headshot SESSIONS MAY LOOK LIKE YOU NEED MONTHS AND MONTHS OF PRACTICE BEFORE HOPPING IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA, BUT YOU REALLY DON'T! AS LONG AS YOU'RE PREPARED OF COURSE.
Remember, headshots are exactly that - shots of your head (and sometimes your arms). So you can save props, coffee mugs, laptops, etc for your full branding session when you’re ready to book.
Wardrobe Styling
Your headshot session is the perfect intro to your story. Your headshot session should showcase who you are, turned up a notch, so we invite you to BRING IT when it comes to your personal style.
Pick a look that reflects your personality. If fashion is your hobby, grab a fun piece out of your closet. Hire a professional wardrobe stylist if fashion isn’t your sweet spot. Or ask your most fashionista friend if you don't know what to wear.
Sometimes people want to know what color will work best in headshot photos. I don't want to tell you what I think will look best on you because really only you know. I will say that personally, for headshots I love to shoot a good monochrome look. If you love color, add it; if you express your personality through glasses or accessories, bring your fav! Patterns are fun for those confident enough to rock them. A cute pair of earrings and a simple necklace (or a statement necklace for the bold) always make great additions.
Hair and Makeup
When you look good, you feel good. When you feel good, oh helloooo confidence! When your confidence is on 10, your headshots follow suit.
So lets talk makeup.
To invest in your photographer, your wardrobe, maybe even a website or graphic designer, but fall flat when it comes to the actual money maker (your beautiful face) is an L that we don’t want to see you take.
Hiring a professional makeup artist is really the cherry on top of this headshot cake, and you should seriously consider incorporating an amazing MUA into your headshot session day. Be sure to come camera ready to the studio; because of the short time we’ll be together, early access for hair/makeup isn’t available.
Even if you are a person that ‘never wears makeup’, we strongly recommend that you hire a professional makeup artist for your headshot session. Even if you are thinking “Well I want to show up on camera like how I am in real life, and in real life I don’t wear make-up so I won’t for my professional photo session.” In theory, this makes sense. But this isn’t theory, this is your PROFESSIONAL headshot session.
I’m not telling you to hire a professional makeup artist because you aren’t beautiful without one. But quite literally, you may not look the way you think you will if you decide to shoot with little, self-applied or no makeup on. I want you to LOVE your final images while being comfortable in your skin, so if the idea of wearing makeup scares you, I recommend hiring a makeup artist that specializes in a ‘natural makeup’ looks, like our friend and client Anne Marie Kennedy. Help me help you by hiring a professional makeup artist. Some of my favs are listed below!
My Prefreed vendors
Anne Marie Kennedy - MUA & Hair (and branding client)
Chelsea J Augustine - MUA & Hair
Diamond Ritter - MUA
Eboni Renee Artistry - MUA
Renelyn Thomas - MUA
Nrala Janvier - MUA
Teresas - MUA
Time Management
So you want the most out of your headshot session as far as time goes, right? Of course you do! So it should be no surprise that it is highly suggested that you arrive on time. I know shit happens every now and then, but when you feel like you’re going to be late, you start sweating, panicking, your blood pressure rises, it’s just better to kick off your session at your calmest, ya know?
TIPS TO AVOID SHOWING UP LATE:
Pack your wardrobe the night before (we have a changing area so you dont have to arrive in your outfit if you prefer)
Give yourself enough to drive after your hair/makeup appointment (MUA’s typically take 60-75 minutes from start to finish)
Atlanta traffic changes by the minute. Consult with google maps at least 1-2 HOURS prior to your session to see what time you need to realistically hit the road.
Give yourself an extra 10 minutes to get lost, find a parking spot, get inside the building and get settled in the studio.
Clear your work schedule for the hours leading up to your shoot. We don’t have time for you to jump on a call while you should be shooting.
Image Retouching
My standard professional retouching
process includes removing:
hair flyaways
blemishes
clothing wrinkles
face shine
glasses glare
lip cracks
lipstick on teeth
stains on teeth
You may also request additional touch ups such as:
reducing face wrinkles and harsher skin issues
adjusting eyes
removing gray hair
chin reduction
and more
Ask me, I may be able to do it!
Photo Delivery
“How long will it take to receive my photos?” Great question! ETA is 5-14 business days.
Last but not least, let’s not ask for an update on your photos every two minutes, especially if the above estimated due date has not passed. I have a lotta clients and I edit in order. Don’t worry lady, you are in the queue!
When you post all your glorious images, please post the correct size so they are not stretched, blurry, grainy, looking all crazy, etc AND please don't put a filter over them as they are already meticulously edited and there is no IG filter in the world that looks ‘professional’. Save that for your weekend fun photos.
Also, please always tag/credit me whenever and wherever you post your images; it helps me keep my small business churning along! My personal IG is @xokelleyraye and my photography IG is @kelleyrayephoto. Dealers choice.
How to Get to Neutral Moon Studio
ADDRESS //
Neutral Moon Studio is located in the Castleberry Hill neighborhood of Downtown Atlanta (near Mercedes Benz Stadium) at 141 Mangum Street SW, Atlanta, GA 30313 Suite 301A. Our studio is located inside of the Koncept House (brick with black door).
PARKING //
Once you have turned onto Mangum Street, turn RIGHT down the first available gravel driveway and then our parking lot will be on your left directly behind the tall brick building with the loading ramp facing a dumpster. Park along the black iron fence (nose or tail to fence). The lot is set up as one-way (sometimes you can't see the one-way sign). If the lot is full, you can park across the way (at your own risk, its not our property) or find street parking back on Nelson Street.
ARRIVAL //
Primary Door Access: The front door faces Mangum Street (you passed it on the way in) and has a callbox to the right of it. If you are not standing on a city SIDEWALK looking at a callbox when you get to the door, you are not at the front door.
1. Find "Neutral Moon Studio" in the callbox directory and dial it to be let inside.
2. Listen for the bell chime and then open the front door.
3. Walk up the stairs directly in front of you to the 3rd floor/Suite 301A (or take the elevator available on the 2nd floor)
Secondary Door Access: If you cannot access the front door for any reason, walk up the loading dock ramp TO THE RIGHT of the front door (across from the dumpster you passed on the way in) and there is a 2nd floor side door (glass/black trim) that is typically unlocked during cafe hours.
Please email hello@kelleyraye.com or TEXT 323-405-4114 if you need assistance on the day of your session.