The Power of a Professional Headshot

Boost Your Professional Identity: A polished headshot acts as your career’s visual handshake. It shows that you are invested in your professional persona and ready to engage in serious business.
Sets You Apart from the Competition: In a stack of job applications or a LinkedIn feed, a professional headshot can be the difference between getting noticed and getting overlooked.
Builds Confidence: Knowing you have a great photo can boost your confidence, reflecting positively in your professional interactions and interviews.
Optimizes Your Online Profiles: Whether it’s LinkedIn, a corporate directory, or your personal blog, a professional headshot ensures you look the part, matching the professional excellence you bring to your role.
Why Attend Our Headshot Marathon Event?

Lux Summit Studio’s Headshot Marathon event is the perfect opportunity to get a professional headshot quickly and efficiently. Here’s why you should consider joining:

Speed and Simplicity: We know time is a precious commodity. Our event is structured to deliver maximum quality with minimum demand on your schedule.

Affordable Excellence: Enjoy the top-notch quality of Lux Summit Studio’s photography at a special event price. This is an investment in your professional future that won’t break the bank.

Enhance Your Network: Our event is also a great place to connect with other professionals from various fields, expanding your professional network.

Ready to take your professional image to the next level? Join us at the Headshot Marathon event hosted by Lux Summit Studio. Secure your spot today and ensure your first impression is not just good, but great. For more information and to register, visit our website or get in touch with us directly. Elevate your professional look with Lux Summit Studio and watch your career soar!

The post Enhance Your Career Game with a Professional Headshot from Lux Summit Studio appeared first on Lux Summit Studio.

In July we had the honor of helping Bathurst Family Therapy tell the story of their dynamic and life-changing couple’s retreat on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii through destination branding photography.

As with every session we provide for our clients, we didn’t pick up our cameras until we sat down with owners and founders Dr. Stephanie and her partner in work and life, Alex, in order to fully understand what’s most important to them in communicating their message. 

Together we collaborated to devise a photography session experience that would create a comprehensive portfolio of imagery featuring the inspiring surrounding landscape of Hawaii. This would set the stage for showing the deep, rejuvenating connection experienced by every couple who says yes to the great adventure of a couples retreat with Bathurst Family Therapy.

Here’s what Dr. Stephanie had to say about her experience working with Lux Summit Studio as her official Personal Branding Photography Provider. 

“The personalized care and detailed attention received from Lux Summit Studios always surpasses my expectations. Kristen and Dave have been my core photographers for family photos, professional portraits, and formal business branding. Each day of shooting is preceded with a well-organized agenda and communication of timeline so that I could come prepared with my wardrobe changes prepped and an idea of how the shoot will go.”

Everything was streamlined, easy, and playful. Both Kristen and Dave have such compassionate and playful demeanors that whether you want to talk throughout the process or be calm in a state of inner peace, you feel at ease with them.

Each with their unique photography specialties and styles, Kristen and Dave both bring invaluable contributions to the session to create a comprehensive creative experience that shines through in the personalized, expressive and interesting portraits that they process for you. 

My professional portraits have been used for ad development, website profiling and to increase general professionalism in media statements. I receive much positive feedback on these profile images and happily refer colleagues to Lux Summit Studio whenever I get the opportunity. My business branding photoshoot is being used to rebuild my entire website for enhanced visibility. 

I [Dr. Stephanie Bathurst] continue to work with Kristen and Dave as my core photographers. They are worth it. The experience and product that they offer simply cannot be compared.

The post Capturing Transformation: Destination Branding Photography appeared first on Lux Summit Studio.

Life Lessons from a Philadelphia Photographer

Last month in the Live Life Lux blog we touched on Mary Oliver’s question “What is it you plan to do with this one precious life?” At face value, a beautiful and completely overwhelming question. That is, until we put it in context. The stanza’s preceding the question hold insight. We discover that it is in practicing stillness and presence – it is in simplicity of stopping that we “do” the most. 

“I don’t know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?

Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?”

