather them just not be there in the first place. You should be a blank canvas for hair and make-up and showing off the clothes.

2. What do I bring? Just because you sometimes need it, please bring nude and black pumps and flip flops or shoes to slide on or off. That is for you to wear when you are modeling designer shoes so you can slide on and off getting to and from the shooting spot. We do not want to scuff up the shoes. Also, bring a nude strapless bra.

3. What do you do, how do you act/pose? Really, just do whatever they tell you to do. No need to help carry or move things, unless asked. When stopping for lunch, change back into your clothes so you do not get food on the designer clothes. Practice your poses the night before, so you look prepared. Get rest so there are no baggies under your eyes. And also, this is important…after the photographer takes the picture, move! Do not just sit there and wait for him to take 10 shots of you doing the same pose! Make small, subtle, and noticeable movements after each click. If he/she wants you to go back to a pose before, they will tell you. **Here are some general guidelines, but we have SEEN THEM ALL, which is sad, but true. Do not be LATE! Do not STEAL. Do not do drugs before a shoot for obvious reasons. (That sounds stupid, but it has happened!!) Also, be NICE to your photographer because he/she has the final control on how you look!! Karma…

4. What do you say? Have a personality. Don’t be shy, but don’t be super loud and opinionated either. And if the photog/make-up artist/hairstylist are happy with what they created, but you don’t like it – DO NOT TELL THEM. You are not being hired to give your opinion; you are being hired because everyone thought YOU were the best fit for the look and style and design they were going for! I know this stinks. I would be the worst model ever because I have an opinion on everything! But I recognize that, so I don’t try to be a model.

Ok, so here was just a short list of what photographers REALLY want from their models! I wish you all the best of luck! And hey, if you are trying to get your name out there, apply to modeling agencies, ask to be critiqued, etc.

Also, check out our Facebook page later today for a Christmas special!! Facebook.com/yenstudios

xoxo

madison

So the November issue of Click Magazine has just come out, and we are so excited to show you what we came up with. We had a Thanksgiving-focused spread where we featured the AMAZING food from Felicia Suzanne Restaurant! And then we also had a fashion spread featuring transitional fall clothes on the beautiful grounds of Annesdale Mansion. Ahh, love it! Of course, we had our amazing team helping with the shoot. Jennifer and Maggie directing from Click Magazine, Alex styling and doing make-up from City Chic Living, and Marcie hair styling with Revolution Salon.

So here are snapshots from the magazine! 🙂

Felicia was featured on the cover! Her interview was excellent! Imagine chilling at home with Felicia. You see her amazing dishes cooked in her very own kitchen, just shootin’ the bull and learning more about her and her food inspiration. That pie was OMG to die for (and it’s served at her restaurant, peeps, just sayin’).

Here were a few food shots. Food photography is a relatively new thing for us, so I am really happy with how these came out. We shot the food shots with the Sinar, a medium format camera.

And then our fashion spread has an outdoor tea party feel mixed with a vintage travel themed-vibe to it.  Check it out, starting with the Table of contents. The girl opening the screen door happens to be my dad’s favorite. He just likes the feel. What do you guys think?

Anyways folks. That was our November Click Magazine! Hope you liked it, and I’ll catch ya later!

Hint, there may or may not be a Christmas special coming up…

xoxo

Madison

So Monday is long gone. Not gonna come back for another 6 days…Tuesday work day is done. That’s all that matters, right? What does that mean? Tomorrow is….HUMP DAY! (Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike – Guess what day it is??? LOL Anyone, anyone…?? Ok, I’ll just go back to my little corner over here.)

Anyways, when I was living in Paris, I called these very special days “Hump Day Pub Day!” which is day for celebration, if you will.

It’s halfway through the work week, and just two more days to Friday. (That’s when we at Yen Studios JAM to Rebecca Black’s “Friday” song). BUT before you start pubbin’ it up in your cubicle, you should channel your inner zen to wait for that 5 o’clock happy hour.

