The importance of booking a professional photographer for your headshots

Author profile shoot by Naomi Lloyd Photography

Headshots are an important tool for professionals in many industries. From actors and models to business executives and entrepreneurs, a professional headshot is often the first impression you make with potential clients, employers, or collaborators. While it may be tempting to rely on a quick selfie or have a friend snap a photo with their smartphone, booking a professional photographer for your headshots is a worthwhile investment that can make all the difference in your career.

Professional Headshot taken by Naomi Lloyd Photography in Portsmouth.

Here are some of the top reasons why you should consider booking a professional photographer for your headshots:

  1. Quality of the final product

Professional photographers have the skills and expertise to capture high-quality images that showcase your best features and convey the message you want to convey. They have the right equipment, lighting, and technical knowledge to create a final product that is sharp, clear, and visually appealing.

  1. Image consistency

When you book a professional photographer, you can expect a consistent level of quality and style across all your headshots. This is especially important if you plan to use your headshots across different platforms, such as your website, social media, or printed marketing materials. Consistency in your branding is key to creating a professional image.

  1. Creative input

Professional photographers can provide valuable creative input and suggestions to help you achieve the look and feel you want for your headshots. They can advise you on the best clothing choices, backgrounds, and poses to ensure that your headshots represent you in the best possible light.

  1. Time-saving

Booking a professional photographer can save you time and hassle. You don’t have to worry about setting up the shot, adjusting the lighting, or editing the final product. Instead, you can focus on what you do best – preparing yourself for the shoot and bringing your best self to the session.

  1. Professionalism

When you book a professional photographer, you signal to potential clients or employers that you take your career seriously and are willing to invest in yourself. This professionalism can go a long way in building trust and credibility with others in your industry.

In conclusion, booking a professional photographer for your headshots is a smart investment that can help you stand out in a crowded marketplace. It is an opportunity to showcase your best self and make a lasting impression on others. So, whether you’re an actor, entrepreneur, or business executive, consider investing in a professional headshot to elevate your career to the next level.

To find out more about the headshot and profile photo shoots I offer click here:

https://www.naomilloyd.co.uk/professional-profile-and-online-dating-portraits

Professional Headshot taken by Naomi Lloyd Photography at Stansted Park

Professional headshot taken by Naomi Lloyd Photography at The Square Tower, Southsea

Mother’s Day Photoshoot Vouchers – if this photo doesn’t make you want to book a photoshoot…

Look how they held each other’s hands! 😍

Happy New Year 2023!



Yes, I know that I am super late with this, but please bear with me. Perhaps a tad annoying, but I really am one of those people who keeps saying this over-used salutation all the way through January and February in a bid to convince myself I’m still partying through these long, dreary months!

Once we get to March, the daffodils are out, and I can start to look forward to putting on my cowgirl hat in readiness for the annual country music festival in London, I’ll merrily switch my greeting to “Howdy!”
Not annoying…at all 🙂

 

On that note, I’ll try not to be too annoying with my first blog of this year, but instead, share with you some of the sweetest photo moments I was lucky enough to have in 2022.

Check out this twin newborn shoot. The way these little boys held each other’s hands was a true melt-your-heart moment.


I was so inspired by this photoshoot that I’ve put together a dedicated Mother’s Day photography gift voucher store.

TAKE ME TO THE STORE!

Multi-generational family shoots, Couple portraits, Bump and Newborn baby shoots, Teenage photo shoot parties, and Professional headshots.A photoshoot voucher is a perfect gift for all generations!
Please do not hesitate to get in touch.

All vouchers are valid for over a year and photo shoot arrangements are flexible.


Naomi Lloyd

www.naomilloyd.co.uk


Visual content is important for your personal brand – Naomi Lloyd

Your image. Your personal brand. Your story.

The first time I heard the phrase, ‘personal branding’, I was less than impressed. I had just finished reading ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ – a book set in a dark version of the future, where fertile women are branded with ear clips and poked with cattle prods – and I was particularly sensitive to the concept of human branding in general.

