With online digital presence becoming increasingly prevalent, first impressions are often made from your profile image – be this on Linkedin, social media or your own website – is all the more important. A successful portrait will endorse your ‘brand image’ and encourage your prospective client to read on. A weak one may do the reverse.
The brief for this corporate profile was to create an impactful and contemporary portrait which portrayed his wealth of experience and confidence with his cutting edge and innovative approach. Before I even picked up my camera, we researched other portraits – what we felt worked and didn’t work and why, suitable backdrops, poses, clothing and expressions, so that when we went into my studio, we had a clear idea of what we wanted to achieve. The backdrop & lighting created impact, the ‘no tie’ and the relaxed pose on the stool were contemporary, whilst the formality of the suit and expression exuded confidence and experience.
Please contact me if you’re interested in a commercial headshot or profile portrait. With 20 years of experience as a portrait photographer, combined with 10 years as an Account Director in a branding agency, I understand how to achieve unique and impactful profile images, that reflect your ‘brand image’ and help you stand out from your competitors. As a leading portrait photographer the South West, I travel regularly to London, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall and happy to travel further afield. Or you can visit my spacious studio near Sherborne, Dorset.
Having a strong profile portrait for your business is essential. The first thing you look at on a website is the picture and then the text. If you like what you see in the profile portrait, you are much more likely to read the accompanying text. Your profile portrait is your brand. I undertake a lot of corporate style portraits in my studio in Dorset, or I can come to you. Where possible I like portraits to reflect the nature of your work. So studio portraits may suit some, whilst location portraits, or vocational portraits may suit others. Either way, it’s about a striking image that shows you to be top of your game, confident, professional and approachable.
Hannah Shergold is one of those enviable people who is brilliant at everything she applies herself to. A Cambridge graduate in pre-clinical Veterinary Medicine, bronze sculptor, ex Lynx helicopter commander, award-winning wildlife & portrait artist, are but a few of her skills. And what’s more, she is as lovely as she is beautiful.
She’s raised over £65,000 for the Born Free Foundation in 2019, £50,000 for the Invictus Games, and is now raising money for Tusk. Do visit her website to see more of her work. Portraits include Prince Harry (although I’m not sure we can still call him that) and David Beckham.
This portrait of Hannah is from a collection of images I took of her in the famous dining room at St Giles House in Dorset. I love the juxtaposition of history and modernity.
Please do explore my gallery of photos to see examples of some of my corporate. If you are interested in discussing further about how you would like the perfect profile portrait for your business, website, social media, please do get in touch.
Photographing the highly talented artist, Grayson Perry, as Country Life Magazine‘s first transvestite frontispiece, was without doubt one of my most memorable ‘girl in pearls’ / ‘babe of the week’. Needless to say he did all his own make up and selected his entire outfit. This included making large hips from sponge to give ‘Claire’ (his alter ego) a fine set of hips befit of a middle aged country lady! Grayson’s sensible shoes, tweed skirt, quilted jacket and headscarf, quite a step away from his usual vibrant dresses and bright lipstick, was inspired by HM the Queen’s countryside attire. He looked so much the part that those walking by barely gave him a second glance!
My morning with Grayson Perry was entertaining, educational, inspiring, fascinating and sooo much fun and I’m much looking forward to seeing his exhibition of the ‘Pre-Therapy Year’s at Holburne Museum in Bath. I thoroughly recommend his book ‘The Descent of Man’ which I downloaded as an audio book for my journey to and from East Sussex. A must read.
This week’s Country Life Magazine‘s frontispiece features the highly talented and utterly beautiful actor Kate Phillips, who appears in the Downton Abbey film as Princess Mary. You might also recognise her as Linda Shelby in Peaky Blinders.
A special thank you to Paul Ellis who assisted me in this shoot, Mach Management for make up, the Ritz London for providing a fabulous location and a much needed supply of coffee, and Lucy Editor, the picture editor at Country Life for this wonderful commission! Feeling very blessed.
Meet this week’s stunning frontispiece for Country Life Magazine – Princess Adebomi Adewale, from Nigeria, photographed at the Church of St Mary & St Nicholas, Wilton in Wiltshire.
A joy and honour to photograph – Bomi was beautiful, vibrant, intelligent and great fun. What more could I ask for? Thank you Country Life for another wonderful commission. Lucky me!
Delighted to see my portrait of the fabulous Lady Bessborough in this week’s edition of Country Life Magazine, seated in the Ribbon rocking chair by Katie Walker, sandwiched between Barbara Hepworth‘s bronze Torso I Ulysses and John Hubbard‘s Coaster, and the delicious deaf and disobedient but overwhelmingly gentle Theo lying rather grandly to her side.
I loved my day photographing the sculptures at Roche Court’s New Art Centre which Madeleine Bessborough founded in the late 1950s. I was blown away by the panorama of large sculptures amidst the stunning Wiltshire landscape. I could have spent all day photographing Barry Flanagan‘s Large Left Handed Drummer, and Zak Ové’s Black and Blue: The Invisible Man and Masque of Blackness, but everywhere I turned, I was faced with another perfectly positioned sculpture quite literally screaming out to be photographed. So much thought has been placed into where each of these masterpieces are on display – it really was a magical journey through parkland, woodland, lawns and cloistered spaces. A big thank you to all the team who made my day there most enjoyable, including the cook who made the scrummiest of lunches straight from the vegetable garden!
In celebration of the much anticipated arrival of Meghan and Harry’s baby, I have teamed up with my favourite frame supplier, Addison Ross, to run a prize draw in which you can win £250 of your own choice of Addison Ross frames AND 20% off a weekday children or family portrait shoot with me within 2 hours of my home near Sherborne, in Dorset.
To enter, visit the following link to Addison Ross website.
I was very sad to hear of the recent passing away of the legendary boating pioneer Robert Braithwaite, founder of Sunseeker super yacht boats. I had the pleasure of meeting and photographing him in October 2012 for my book Great Faces of Dorset.
Sadly his parents died early so together with his brother John, who was still at school, he started the business in the 1960s – a business which went on to become a leading superyacht powerhouse. His boats were featured in four consecutive James Bond films, one of which (Quantum of Solace) was actually driven by Robert himself.
Robert was an undeniably talented entrepreneur, full of humility, kindness and charm. He will be missed by many. My condolences to his family and friends. May he R.I.P.
Fabulous issue of School Notices Magazine – ‘Noticed’; Their best yet. And lovely, as always, to see my images donning their front covers.
School Notices is a new company offering parents, pupils and schools a fabulous way to communicate. Taking the principle of the old-fashioned school noticeboard, they have created a cutting-edge website where parents and alumni can connect with other like-minded members across a network of schools in the UK. Members can buy and sell within a trusted community; businesses can reach out to our members; and schools benefit from the fundraising support from advertising revenue.
This is David Wilson, Farm Manager at the Duchy Farm Estate in Gloucestershire, chosen by HRH The Prince of Wales as a Country Champion for his guest edited issue of Country Life Magazine, celebrating his 70th birthday.
Whilst lying on the grass to capture this portrait, I spotted the emergence of a gap to the right behind David; seizing the moment and the potential for a perfectly framed image, I rolled quickly (through a freshly laid cowpat) so that the gap was directly behind him. My coat still bears hints of the evidence but it was worth it!