This month we’re exploring the third tenant of Live Life Lux; being present and connecting deeply to this one precious life. Like all things worthy of our time and energy, presence and connection are a practice. We don’t master it instantly, or maybe ever, but there is joy in becoming. We use intention to create space and time to connect what matters most to us. Regularly, we make little choices to keep us grounded and balanced. We go for a walk, play with our kids (furry or human) or meditate. Periodically, we make big choices that anchor us to our why. We bring new life into the family (furry or human), we take a vacation and discover a new world or we have a photo session and create beautiful art to treasure for generations. 

Here are some ways our clients shared their connection to the presence and this one precious life through their photo session experience.

Denna shared her family session experience, “Our individual conversations with Kristen about our life right now really encourage us to open up as individuals about what life means to us, what our family members mean to us, what we love most about each other and JJ and our little furry family members. We both left each of our conversations with Kristen enlightened and feeling very joyful and present. What I think was really amazing, was watching the emotions unfold in Jon as he walked through his own experience with Kristen. I could see a difference in him after he shared his view of our life with her; he was refreshed and more present than before. It seemed as though our individual conversations with Kristen gifted us new eyes to see our world.

All of our emotions were brought to the surface during our session. We played, smiled, and laughed. We hugged our puppies and snuggled the chicken. We were once again left with an amazing sense of presence afterwards. We continued on our special Friday by going out to lunch and spending some more time as a family – a day we wouldn’t usually have together due to work schedules.

One client shares how creating space for a new experience like a boudoir session transformed how she saw herself, connecting her more deeply to her best self,  “I never thought I’d do a session. I’m single, go to church every week. Didn’t think it was for me. Not skinny. Dislike my body. But I decided that I wanted this for me. And I’m so happy I did it. Just for me. I love seeing my body the way I’ve never thought it could look.”

Even in a branding photo experience, we can be transformed, as Craig shares, “I think it’s helped my confidence. It’s kind of a very profound experience to have someone capture the ideal, best you.

There will be times when we lose focus. We forget that we’re doing all this – life –  to have daily joy. We’re not waiting for joy to happen once we magically arrive at a destination. The destination is never reached because it’s not real and an ever moving target. Joy is now, a choice and a creation. We say yes to joy every time we choose ourselves, everytime we choose to let go of our expectations, our own time lines and open to possibilities bigger than we could’ve ever imagined. We can always choose again when we find ourselves disconnected. The future and the past don’t exist. They cease to exist anywhere beyond our minds. We can always embrace the present. 

How do you practice presence daily? How are you creating space for bigger moments to connect to this one precious life? 

The post Being Present & Connecting Deeply appeared first on Lux Summit Studio.

Answers from a Philly Branding Photographer

The first question we get at the studio is “What is branding photography?” We all know what a headshot is, but branding photography is a nebulous concept to many. So, let’s demystify it. Personal Branding Photography (or simply, branding photography) is a portfolio of photographs that tell the story of your brand. The portfolio often includes a stellar collection of headshots (of you and often any team members that are essential to your work and client experience) tailored uniquely to capture your brand’s voice and style. These images distinguish you and your team as professionals, and experts in your field and are captured in a way that represents the essence of your brand’s energy.

The body of work is designed to set you apart and captivate your audience beyond cookie-cutter stock imagery.

The portfolio also often includes a series of images that creatively use storytelling to share your brand’s values, passion, mission, and more. These images can give a behind-the-scenes glimpse into your work. They can be photojournalistic in style and/or stylized and staged using sets, scenes, props, etc. depending on your brand’s aesthetic and the goal of your messaging. The purpose of these portraits is to create compelling, eye-catching, personalized content for your social media, website, newsletter, blog, print media, press releases, and more. The body of work is designed to set you apart and captivate your audience beyond cookie-cutter stock imagery. Your clients and potential clients won’t be able to simply keep scrolling when they see one of these images in their feed. They’ll want to know more.

Now you know what branding photography is. You can see why some might opt for a personal branding photography experience, but are there any other reasons why this marketing tool and/or even simply headshots might matter to your success? Let’s explore. 

First impressions matter. A large percentage of your future clients are meeting you for the first time digitally. Your current clients, peers and circles of influence are digitally experiencing you continually. If you want to be taken seriously, it’s a good idea to present yourself in a capacity that speaks to your professionalism. That does not mean your headshots need to be stuffy. Far from it. They need only be intentional and authentically you. 

