How Frequently Should I Update My Corporate Headshot or Executive Portrait?

As a professional photographer, one of the most common requests I receive is for business headshots. Whether it’s for a company website, social media profile, or professional networking site, a well-done business headshot is essential for any professional looking to make a great first impression.

However, one question that I often hear from potential clients is, “How often do I need to update my headshot?” The answer is simple: frequently.

There are several reasons why updating your business headshot frequently is important:

  1. It reflects your current appearance

Your appearance changes over time, whether it’s a new hairstyle, a new pair of glasses, or a new wardrobe. An outdated headshot can make you appear unprofessional or out of touch. By updating your headshot frequently, you ensure that your clients and colleagues are seeing a current and accurate representation of you.

2. It reflects your current brand

Your brand is constantly evolving, and your headshot should reflect that. If your brand changes, whether it’s a rebranding or a change in your business focus, an updated headshot can help you communicate that change to your clients and colleagues.

3. It keeps you relevant

In today’s fast-paced business world, it’s important to stay relevant. An outdated headshot can make you appear out of touch or behind the times. By updating your headshot frequently, you’ll be seen as a professional who is up-to-date and current.

4. It keeps you top-of-mind

When your headshot is updated frequently, it keeps you top-of-mind with your clients and colleagues. Whether it’s on your website, social media profiles, or professional networking sites, an updated headshot ensures that people will remember you when they need your services.

In conclusion, updating your business headshot frequently is essential for any professional looking to make a great first impression. It reflects your current appearance, brand, and keeps you relevant and top-of-mind. So, don’t wait, schedule your next headshot session today and let your clients and colleagues know that you are dedicated to staying current and professional.


Attorney Bill Berman updated his executive portrait to reflect his emphasis on sports litigation and specifically a large lawsuit he has with the NFL and ESPN.



Preparing for your Business Headshot

When it comes to getting a new business headshot or executive portrait, preparation is key. Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your photo shoot:

  1. Dress for success: Choose clothing that is appropriate for your industry and position. Avoid bright colors or busy patterns, and opt for solid, neutral shades. Make sure your clothes are well-fitted and wrinkle-free.

  2. Consider your background: Think about the message you want to convey with your headshot. If you want to appear professional and approachable, a simple, solid-colored background is a good choice. If you want to showcase your personality, a more interesting background, like a cityscape or a natural setting, may be a better option.

  3. Get a haircut and grooming: Make sure your hair is styled the way you want it and that you are well-groomed. A fresh haircut and a clean-shaven face or well-groomed beard can make a big difference in your headshot.

  4. Practice your expressions: Before your photo shoot, practice different expressions in front of a mirror. You want to look confident, approachable, and professional in your headshot.

  5. Choose the right photographer: Look for a professional photographer who specializes in business headshots or executive portraits. Check their portfolio and reviews to make sure their style aligns with the look you want to achieve.

By following these tips, you can be sure to look your best in your business headshot or executive portrait.

Family Portrait Session with their Furry New Addition

Recently, I had the pleasure of working with the Hoskins family, who had recently welcomed a new addition to their family – an 11-week-old golden retriever puppy named Teddy. The shoot took place at the family's beautiful home in Carlsbad, CA, and it was a blast working with the three young boys and their energetic new pup.

One of my favorite images from the shoot is a black and white shot of Teddy sitting slightly in front of the three boys. In this image, Teddy is in perfect focus, while the boys are slightly out of focus, creating a sense of depth and movement. The image has a boy band vibe and it captures the playful energy of the family through the faux seriousness of this image.

Working with animals can be a challenge, but Teddy was a natural in front of the camera. The boys were also great, and it was a joy to capture the bond they shared with their new puppy. The Hoskins family's home was the perfect backdrop for the shoot, and it was a pleasure to work with such a lovely family.

I'm happy to have been able to capture such a special moment in the Hoskins family's life and I look forward to working with them again in the future.


