Capturing Professional Presence: Maximizing the Impact of Your Headshot Across Platforms

High-quality headshots can positively impact your business or job prospects by creating a strong first impression. They enhance your professional image, convey confidence, and can be crucial for networking, job applications, or promoting your personal brand online. A polished headshot can help build trust and credibility with potential clients, employers, or collaborators.

Here are 10 ways you can maximize the use of your headshots:

1. Professional Networking: Use your headshot on professional networking platforms like LinkedIn to create a strong and approachable online presence.

2. Resume: Include your headshot on your resume to add a personal touch and make a memorable impression.

3. Business Cards: If you have business cards, consider adding your headshot for a more personalized and memorable touch.

4. Email Signature: Incorporate your headshot into your email signature to make your messages more personable and recognizable.

5. Social Media Profiles: Update your social media profiles with your headshot to maintain a consistent and professional online image.

6. Website or Blog: If you have a personal website or blog, use your headshot in the "About Me" section to connect with your audience.

7. Author Profiles: If you're an author, use your headshot on book covers, author profiles, or promotional materials.

8. Speaking Engagements: Include your headshot in promotional materials for speaking engagements or conferences to establish your identity.

9. Portfolio: If you're in a creative field, such as photography or design, showcase your headshot in your portfolio to add a personal touch.

10. Team Pages: If you're part of a team or organization, contribute your headshot to team pages or company profiles for a more human touch.

If you found this post helpful, spread the knowledge! Share it on your favorite social media platform and tag a friend who needs to see this.

Crafting Your Brand Story: Essential Steps for a Successful Photoshoot

A brand session typically involves capturing images that represent a brand's identity and values.

To prepare for the shoot, clients should:

  1. Define Brand Identity: Clearly outline the brand's message, values, and the image they want to convey.

  2. Storyboard or Shot List: Plan specific shots or scenarios that align with the brand's narrative.

  3. Select Wardrobe and Props: Choose outfits and props that reflect the brand's style and story.

  4. Location Scouting: Determine suitable locations that complement the brand's image.

  5. Coordinate with Photographer: Communicate preferences, expectations, and any specific elements to focus on during the shoot.

During the photoshoot:

  1. Setup: The photographer will set up lighting, backdrops, and ensure the overall scene aligns with the brand's aesthetic.

  2. Posing and Direction: Clients may be directed for natural and authentic poses that align with the brand's personality.

  3. Variety of Shots: Expect a mix of close-ups, full-body shots, and possibly candid moments to capture the essence of the brand.

  4. Reviewing Shots: Periodically review images to ensure they align with the brand's vision.

  5. Flexibility: Be open to improvisation and creative input from the photographer to capture unique and engaging visuals.

After the shoot:

  1. Image Selection: Collaborate with the photographer to select the best images that represent the brand effectively.

  2. Editing and Retouching: Depending on the agreement, the photographer may edit and retouch selected images to enhance their visual appeal.

  3. Delivery: Once finalized, the edited images will be delivered to the client for use in various marketing materials.

Save this post so you can look back at it for your next brand shoot.

5 Benefits of A Brand Photoshoot


Brand photos are crucial as they visually communicate your brand identity, evoke emotions, and create a memorable impression. Consistent and high-quality images help establish brand recognition, build trust, and differentiate your business in a visually saturated market.

5 Benefits of A Brand Photoshoot:

1. **Professional Image:** A brand shoot helps create high-quality, professional images that convey a polished and consistent image for your brand.

2. **Brand Recognition:** Consistent visuals across your marketing materials enhance brand recognition, making it easier for customers to identify and remember your brand.

3. **Storytelling:** Through carefully curated images, a brand shoot allows you to tell a visual story about your brand, its values, and its unique identity.

4. **Social Media Engagement:** Engaging visuals from a brand shoot can significantly boost your social media presence, attracting and retaining the attention of your target audience.

5. **Versatility:** The images captured during a brand shoot can be used across various platforms and marketing materials, providing versatility in your branding efforts.

How often should you do brand photos?
2-4 times a year. New photos with each season or when launching a new service or product.

Interested in booking a brand shoot?
Message me, and let’s talk.

Picture Perfect: How Branding Photos Can Transform Your Small Business

In today's fast-paced digital landscape, small businesses are constantly seeking innovative ways to stand out and connect with their target audience. One powerful tool that often gets overlooked is the impact of branding photos. Beyond just showcasing products or services, strategic and well-crafted visuals can elevate your brand, tell a compelling story, and foster a strong emotional connection with customers. In this blog post, we'll explore the numerous ways in which branding photos can benefit small businesses.

1. First Impressions Matter:

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and in the world of business, first impressions are crucial. Professional branding photos convey a sense of quality, reliability, and attention to detail. Whether on your website, social media profiles, or marketing materials, captivating visuals are the gateway to piquing interest and drawing potential customers in.

2. Building a Distinctive Brand Identity:

Consistent and thoughtfully curated branding photos contribute to the development of a strong brand identity. By maintaining a cohesive visual style across all platforms, you create a recognizable and memorable image for your business. This aids in differentiation, making your brand stand out in a crowded marketplace.

3. Telling Your Story:

People connect with stories, and your brand has a unique one to tell. Through carefully chosen visuals, you can narrate the journey of your business, its values, and the people behind it. Authentic storytelling fosters a sense of transparency and trust, forging a deeper connection with your audience.

4. Setting the Tone:

Colors, composition, and overall aesthetics in your branding photos contribute to setting the tone for your brand. Whether you aim for a vibrant and energetic feel or a more subdued and sophisticated vibe, visuals play a pivotal role in communicating the personality of your business.