What’s that you say? You don’t know how to channel zen anything?? Well, my friend, I can help you here. I have some very legit pictures of some legit yoga teachers showing their skills. Not models; all of this is real! (Big shoutout to the Memphis Hot Yoga Plus and their AMAZING teachers.) So, let’s walk through these poses together.

Ok, Kathleen here is laying on a ball. Duh. Now, this is my kinda yoga. Laying on a ball and working out kinks and knots. 🙂

This one is a bit more intense. I’m not exactly sure how her hands get there without her arms detaching from her shoulder sockets. Personal opinion, moving on.

Ahh, Jamie here is in warrior 2. A fierce pose and a classic! Yeah, I can be fierce.

This one is a bit more difficult. Camel pose. If you start feeling nauseous here, that’s perfectly normal. SAID NO ONE EVER. Unless you’re a yoga teacher, and then you say it every time you make your students do camel pose.

Look here. Andy is doing a nice triangle pose. Great stretch. And he’s smiling, so he must enjoy it. 🙂

And now he seems to be doing crow pose. Gotta love those arm balances. Of course in Andy’s words, “The advanced variation here is to SMILE”…while you are balancing your entire body weight on your elbows. Yeah Andy, I’ll get right on that.

Michele is doing the good ol’ Eagle pose. The last part of the warm-up series for Hot26 or Bikram practice. Great all around stretch for the arms and legs. Sometimes my foot gets a little crampy wrapping around the calf, but ya know, I muscle through. 

I think this one is called the flying lizard. It’s very simple, you see. You just balance on your hands while your arms are bent at a perfect 90 degree angle while your legs are in splitzies, and one leg is balanced on your elbow. WTF???? I’m just gonna take a little water break and uhhh go back to the HUMP Day PUB day idea. I think that provides plenty of zen! And ya know, it’s 5 o’clock somewhere. 😉

-namaste peeps-till next week.

madison

Man, I can’t believe how time flies! Tomorrow is the first day of October! And what better way to start October than to have a brand spanking new issue of Click Magazine where our photography is slathered all over the magazine, including the: COVER, fashion spread, AND the real estate section?! 😀

We had a great time making this issue at the amazing Great River Lodge, located in Proctor, Arkansas. The guys at the Lodge were so friendly and we shot some great pictures featuring the Lodge for your next hunting adventure. They are also available for weddings, events, and conferences. 😉

The models for this shoot were Lillie Burrow and Ethan Glover. They were both really sweet and had a great dynamic for the shoot. Hair was done by Marcie Keech-Seccombe, and the make-up was done by Matt Gosset. (Their contacts are available upon request). They are both AMAZING!

Photography was of course done by us, Yen Studios (Rupert and Madison Yen)! 🙂 Duh.

See the photos from the shoot below!

Love this cover!

Just a peek-a-boo of the spread from the Table of Contents.

Check out the double spread here for the Fashion Spread, hunting themed! Or as they call it…Sporting Chic!

And here is the Great River Lodge! There is a warm and cozy feeling at the Lodge, and it makes for a really unique outing.

And here is our ad, which was featured right after the spread.

We love coordinating with local magazines to show our work, broaden our style, and have great opportunities to be published!

Till next week, y’all!

Madison

Today marks the beginning of fall. It’s that time of year for cooler weather, pumpkin spice lattes, and colorful leaves.

It’s sad, right? I love the summer time. All the country songs of young love in the summer, swimming in a creek, going to fairs…ya know – the good stuff. **Cough Kenny cough Chesney**. That feeling of warmth, the summer haze, and greenery everywhere.

So here’s an homage to you, dear ole summertime. I’ll miss you and the hot July moon, but I will look forward to long tan legs, strawberry wine, and pontooning next year. 😉

Can you feel it? The heat just from the pictures? Well, I guess that’s enough of that. Now, on to fall.

🙂

Madison