Monday, February 22, 2010
Step 3: Launch Your Program
Friday, October 16, 2009
Introducing Adam Truesdell
Step 2: Creating a Custom Program
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Dressed for Success
We’ve all heard the old adage, “The clothes make the man (or woman)” and selecting the correct clothing for a business portrait can have a big impact on your overall impression. Most business professionals would agree “competent, warm, friendly, trustworthy and sharp” are descriptions that would be desirable in a business portrait. And we all have pictures of ourselves buried in a drawer somewhere that do not contain any of these attributes. Let’s look at some simple guidelines to help you make sure your next portrait is your best portrait.
The goal of any great portrait is to draw the viewer’s attention toward the face. Suits in solid colors such as blue, black, brown and gray are best for both men and women. Suits tailored from structured fabrics such as wool and linen work well and single-breasted suits or jackets tend to lay better when you are sitting for a portrait. Accent your eye color with your shirt or tie choice. This will help draw your viewers’ focus to your eyes. If you are looking for a more casual look and will be in a shirt, go with long sleeves and solid, classic colors. Avoid colors that are similar to flesh tones such as pinks, tan, peaches, beiges or yellows.
Fit is also very important; the camera will reveal whether your clothing is too tight or drapes poorly. If you have fit questions, ask a good tailor to alter your clothing for your portrait.
For women, v-necks are flattering provided they aren’t exaggerated in style. Avoid bulky cowl neck sweaters that completely hide your neck. Avoid busy patterns or large amounts of white or very bright colors. Stay away from trendy fashions. This year’s fashion trend is tomorrows embarrassing flashback.
When wearing accessories, metal jewelry works well. Necklaces should be short and go with the neckline of the blouse. Earrings need to be separate from the hair.
Your wardrobe is important, but don’t overlook the other elements in your portrait. Plan a trip to the hair salon one week before your portrait. And this is not the time to try a new hairstyle. Men should be well groomed and if you have a beard or mustache, keep it neatly trimmed.
The use of makeup will affect the look of your portrait. Even if you prefer a natural look, a good foundation can smooth out skin tones, and a little lipstick and mascara can bring out your features. Color added to the cheeks or lips can enhance your appearance and help minimize any imperfections.
Finally, the big question we hear from nearly every business client is “Should I smile?” A good guideline is to go with the look that best represents your personality. A small smile with no teeth showing is better than an expression-less blank stare. Your employers’ preference and your profession may dictate a more serious look, so follow corporate guidelines.
When choosing the best portrait from several poses, remember this is a business portrait not your Facebook page, so choose accordingly. I recommend asking yourself “If I were my client, is this someone I would trust with my business”.
Thank you for reading my blog.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Getting Started – Step 1 Define Your Business Need
But that’s Step 2…
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Introducing Karen Driskill
Let me introduce myself, I’m Karen Driskill, account executive at CPI Corporation’s B2B Business Portraits.
My sales and customer service experience began more than a dozen years ago while managing advertising clients’ broadcast programming. From there I moved into advertising sales earning my ‘road warrior’ badge along with many frequent flyer points.
Happily, I found my way to CPI’s Business Portrait division (B2B Portraits) combining my love of photography with my sales and marketing background. As part of my new position, I needed a portrait.
My co-workers were matter of fact when they mentioned that my business card portrait would be taken the following Friday afternoon. It had been many years since I had my portrait taken and I’ve never been a fan. Must be my past photo sessions in school, where you were herded into a room, seated, the photo was snapped and you were whisked away. No wonder the school pictures were a gallery of surprised and stunned looks.
My experience was a pleasure and for that brief moment, I felt like I was the center of attention. Something we can all use once in a while.
A professional business portrait goes a long way in conveying to your audience: customers, co-workers, and staff, a sense of trust in your abilities. With electronic communication replacing face-to-face interaction, a portrait places a ‘face’ with your proposal, conference call or Web meeting. I use mine on business cards, in emails, PowerPoint presentations and any other customer facing communications (like the company blog). We’ve all heard that people like to do business with people they like and the professional business portrait helps move your interaction in that direction.
Next, I will walk you through my trip to a Portrait Studio. Tune in.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
About B2B Portraits
The provider you choose for your business portrait needs can make all the difference in terms of quality, consistency, and convenience. B2B Portraits has been a leader in the portrait photography industry for more than 60 years and our network of 3,000 high-quality professional studios is the largest in the U.S.
As the first and largest all-digital portrait studio, B2B Portraits and its partners can offer high-resolution versions of your image via your choice of a secure FTP site or a CD, which you can take with you the same day as your session! A copyright release is available so that you may use the image as needed (e.g., business cards, brochures, websites, annual reports, etc.).
Also, we have experience working with third-party printing and marketing vendors. B2B Portraits has the knowledge and technology to set up your image specifications, coordinate the transfer of your images to any designated provider, and develop specialized solutions for a variety of business portrait needs.