5. Social Media Engagement:

In the age of social media dominance, captivating visuals are key to stopping the scroll. Well-crafted branding photos increase the likelihood of engagement, likes, and shares, expanding your reach and building a community around your brand.

6. Professionalism and Credibility:

High-quality branding photos convey a sense of professionalism and competence. They reassure potential customers that your business is serious about its offerings, inspiring confidence and credibility. This is particularly crucial for small businesses looking to establish themselves in competitive markets.

7. Versatility in Marketing:

From website banners to social media posts, print materials, and even email newsletters, branding photos are versatile assets that can be repurposed across various marketing channels. This not only saves time but ensures a consistent visual representation of your brand across different touchpoints.

To sum it all up, investing time and resources into professional branding photos is not just a luxury for large corporations but a strategic necessity for small businesses as well. By harnessing the power of visuals, you can effectively communicate your brand's personality, connect emotionally with your audience, and leave a lasting impression that sets your business apart in the competitive market. So, let your pictures speak volumes and watch as your small business blossoms into a recognizable and beloved brand.

What Color Will You Wear For Your Next Photoshoot?

Planning your outfit for your next photoshoot?

I remember in my college photography classes learning about how certain colors look better on a person depending on your hair, eye and skin color.

This guide will help you think through the colors you will wear at your next photoshoot. All of these tips are of course a suggestion, but try it out and see if you agree :)

What is a preset, and what does it do?

What is a preset, and what does it do?
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
To some, they are magical and life changing.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I for one am one of those people.😂
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Every single day I edit photos on my computer or phone, I use presets to enhance my photographs.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
A preset is a recipe of ingredients used to make a good photo look great. It’s ingredients consist of adjustments on exposure, contrast, cool or warm temperatures, green or pink tints, deep shadows, or bright backgrounds, luminance and hues, etc. My favorite presets to use are CC Mobile Presets.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Each preset works differently. Some are made to brighten a dark photo. While others focus on enhancing colors, increasing contrast and lowering the exposure.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Depending on how your photo was taken, will depend on which preset will look best for your final edit.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Adding a preset to a dark photo that was meant to bring back highlights (making highlights darker) would end up making the entire photo darker.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Or, using a bright preset (raising exposure) to an already bright photo, would make your photograph overexposed (too bright).
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
These are just a couple tips on using presets. Stick around and I’ll share more in the future or feel free to check out after/before photos at CC Mobile Presets on Instagram.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Do you have any questions about presets? Leave your questions in the comments section and I’ll dive deeper into them.

After editing the photo below, I went one step further to change up my creative game by flipping the photo.

Top photo: After, Bottom photo: before

Brand photography by Clovis, NM photographer Cristy Cross_0009.jpg

Left: After, Right: Before

Brand photography by Clovis, NM photographer Cristy Cross_0010.jpg

Brand Photography

CURRENTLY BOOKING BRAND SESSIONS
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Please hear this with magnificent passion.
⭐️I LOVE MY JOB⭐️
I can’t stress it enough.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Every time I photograph entrepreneurs we talk about their dreams, my dreams, and then we encourage each other to keep going and taking steps towards those dreams.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Let me help you get started on your dream. First step is writing them out.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Write one of your dreams in the comments below. Once you put it out there, you are one step closer to reaching that dream.

Brand Photography byClovis, New Mexico photographer Cristy Cross_0013.jpg
Brand Photography byClovis, New Mexico photographer Cristy Cross_0014.jpg
Brand Photography byClovis, New Mexico photographer Cristy Cross_0015.jpg
Brand Photography byClovis, New Mexico photographer Cristy Cross_0016.jpg
Brand Photography byClovis, New Mexico photographer Cristy Cross_0017.jpg
Brand Photography byClovis, New Mexico photographer Cristy Cross_0018.jpg
Brand Photography byClovis, New Mexico photographer Cristy Cross_0019.jpg

Give Me All The Food

My two passions have officially collided. Food and photography.

It’s no lie that we all love to eat. Am I right? Let me guess. Right now you are thinking of your favorite dish or dessert that makes you go into a far off land. haha

Lately, I’ve been diving into brand and commercial photography and several of my clients are food companies. Yay for me, because AFTER I take all the mouth watering pictures, I eat all the goodness. And sometimes I share with my family too. Let’s be honest, they love my new job too.

Food Photography For Freanna Yogurt with Cristy Cross Photography_0020.jpg
Food Photography For Freanna Yogurt with Cristy Cross Photography_0021.jpg


Who’s hungry? Is your mouth watering yet?

Food Photography For Freanna Yogurt with Cristy Cross Photography_0027.jpg
Food Photography For Freanna Yogurt with Cristy Cross Photography_0028.jpg

Food inspires me and I am so thrilled this adventure has crossed my path. Ask any of my friends and family, and they will tell you all I talk about is food. I’m even talking about lunch while eating breakfast!

When we are passionate about certain things in our lives, we put our whole heart behind it, and that is what I do here for each of my clients.

I’m also passionate about taking adventurous trips, yet I’ve been able to do that. So for now, I’m living vicariously through my friend Kris McNeil. I’ve met her through a group of other photographers and her work is phenomenal. Take a look at her blog post. She just went on a National Geographic trip you guys!!! How amazing is that? I would give my left kidney to do be a National Geographic photographer. That has always been a dream. Just wait. When you see her pictures you will fall in love with the landscape. I’m pretty sure if I witnessed her photos in person, I would cry. I would cry, because God is so amazing at all the things he creates.

 

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING