Your residency/fellowship headshot is critical because faculty members make snap judgements about how serious you are just by the way your ERAS photo looks.
And they do this BEFORE they even look at your application.
Some residency applicants are tempted to take their own photo or ask a friend to take it with a decent camera, and while that might work for a simple LinkedIn photo, for something as important as a residency application, it’s critical to send the best possible first impression.
Session fee | $250 | Includes your ERAS photo.
Our 15-minute session includes:
1 look/wardrobe
White or gray backdrop
Real-time image review & selection
Image resized to your application size needs
24-48 hour turnaround (1-2 business days)
(This session is not suitable for LinkedIn photos.)
Actors should update their headshots every one or two years, as a general rule—but any time you change your look, you need new headshots.
You should get new headshots any time you:
Cut your hair more than a few inches
Dye your hair a different color
Gain or lose a significant amount of weight (more than 10 pounds)
Trends are also something to be mindful of. Headshot photographer Marc Cartwright recommends getting new headshots every two years for adults and every six months for children. “You want to stay current with what casting directors are looking for in a headshot,” he explains. “For instance, at one time black-and-white headshots were popular. If you present a black-and-white shot today, some may assume you haven’t auditioned since 2005.
Previously I posted a few tips on taking photos of groups at personal events. I do quite a few corporate team photos as well. A few pointers for your next company team photo:
1. Coordinate everyone’s attire. Clothing doesn’t need to match precisely. But the general color palette should be the same. If you work in a conservative field like finance the style should be consistent (you don’t want everyone in a suit and one person in a sundress, for example). Other industries have more informal corporate cultures, and in those cases team members can wear sweaters, prints and brighter colors.
2. For the love of everything holy please make sure clothing is pressed and wrinkle-free. Yes, I know the style today is wearing cotton button-down shirts right out of the dryer, wrinkles and all. But on photo day bring out your best. Visit the dry cleaner. Bring your clothing to the office on hangers.
3. Try. Everything. On. In. Advance. Especially if you plan to wear a suit in the photo and haven’t worn one in a year. It is tedious and time consuming to have to adjust jackets, blazers or shirts that are either too tight or too baggy.
4. Do what the photographer tells you to do. Ha! Self-serving advice indeed. But if the wardrobe tips say avoid black clothing we have a reason. Same goes for makeup and accessories. Company team photos are usually not the time to express your individuality or sartorial independence.
Thanks to the team at Chesapeake Wealth Management Group for bringing their “A” game to the photo session. They made it one of the easiest corporate team photo sessions I’ve done.
Earlier this year I traveled to west Baltimore to photograph Teniola Akinwuntan, founder of Women of Valor. WOV provides food, housing, child-care assistance, and trauma-informed support for victims of domestic violence. It also operates a for-profit workforce training arm, TheeSeeds LLC, that provides career coaching and equips women (and some men) with skills needed to get jobs in hospitality, construction, IT, health care, and other fields.
Teni was as welcoming and warm as she could be. She was concerned about her attire for the session, though that was certainly not an issue as she brought out one colorful outfit after another. I liked the red best, particularly since I had to good fortune to spot the three posters on the conference room wall to use as a backdrop.
Thanks to Baltimore magazine for continuing to shine a light on the people who maintain these small organizations with such impact. Those of us who have served on nonprofit boards understand all the challenges and complexities. We join with the fine intention of helping the organization achieve its mission, but can quickly become overwhelming by funding, legal and reporting issues. Gamechangers like Teni have incredible dedication and tenacity, and I’m happy she is getting the spotlight for a moment.
Since 1978, TurnAround Inc. has been providing support to victims of sexual assault and intimate partner violence in Baltimore County. Recently Angeles Evans, their senior manager of community engagement and training, was profiled by Baltimore magazine as a local Gamechanger, people making a difference in our community.
I met Angeles when I photographed her for the magazine, and was struck by her poise and competence. She was patient and helpful during the session even though I knew she had a slew of demands to respond to as well as a meeting to attend.
If you have a moment please read the Gamechangers profile to learn more about the important work provided by TurnAround.
Was one of your new year’s resolutions to update your headshot? Are you tired of looking at the same old selfie you uploaded three years ago to your LinkedIn profile? Here’s your chance to get a new headshot at a great price. My monthly Saturday Sessions offer a chance to come in for a half-hour session for $250, which includes one free retouched image. Visit my booking page at the link to schedule: https://calendly.com/vickiejgray/saturday_session