If your headshot is a selfie or cropped-out photo from an event, that’s not professional. Rather, akin to arriving at the team meeting in pajamas. It doesn’t instill confidence (unless you run a pajama company, then totally have at it.). Similarly, your headshot should be updated every year or two (or more if there are dramatic changes in your appearance or if you make a career shift.). As studio client and friend Ian Wright recently said, “Having a 10-year-old professional photo is just as bad as having a 10-year-old pic on eHarmony. Do. Not. Do. It.” 

Attracting the ideal client

Speaking of eHarmony, a branding photo experience can go beyond your marketing portfolio and serve many purposes. Many of our clients come in for both a headshot update and dating profile portraits. Others combine branding and family or pet portrait sessions. Often, for small businesses and professionals utilizing some of these family and pet portraits in branding and marketing content can demonstrate approachability and relatability to your avatar. Showing this personal side of your life can often increase your “know, like, trust” factor – the holy trinity of attracting your ideal client. This benefit is in tandem with creating deeply meaningful personal art for you and your family to appreciate for years to come. As a bonus, personal photographs that become marketing content can be written off on your taxes*. Regardless of whether you opt for a simple headshot session or an entire personal branding photo experience, family and all; just be sure to make the most of your photo session opportunity.

Show what sets you apart.

Another reason many invest in Personal Branding Photography is to set themselves apart in a saturated field. Real Estate professionals, Life Coaches, Nutritionists, Therapists are just a few examples, but the services, approaches, styles and vibes of each provider are as unique as the individuals themselves. So, showing what sets you apart, can send all the signals to the avatars that want to work with someone just like you. This cuts through the noise, can be sanity saving and lead to a higher quality clients. 

You deserve it.

Lastly, you deserve it. A branding session can be an act of affirmation of how hard you’ve worked and how far you’ve come. You are worthy of photographs of yourself that make you feel proud and confident. Branding or headshots can be a great way to get intentional about connecting to your sense of purpose and path forward. It’s also important to claim days for yourself where you can step outside of the daily grind, see your world a different way and experience something new. Oftentimes these are the spaces where we receive our greatest inspiration. In the book The 12 Week Year this practice is referred to as Breakout  Blocks. Branding photo experiences can provide this much needed respite and reflection. Investing in yourself if investing in your business. You’ve worked hard to get here. So get out there and share yourself and your talents with the world with style and intention. You’ll be amazed what happens next.

The post What is Branding Photography? appeared first on Lux Summit Studio.

I invited her to come by the studio for a cup of tea before her North Wales yoga session so I could hear more about her business, her goals and hopes. She needed to share with her potential clients (her avatar) who she is and what she offers. It was important to understand how Sarah sees herself and her business to help her tell her story. I could, then, help capture and share the part of herself she wanted to convey to the world.

Sarah is captivated by the “amazing universe within”.

This, she so eloquently expressed to me as we were deep diving into her journey to now. Sarah’s appreciation and need for yoga and meditation in her life strengthened as she fully immersed into adulthood and motherhood. Her decision to welcome an abundance of goodness and responsibility into her world burgeoned a drive to establish a practice of mindfulness. The desire to help others access the same joy and peace she discovers each time she is brought deeper insider herself led her to start teaching.

During her initial consult Sarah regaled me with tales about her daughter Francis. She described a precocious little girl that inspires Sarah to greater confidence through her carefree spirit. It became clear that featuring Francis in her session (with Francis’ permission) would be an important part of telling Sarah’s story.

When asked, “Does she enjoy doing yoga with you?”. Sarah quickly replied, “Oh. She ‘teaches me yoga’!”. This, I could not wait to see. I was not disappointed by what followed.

As Francis stepped in front of the camera I asked her to guide mommy in her favorite yoga poses. She erupted into a series of paleontologically inspired poses. A posture flow epic in proportion to its prehistoric nature. See captions to add these poses to your posture flow.

If you’d like to hear more about Paleontological Yoga (The new craze that’s sure to sweep the nation), you can talk to Francis. However, I might recommend starting with a more timeless and nuanced path to the inward self. In which case, I recommend connecting with Sarah York at sarahyorkyoga@gmail.com

For details on your own branding session that goes way beyond headshots, click the button below, scroll down and contact me.

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