There is no magical combination of facial features that make people photogenic. I have worked with extremely attractive people who were a mess in front of the camera, and I have worked with people who were not as genetically gifted who were amazing. Being photogenic is doing the right things in front of the camera. Remember Harrison Ford? I’m not going to show you photos that I do not own, but I will link below to a picture of Harrison Ford looking amazing and a picture of him looking extremely uncomfortable. By the way, I can do it too. 
This is what most people including most headshot photographers do not understand, and it is why many headshots suck. When you combine this with a poor understanding of why the headshot is even being made, it is no surprise that the results can often make you look bad and perhaps even widen your self acceptance gap. Can you imagine the overall decline in self image that can occur at a company after some dilettante gets through with them?
With my clients, my goal is always to make them look extremely confident, like they are good at what they do, they are experts in their field, and they are extremely successful. At the same time, I make them look approachable, like they are nice people and they are trustworthy. And the resulting poised and pleasant look that projects confidence and approachability can, and this is the most important part of this entire article, increase their perceived level of expertise.
I cannot over emphasize this. I see it all the time. People who should know better, marketers, advertisers, website designers, firm administrators, human resource professionals, the owner’s spouse, whoever is driving the decision to have headshots made usually do not fully understand why. At least now you do, so thanks for reading this far. They demonstrate this to me in conversations like the following.
Website Guy:
Photograph their full torsos.
Gillett:
Why would I do that?
Website Guy:
So we have several cropping options.
Gillett:
That really isn’t my question. Why would you show any of these people’s torsos? I am too skinny, and my torso doesn’t do me any good in a headshot. Some of these people look like heart attack candidates. Why would I start down a three year litigation path with someone who looks like he could farc out in twelve months? Give me one reason to show the full torso in these headshots.
Website Guy:
Okay, just give me half torso.
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Another Website Guy:
Photograph them standing behind a conference room chair and leaning on it with their arms like is on the website now.
Gillett:
You want me to make these litigators look like someone has them bent over a chair?!? Are you nuts? Have you thought about the image that sends? No one bends these people over a chair. If anything, they bend someone else over a chair.
Another Website Guy:
…
A certain perceived level of expertise is often the only or the main thing that my clients have to market themselves with. Take lawyers for example. Their firms will acquire former Texas Supreme Court justices as partners, purchase expensive artwork for the conference rooms and waiting areas, and spend a ton of money on their offices in general to increase their perceived level of expertise. Despite all of these efforts, many organizations if not most will miss one of the most important and cost effective means of increasing their professionals’ perceived level of expertise, the well made headshot.
TL;DR: confident and approachable headshot = increased perceived level of expertise.Need to know more?
Frequently asked questions
Chris Gillett Photography is based in Houston, Texas. Individual headshot sessions take place at my private studio near Sawyer Yards in Houston’s 77007 area.
Corporate headshots and team photography can also be conducted on-site at your office or event location throughout the Houston area.
As a photographer who works primarily with attorneys, executives, physicians, lawyers, and corporate teams, I schedule all sessions by appointment to ensure every client receives individualized attention.
Headshot pricing and booking information can be found on the pricing page.
My clients range from individual professionals updating LinkedIn profiles to law firms and corporations photographing entire teams. Because needs vary significantly, I offer both standard individual sessions and custom corporate quotes.
Payment can be made by credit card, cash, check, Venmo, or other common payment methods.
Preparation is one of the most important factors in creating a successful professional headshot.
Your clothing, grooming, posture, expression, and overall presentation all influence how people perceive you. During the past decade, I have photographed thousands of professionals, and small adjustments often make a significant difference in the final result.
Every client receives preparation guidance before their session, and I am happy to discuss wardrobe, grooming, and personal branding considerations during a booked complimentary consultation.
In most cases, no.
Professional lighting, camera technique, and retouching can address common concerns such as shine, temporary blemishes, redness, and minor skin inconsistencies.
My goal is not to make clients look overly polished or artificial. Instead, I want them to look like the best version of themselves while maintaining authenticity and credibility.
Professional makeup is available for clients who would like it.
The makeup appointment begins at the scheduled session time and typically takes up to one hour. Before photography begins, we review the finished look together to ensure everyone is comfortable with the result.
The makeup artist is paid separately, and the current fee is $290. More information can be found on my make up page. Clients should arrive with their hair prepared for the session.
Yes.
I regularly photograph law firms, executive teams, medical practices, and businesses throughout Houston.
Corporate headshot sessions can be conducted at your office or another agreed-upon location. Special group pricing is available for organizations with five or more people.
If you need consistent headshots across an entire team, I can help create a uniform look that aligns with your company’s brand and professional image.
Every image you purchase is personally selected by your with my guidance. During the image review process, I help clients choose photographs that best communicate confidence, credibility, approachability, and professionalism.
Each selected image is then professionally retouched by me. My retouching process removes temporary distractions such as blemishes, redness, flyaway hairs, and under-eye shadows while preserving natural skin texture and authentic appearance.
Final images are typically delivered within 10 business days in high-resolution digital format suitable for LinkedIn, company websites, marketing materials, speaking engagements, and other professional uses.
Arrive with your hair styled the way you normally want to be seen professionally.
For most clients, this means coming with clean, dry hair that has already been cut, colored, or styled before the session. If you are planning a haircut, I generally recommend scheduling it a few days before your session rather than immediately beforehand.
If you are working with my professional makeup artist, she can help refine your look and address minor issues such as flat hair, flyaways, or volume concerns. However, clients should still arrive camera-ready rather than expecting hair styling to begin from scratch.
Do not show up with wet hair.
Yes.
I generally recommend scheduling your haircut several days to a week before your session. This allows your haircut to settle into its natural appearance while still looking fresh and well-maintained.
The ideal timing varies by individual, so consider when your hair typically looks its best after a cut.
Because each session reserves dedicated studio time, a minimum of 48 hours’ notice is required for cancellations or rescheduling requests.
With proper notice, your reservation fee can be refunded or applied to a future session. This policy helps ensure that appointment times remain available for other clients while allowing flexibility when unexpected circumstances arise.
I accept most common forms of payment, including credit cards, cash, checks, and Venmo.
Payment details will be provided during the booking process. If you have specific payment requirements for corporate invoicing or business reimbursement, please let me know in advance.
A professional headshot session is much more than standing in front of a camera and smiling.
Before we begin, we’ll discuss how you want to be perceived and where your images will be used. Whether you’re an attorney, executive, physician, entrepreneur, actor, or job seeker, the goals of the session influence everything from wardrobe choices to expression coaching.
During the session, I will guide you through posture, body language, head position, expression, and eye contact. Most of my clients are not professional models, so direction is a normal part of the process.
Throughout the session, we’ll review images together and make adjustments as needed. My goal is to create photographs that communicate confidence, competence, credibility, and approachability while still looking authentically like you.
Most clients tell me they arrive nervous and leave surprised by how easy and enjoyable the experience was.