The overall morale in 2011 was higher than it has been for the past three years.  There was hopefulness in the air.  Here at 5^th Avenue Digital, we saw:

•    Companies having summer outings and holiday parties for the first time in years.

•      Advertisers spending marketing dollars on events with consumer interaction and (thankfully) photo capture, for   mementos or social media benefit.

•     The return of corporate incentive trips and large company celebrations.

•      Companies putting money back into their image and deciding to update their employee’s headshots.

•      Business surging once again for the venues and planners we work with.

It seems like everyone is starting to see the economic woes dissipate. The many jobs we were lucky enough to be part of this past year indicate we are on our way, after two years of corporate celebrations being relegated to the back burner.

I’ve worked hard to assemble a team of super-talented photographers, who have captured not only incredible corporate images this year but have also taken our 5^th Avenue Social division to new heights.  We have partnered with a dynamic group of planners and venues and are very excited to share our new portfolios that feature images from their clients’ events.  I am already anticipating the new images we’ll be seeing in the coming months.

One of my proudest accomplishments in 2011 is the newest model of the YouBooth photo booth.  The collaborations with our clients have allowed us to introduce the newest technology crazes to their events.  The YouBooth has a new exterior design, plus the most exciting new feature: a social media application that allows guests to upload their photos directly to Twitter, Facebook or email.

This year the YouBooth was proudly used at pop-up store events, holiday parties, mitzvahs, weddings – any occasion where fun was required.  What we love the most is finding creative solutions that maximize each client’s use of the booth.  I owe a special shout-out to my producer, Rylan Crooks, for always finding ways to execute our clients’ unending ideas of how they envision using the YouBooth.

Building a strong business in this economic time is certainly a challenge.  We have watched many of our partners in event planning scale down the past few years, and it’s so comforting to watch them scale back up.  We are very grateful for their trust in us and we treasure these partnerships.

I am also very grateful to my 5^th Avenue Digital team: the amazing group inside the office, Beth, Rylan and Tim, and the photographers, videographers and designers that make our clients their number one priority.  Teamwork and partnerships have been the overall theme in 2011.  Knowing that you have the right people in the ship makes being the captain a joy.  I am grateful every day that I get to work with the team I have, and I would not have been able to double our business this year if it hadn’t been for them.  There have been some rough waters in terms of owning a photography business over the past three years, but it looks like smoother sailing ahead.

Thank you all who have contributed to an amazing 2011.  We will be sharing some of our favorite photographic moments in galleries over the next few weeks.  Here are a few more of my favorites.

At this year’s Biz Bash Expo, we partnered with ISES to ramp up membership recruitment at their booth.  Every year at the Expo, ISES hosts a booth where they offer information and on-the-spot membership sign-up.  Typically, people have taken the information and deferred the membership application.  This year, ISES wanted to encourage memberships at the Expo by offering a free headshot to those who signed up, complete with professional make-up.

The membership drive was a huge success!   ISES garnered 15 new memberships at the Biz Bash Expo, a record for the New York Chapter and perhaps, they think, for the entire organization.  Seems on-the-spot headshots were the perfect incentive.

The draw was two-fold: first, everyone walking by could see our make-up artist extraordinaire, Filis Foreman at work and our photographer, Stavros, doing the headshots.  This created some curiosity and buzz.  Secondly, for those contemplating a membership to ISES, the offer of a free professional headshot was enticement enough to seal the deal.

It’s gratifying to know that the headshot photographer and make-up artist we provided made such a difference to the ISES membership drive.  Filis was phenomenal, making everyone look better than they ever thought they could.  Stavros delivered outstanding headshots, working in minimal space and on the fly.  All-around, it was a successful venture for everyone.

ISES has said they want to repeat the promotion next year, so if you’re interested in ISES and want a new headshot, look for us at the 2012 Biz Bash Expo!

Now you’re feeling less like the expert you are and more like the imposter at the party.  And you’re kicking yourself for thinking your old headshot was okay and the fact that it was years outdated didn’t matter.  Clearly, it matters.

Part Two of the scenario: You’re being introduced by the conference moderator, and the headshot you provided, the one that was printed in the program, is flashing on the screen behind you.  You get on stage, and you can see a number of quizzical looks in the audience, going from the projected headshot to you.  Damn!   Now moving to the top of your new to-do list: contact a professional photographer about getting a new headshot.

In today’s media-savvy world, an outdated headshot can be a true liability to your career and your image.   If your face is in front of people in any way – on a website, blog, newsletter or program – a photo that’s years out of date puts you in a no-win situation.  Either you look like you’re denying your age and uncomfortable with growing older or you look passé and decidedly out of step, with that dated hairstyle and unfashionable suit.

A headshot that doesn’t reflect how you look today sends all the wrong messages.  It can suggest you’re not keeping up with what’s current; that you’re out of touch with how business is done these days; that you don’t care about your appearance or image; or that you’re not happy with how you look now.  A current, professionally-taken headshot automatically conveys confidence, competence and business savvy.

Don’t think you can get away with a friend taking a photo of you against a plain wall.  That won’t cut it in today’s competitive market.  Find a photographer you like and trust, who will come to know what works best for you and who you can return to for updates.  Ideally, you should get a new, professional headshot every year – every two years, at most.  You’ll be surprised how far it takes you.

And for tips on how to look your best for your headshot, check out our recent blog post:

But don’t fall into the trap of allowing a less-than-fabulous headshot to linger on your LinkedIn profile!  If your headshot isn’t current, doesn’t look professional nor show you at your best, it’s time to change it.

Don’t make the mistake of settling for an up-against-a-white-wall shot that your friend took yesterday.  It may be current, but won’t look professional. Remember, this is a photo that potentially everyone who comes in contact with you will see.  That’s right…all those eyeballs are on YOU.  A professional, flattering, effective headshot is well worth the small investment.

How do ensure you get an effective, professional headshot?

1.    Find a professional photographer who knows how to properly light your face to look its best.  Lighting is crucial and getting it right requires an expert.

2.    Make sure the photographer has a simple, flattering background.  Sometimes you’ll be locked into using a standard background that’s on your company’s website, but usually these are universally flattering.  As long as it’s simple and not distracting, a professional photographer can ensure the background color won’t make you look washed-out.

3.    If possible, schedule your headshot session for a time when you can arrive a little early, and not feel rushed about leaving.  Being relaxed adds an air of composure to your portrait.

4.    Before the session, drink plenty of water and get a good night’s sleep.  You’d be amazed what a difference this makes: dehydration and fatigue really come across on camera.

5.    Dress in the fashion you feel best represents you and your business. Your photographer should be OK with you bringing some clothing options.  Jewelry (if any) should be limited to non-distracting pieces.  Medium to dark solid colors are best.  Small patterns are OK, but avoid checks and flesh tones.

6.    Your photographer should have a professional, theatrical-quality make-up mirror in his studio.  Use it!   Make sure your tie is straight, your scarf adjusted just so, that cowlick smoothed down.  Take a moment to be sure that you look the way you want to be seen.  The added confidence of that one moment will read in your photos.

Following these basic steps will give you the platform required for today’s competitive marketplace.  It all starts with YOU at your best, and the synergy you’ll find with the right photographer.

To see more examples of executive headshots click here

on-location and in-studio headshots

You know the importance of having a great-looking headshot for your website, social media sites, branding and marketing efforts.  If you don’t have an up-to-date headshot, it’s understandable you may feel a sense of urgency to get “something” out there.  And in the short term, that may be an acceptable compromise.

But don’t fall into the trap of allowing a less-than-fabulous headshot linger on your LinkedIn profile!  If your headshot isn’t current, doesn’t look professional nor show you at your best, it’s time to change it.

Don’t make the mistake of settling for an up-against-a-white-wall shot that your friend took yesterday.  It may be current, but won’t look professional. Remember, this is a photo that potentially everyone who comes in contact with you will see.  That’s right…all those eyeballs are on YOU.  A professional, flattering, effective headshot is well worth the small investment.

How do ensure you get an effective, professional headshot?

1. Find a professional photographer who knows how to properly light your face to look its best.  Lighting is crucial and getting it right requires an expert.
2. Make sure the photographer has a simple, flattering background.  Sometimes you’ll be locked into using a standard background that’s on your company’s website, but usually these are universally flattering.  As long as it’s simple and not distracting, a professional photographer can ensure the background color won’t make you look washed-out.
3. If possible, schedule your headshot session for a time when you can arrive a little early, and not feel rushed about leaving.  Being relaxed adds an air of composure to your portrait.
4. Before the session, drink plenty of water and get a good night’s sleep.  You’d be amazed what a difference this makes: dehydration and fatigue really come across on camera.
5. Dress in the fashion you feel best represents you and your business. Your photographer should be OK with you bringing some clothing options.  Jewelry (if any) should be limited to non-distracting pieces.  Medium to dark solid colors are best.  Small patterns are OK, but avoid checks and flesh tones.
6. Your photographer should have a professional, theatrical-quality make-up mirror in his studio.  Use it!   Make sure your tie is straight, your scarf adjusted just so, that cowlick smoothed down.  Take a moment to be sure you look the way you want to be seen.  The added confidence of that one moment will read in your photos.
Following these basic steps will give you the professional image required for today’s competitive marketplace.  It all starts with YOU at your best, and the synergy you’ll find with the right headshot photographer.

“Does anyone know a good photographer in Chicago to do headshots and automatic uploads?”

