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Putting Your Best Foot Forward {Confidence}

Nicola Borland — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 05:06:53 +0000

Confidence

What is your definition of confidence? This is what the dictionary has to say, well at least the one online that I checked. “Confidence – belief in oneself and one’s powers or abilities; self-confidence; self-reliance; assurance.”

What would it do for you to have an updated business portrait? When I first started my business I was using the headshot I took for my graduation in 2005 from Brooks Institute of Photography. And that was about 2 years after the shot was taken. I still had curly hair, but it was not really an up to date look. My hair was a little longer, I had different fashions and well, a different attitude as well. I knew I needed a new headshot to feel confident in meeting new clients.

What did it take for me to feel confident in taking a new headshot? Well, first I had to find a photographer that I knew would take and excellent portrait of me. And one I new I would feel comfortable with. (Thanks Nicole!) Then I chose an outfit that I LOVE and also felt comfortable in and was easy to move around in. The next step for me included a gallon of make-up!!!! No, but I did hire a professional make-up artist. (Laurie Zadeh) Now I know this may seem a little much for some people, but for me it was just that little extra pampering that I needed to give me a little boost.

Now I am not a lady that cannot leave the house without make-up on. (My mother always at least has her lipstick on, if not a little powder too.) Not me, but I do make an effort and put make-up on when I know I am meeting people. I am, however, not a re-applier.

I am a lady that does feel more confident when wearing make-up. Its like the task of actually putting it on makes me feel better, even if it doesn’t stay for long. And having a professional do it was even more confidence boosting. I didn’t go for a crazy look that is not me or what I usually wear, I just had a little bit more than I usually do. And boy was it great for me to have that. Not only was it fun and felt great, but it added to my portrait experience and made it about me. It made me feel assured that I would look great in my new portraits.

I am really happy with my portraits and do not regret taking a little time out to pamper myself with professional make-up.

What would it take for you to be confident in having your portrait taken?

A new outfit?
A new hair style?
Professional make-up?

Comment back below and let me know what, if anything, you do to give yourself a confidence boost. Perhaps it’s a new lipstick, or aftershave for the guys. Let me know

Putting Your Best Foot Forward {First Impressions}

Nicola Borland — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 02:12:00 +0000

You can only make a first impression once. A well-taken business portrait will ensure your first impression is a lasting impression. Make an effective and consistent impression by putting your best face forward with a beautiful business headshot across all the mediums you use to self-promote.

Placement is just as important as content. There are many mediums for self-promotion and advertising. Your potential client’s first encounter with you could happen anywhere. This first meeting could happen on a business card, letterhead & logo, editorial pieces in magazines or papers, your newsletters, website, Facebook, Linkedin, email and probably a few other places as well.

You should choose the locations that will be most effective and appropriate for your business. If your business is in realty then perhaps your “for sale” signs, phone book ads and your website would be an effective placement opportunities. Or if you are mobile window washer than your truck might be a good place for your headshot. People will certainly remember that when they see you out driving!

Presenting your best face gives your potential client reason to keep reading your website, to call your number or drive over to your office.

So this week I want you think about these questions.

Are you making a lasting first impression?

Are you advertising where you make the most effective first impression?

Would a business headshot benefit the impression your wish to make?

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What do you think of Ali’s “First Impression”? I think she looks very friendly, and that’s great for working with animals. Ali is a fellow photographer down in the San Diego area and loves capturing furry smiles from people’s pets. I was honored to be asked to capture her image to use as her new headshot and in her own words from a comment left on last weeks blog,
“I was so pleased with my headshot, it’s on the front page of my blog and on my website bio!” Yes, you can use that testimonial!

Check out Ali’s cute pet photography (and her headshot) at Skyy Blue Photography if you are in the San Diego area or just want to coo over cute pets for a few minutes!

Putting Your Best Foot Forward {Business Portraits}

Nicola Borland — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 20:19:04 +0000

Over the next few months other than doing my beloved wedding and portrait photography I will be talking on the importance a good business portrait or headshot. About putting your best foot forward, or in this case your best image forward!

Where does your business headshot fit into your marketing materials? Does it represent you?

When putting together your marketing materials and submitting content or text for your emails, magazine submissions, forums, etc, you may not want to detract from content in these submissions with lots and lots of images. Overdoing images may mean that people will only look at the image of the couple reading the newspaper or jogging down a city path and not your important text, but enhancing it with one great business portrait so that people can connect your image to the content will make them feel more involved and want to read more.

Have you ever read a piece of text by and author in your field, but one that you are not familiar with? You read the article, think about their points and move on. But if they have attached their image to their work, you can now connect their face to the text, and as they say “a picture is worth a thousand words”. It is true. We read so much into images and especially ones of people and faces. We look at the smile, the lines on their faces and can pretty much immediately see whether they are a person to be trusted or not. Once you see their face you connect more with their text and will most likely remember their name. It is all about putting a face to a name.

So, this week I want you to think about your business headshot.

Where does it fit into your marketing materials? (I will be giving more info on this later this month)

How you can connect with your clients, and most importantly, future clients, with your headshot?

Does what you currently have represent you properly? Do you still look like that?

A Global Wealth Headshot {Karl Johnson’s Business Headshot}

Nicola Borland — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 01:12:51 +0000

Karl and I have been in a networking group together called BNI for the last year or so. After getting to know each other and learning about his business, Global Wealth Capital Management, and what his business entails I was thrilled to be asked to add a special touch to his new business portraits. Karl realizes the importance of a good headshot to add a personal touch to his marketing materials and I am glad to be there to help.

Equinox Goddess Party 2010

Nicola Borland — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 04:21:03 +0000

A couple of weeks ago I was honored to be a part of a wonderful group of ladies on mission to relax the Goddesses of the Pasadena area. The lucky ladies that were able to make it were treated to a plethora of relaxing services such as facials, massage, relaxing foot massage, acupuncture, chakra balancing, oracle cards and gemstone consultation, professional make-up and of course photography!

Below are some images form the night along with the special ladies who opted to spoil themselves with professional make-up and a headshot.

If you missed out on the night but still want to spoil yourself here is the information for the talented ladies that will be able to relax and relive your troubles away!

Treat Your Feet (and legs and well the rest of you too!) with Diana Leone, LMT

Full Body Massage with Erin Wurtemberg, LMT

Skin Care using Dr. Hauschka Facial products by Kathleen Van Dusen

Acupuncture by Dawna Ara, L. Ac.

Chakra Balancing with Essential Oils by Robin Barnette, Aroma Therapist

Oracle Cards and Gemstone Consultation by Cinny Correnti

Red Carpet Makeup Artist Brigette Jackson (contact me for her digits!)

And myself…

The Hottest Stylist I Know {April Ray}

Nicola Borland — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 03:50:02 +0000

April is one hot mama, and I think you’ll agree! This was a really fun relaxed shoot and I am so excited about what it resulted in! I especially love the ones with the blue background. It’s actually an old beat up truck that stopped to haul away some trash. I know what you’re thinking. I take my clients to the classiest places! I know, but how cool are these images?

April has a really cool and funky hair salon in Montrose, CA. It’s called April Ray Salon. As you know I have really curly hair and have had many a bad poodle cut in my day, so when I found April I was overjoyed. If any of you need a great new hair style, or gentle color that lasts and isn’t full of amonia, then April is your gal!

Thanks for letting me take some amazing headshots of you, April, and I can’t wait for my next style!