From Layoff to Love

3 Takeaways from My Headshot Hustle

So, picture this: I had this sweet gig, doing what I loved with an awesome crew, great bosses, decent cash flow, international travel, and all the workplace perks. Life was pretty good until the dreaded pink slip came my way. Cue the sad music and a whole lot of soul-searching. But hey, in every storm cloud, there's a silver lining, right? Turns out, my time at American Bible Society wasn't just about fundraising and meetings. Nope, it's the place where my love for capturing headshots came to life. Here are three nuggets of wisdom I picked up along the way:

Awesome headshot of Rob Giorgio, my former colleague, now rocking it at The Agency Network at MJH Life Sciences! He's killing it in his new role!

1. Nailing the Tech Stuff (and the Essence)

Okay, so let's get one thing straight – taking a headshot isn't just about pointing and shooting. There's a whole bag of tricks involved. I'm talking lighting, angles, and all that jazz. During my ABS days, I dove headfirst into mastering the technical side of things. It was trial and error, my friends. But eventually, I figured out how to work that camera like a boss. Yet, here's the kicker – a good headshot isn't just a pretty picture. It's a snapshot of someone's vibe, their essence, their whole deal. So yeah, mastering the technical stuff is essential, but capturing that spark? That's where the magic happens.

2. Getting Chatty (Even if You're More of a Quiet Type)

Now, let's get real for a minute – I'm about as introverted as they come. Small talk? Not exactly my jam. But you know what? Life has this funny way of throwing you into situations that force you out of your comfort zone. For me, one of those situations was headshot photography. Suddenly, I found myself face-to-face with people I barely knew, tasked with capturing their essence in a single frame. It was nerve-wracking, to say the least. But here's the thing I discovered – connection is everything. As uncomfortable as it was at first, I realized that opening up, even just a little, could make all the difference. So, I took a deep breath, mustered up some small talk, and you know what? It wasn't so bad. In fact, it was kinda liberating. Turns out, people are pretty awesome when you give them a chance. So, to all my fellow wallflowers out there, take it from me – sometimes, stepping out of your comfort zone is the best thing you can do. Who knows? You might just make someone's day with a killer headshot and a killer convo.

3. Sweating the Small Stuff

Here's the deal – details matter. Like, a lot. It's the little things – fixing stray hairs, adjusting the lighting, tweaking the pose – that take a headshot from meh to marvelous. I learned to obsess over the details. I'm talking zooming in, scrutinizing every pixel kind of obsession. And you know what? It paid off big time. Because when you sweat the small stuff, you end up with headshots that turn heads. So yeah, don't skimp on the details, folks. Trust me, they're the secret sauce to killer headshots.

So, there you have it – my journey from layoff to love. Absolutely, being handed that pink slip was like a punch to the gut. But hey, sometimes life throws you a curveball, and you gotta roll with the punches. And who knows? Maybe, just maybe, that curveball will lead you to your true calling. As I embark on this new chapter, I'm reminded that every setback is an opportunity in disguise. So keep hustling, keep snapping, and never underestimate the power of a killer headshot. It might just be the start of something incredible.