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Well, 5th Avenue Digital’s specialty is supplying great photographers all over the country, providing onsite photography, and offering the technical support so that the photos can be instantly uploaded. So, I jumped on the posting and  as a result we were hired… by  Zoe at LinkedIn!

Onsite Photography enables LinkedIn to build their Community at Events
It all started at an HR event in Chicago where LinkedIn offered attendees free portraits using onsite photography for LinkedIn profiles – encouraging those who stop by their booth to either join the LinkedIn community or update their profiles if they’re already members. And based on the success of that event, LinkedIn has hired 5th Avenue Digital for the ERE Show in San Diego at the end of March, and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Show in New Orleans in June!

The goal is to increase awareness of LinkedIn services for these HR professionals. What better way to do this than by providing free professional portraits?

What did I learn from this?
1. Onsite photography services are in high demand all over the country by all kinds of companies that want to increase their awareness and give prospective customers a valuable gift.
2. Employment agencies and human resources professionals comprise a significant segment of LinkedIn’s community, so they have begun exhibiting at many of the industry trade shows.
3. Social Media sites can indeed be a source for opportunities to grow my business.

I will continue to blog, tweet, link and friend online…and I hope you will join me, too!

We at Fifth Avenue Digital are frequently hired to shoot corporate executive portrait photography for companies of all sizes. Understandably, many of the employees who are being photographed for their portraits are concerned about how they will look in the finished shot.

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Hiring a stylist and or make-up artist is always the best way to insure that your brand promise is being met in your photographs. But, if that is not in your budget, we’ve prepared a few suggestions to get the most out of your executive portrait session:

Get the most out of your executive portrait photography session

1. Be Rested for Your Portrait Photography Session: try to get a good night’s sleep before your portrait photography session. Make-up and image retouching can mask only so much…dark circles and puffy eyes are hard to disguise!
2. Arrive Early: it can make a big difference in the final shots if are not under pressure to leave. Being relaxed and having fun will add an air of composure to your executive portrait.
3. What to Wear for Your Executive Portrait: dress in the fashion which you feel best represents both you and your company. Feel free to bring some clothing options. (During one of our executive portrait photography session, two female employees arrived wearing the same blouse!) For best executive portrait photos jewelry should be limited to non-distracting pieces. Solid colors are recommended, but patterns are fine if they are not too distracting (but always stay away from checks, flesh tones and colors that are very loud.  Medium to dark colors are usually the best choices.
4. Men’s Executive Portrait Preparations: shave early in the day to let any razor-burn dissipate and allow nicks to heal before the executive portrait photography session. For a late-day portrait session, a touch-up shave at mid-day is recommended, especially if you have a heavy beard to mitigate five-o’clock shadow.
5. Women’s Executive Portrait Preparations: wear something that looks good from the waist up. You want to make sure you like the way it hits your arms and has a good neckline for the executive portrait photos.  Also make sure that if your executive portrait is for business-that the shirt is proper business attire
6. Stay Hydrated for Your Portrait Photography Session: drink plenty of water starting at least the day before your executive portrait photography session, as well as throughout the day of your shoot.  Believe it or not, being properly hydrated will actually help you look better in your portrait shots!
7. Finally: take a quick look in the mirror right before your executive portrait session starts even if there is a hair/make-up artist present. Make sure your tie is straight, your scarf adjusted just so, that cowlick smoothed down. Take a moment to be sure that you look the way you want to be seen.  The added confidence of that one moment will read in your portrait photos.

Executive portrait photographers take into account your company’s brand and the mood you want to convey.

Executive Portraits Shot at the Workplace are Very Effective

Our executive portrait photographers recently worked with a law firm that specializes in personal injury cases. With a new website in the works combined with an online marketing campaign, it was important for the partners to have the right executive portraits on the site. The partners wanted their executive portrait photography to project to prospective clients what they feel is their firm’s strongest selling features: compassion and strength.

So, with that in mind, we held the executive portrait photo session in the firm’s offices. The partners each sat at their desk, dressed in their usual business attire. The portrait photographer encouraged the execs to think about a case in which they were particularly involved with their client. The result of this is highly effective executive portraits and a very powerful website that is working to bring in new clients.

Gone are the days when executive portrait photographs only meant stern looking company founders staring out of ornate frames in a board room. Today’s digital photography enables us to really capture a company’s brand and personality.

Executive portrait photography boosts employee morale and increases credibility

Some of our clients use the executive portrait photography session as a way to bring their employees together to relax for an afternoon. We have discovered that even the most serious managers will loosen up a little when the right executive portrait photographer is on the job. Of course, some of our clients prefer to have each employee come in for their portrait photography just a few minutes at a time so as not to disrupt the business day. Either way, having professionally shot executive portraits to use on your corporate website, in printed materials or to have available for bios, etc. can increase company credibility and make your employees feel valued.