Pandemic Portraits

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. So when I saw my good friend, Paul Gero’s images of families dealing with their isolation in the time of the Corona virus, I knew he was onto something. Naturally, having seen my business drop to basically zero overnight got the old creative juices flowing, whether out of inspiration or necessity, but I felt compelled to get out and shoot. My wife suggested photographing the now empty spaces (think golf courses, beaches, oceans, grocery stores, etc) that we are so accustomed to seeing teeming with life and activity, but I felt my own take on the experience of “hunkering down” would be more interesting and relate-able to when juxtaposed with the work I usually create.

I decided to reach out to friends and ask for maybe five minutes of their time to show me, smack in the middle of what will likely be the most singular historic event in our lives, who they were, where they were, what they wore, and who they were with, during the COVID-19 pandemic. I love to project 20-30 years ahead and think how my kids (or my client’s kids) will appreciate the images that I have produced. I TRULY think we will look back on this moment and these photos as capturing a momentous period in our lives.

From an artistic perspective, I wanted to be as hands off as I could be. I asked my friends who agreed to be photographed to wear EXACTLY what they had throughout the first week of their isolation. No extra makeup. No fancy clothes. Show me who you are, right now. Show me who you’re with and how you are getting along. In terms of lighting, I wanted it to reflect the un-reality, the surreal-ness, of this moment. I wanted to capture the feeling I have each and every morning waking up and thinking to myself, “holy cr@p, this isn’t a dream”. It’s just bizarre and weird, and nothing I ever thought I’d live through. But here we are. While I normally blur the background to bring the focus strictly to the subject, here I think the location tells a huge part of the story. As such, I eschewed my long lenses and wide apertures for the deep f-stops and wide lenses. Retouching is also noticeably absent (trust me, looking at my own portrait here, that was a tough nut to swallow). I just wanted something present and real.

Each session took no more than maybe five minutes. All social distancing recommendations were respected. I decided from the start not to “pose” anyone in the way that I might with a normal, paying, family portrait. I let my friends decide for themselves how they wanted to present. And, while I have the sinking feeling this is VERY early in what I know will be a struggle for many weeks, if not months, ALL of my subjects fell somewhere between happy and downright joyous. I was initially thinking this might be my Covid version of the Dust Bowl portraits of the 1930s. Perhaps I’ll feel differently after weeks or months of this, but for now, I’m optimistic that most of us will make lemonade from these lemons and become closer as families and communities.

Enjoy the images. I hope I’ve overblown the significance of this moment and in no time we’re back into our old lives. I hope. But if not, I hope those who opened up to me in this time of crisis will be glad they did someday. More to come.

Project Update: Having now shot over 20 of these, I came to the realization that the name Time Capsule Portraits is a much more appropriate name. Pandemic Portraits was too negative. Everyone so far has had SUCH positive attitudes that, for now at least, Time Capsule Portraits just fits way better.


Welcome to my Blog!!!

Some of you may remember that many years ago there existed a John Riedy Photography blog. It was filled with beautiful young couples whose weddings I had photographed both in Southern California and all over the world. Blogs were all the rage back then and I was pretty good about keeping it current…for a while. Then, like all good things, it came to an end. Becky and I had kids and life just got in the way. Well, the kids are pretty much grown now and we’ll be empty nesters before you know it. My career has taken myriad twists and turns over the past 20 years and I never would’ve guessed I’d be where I am now. I shoot few weddings these days (though I still do love them), but rather spend most of my shooting days in either Vietnam or Europe photographing war veterans back on their battlefields. When I’m home, I do a lot more studio work focusing mainly on corporate headshots and personal branding. I also love photographing commercial and residential real estate.

Suffice it to say, my life and priorities have changed. I’m very excited to use this blog to give my friends and clients a glimpse into my career and how I approach my work/passion of photography. If there’s one thing that hasn’t changed over the years, it’s that I LOVE what I do and the people I do it with. So to conclude this first post of my new/old blog I just want to thank EVERYONE who has allowed me to capture them through my lens. You are why I’m still doing this with love and gratitude after 20 years. And thank you to my loving wife Becky, who’s incredible work you can check out at www.rebeccariedy.com, and my sons Jack and Cole, for putting up with my wacky travel schedule and for always being more or less willing to sit as my lighting dummies.