Today, I am a huge fan of this term.

Why, you may ask?

Because, jumping off my storytelling chair for a moment – please bear with me, I’m an author as well as a photographer – I now realise just how important personal branding is. In fact, I actively embrace the term.

I just prefer to add a tagline to it:

Personal branding: taking control of your story

In this new world we are living in, it’s vital that we take control of our personal image and our story online: who we are, what we do and what we can offer.

Think of it as the book cover for your story – with you as the one and only designer.

What is a personal brand?

You may not be aware that you already have a personal brand. Well, trust me, you do. If you don’t believe me, try googling yourself and see what pops up. And then, ask yourself if the profile image you selected for Linked In, Facebook and other social media reflects you in the best light possible?

Or perhaps a better question might be: how would a potential employer judge you from what they see on their screens?

Would you be happy with what they saw?

They say you should never judge a book by its cover, but believe me, they do – I’ve changed my books covers twice already. And it’s exactly the same with your online profile photographs.

Personal branding and professional headshot photography is about taking control of your story, your narrative – the images that will attract people to you, rather than passing you over: the kind of people who will appreciate what you have to say.

My personal brand

Image One

Image Two

This is my brand. It’s taken me a while to work it out, but I can honestly say that I’m finally happy with these images and what I believe they say about me.

Like many people I wear more than one professional hat. Image one is Naomi Lloyd, the photographer. Image two is Naomi E Lloyd, the sci-fi/fantasy author.

In the first image, my occupation is obvious. The camera is an easy prop! In the second image my branding is more subtle. I am wearing the bespoke neckpiece I had designed for my book series (Tandro) and yes, this is the same neckpiece that appears on my book covers. Subtle, but hopefully it is reflective of the image I want to portray: a metaphysical, other-worldly theme.

If I google my name, I am happy with my images on social media and other photographs that are connected to both my photography and my author businesses. To me, they illustrate that my career is spent chasing the light – both through my stories and with my camera.

When I look at these images together, I feel two important things:

focused on balancing two creative and complimentary professions; and, confident about who I am and what my skills and creative passions provide.

This is my story. But what is yours?

A professional headshot: A narrative

“A picture is worth a thousand words.”

I’m sure you have heard this quote before. It’s one that always makes me smile.

On my writing days I aim to follow Stephen King and write 2,000 words a day. And on my photography days, I may not take as many photographs as the words I write, but the ones I do are all focused on telling a person’s individual story – and in the most attractive light.

Taking control of your online story

As already mentioned, your personal brand is already online so now is the time to take control of it. Don’t let the guys at Silicon Valley tell your story for you, because if you post the bleary-eyed photo of you from that night you can barely remember, that’s exactly what they (or their algorithms) will do. That version of you had fun but he’s not your every-day brand. At least, I doubt he is anyway.

There’s never been a better time to take control of your online personal brand and tell your story.

Visit Naomi Lloyd to book a photo session for your

LinkedIn and other business profiles.

Samples photos can be seen on this page.

Photograph Story from a Stunning Tournerbury Woodland Wedding in Hampshire

Tournerbury Wedding Hampshire wedding venue, Naomi Loyd Photography. www.naomilloyd.co.uk

A Wedding Venue That Ticks All The Boxes

It is rare to find a wedding venue that ticks so many boxes in such a perfect space. Imagine finding an outdoor wedding venue that incorporates the English country ideal: think hay bales; a gleaming white marquee; tree swings and party games on green grass, where children and adults alike can play – combined with a secret passageway leading down to the brilliant blue waters of the Solent in Hayling Island. Sound too good to be true?

The good news is: I am not just teasing you. It does exist!  Here is a wedding story from Tournerbury Estate.

A Beautiful Wedding Photography Setting

Before setting off with our cameras packed in the boot, and sandwiches and flask in the back, I told Julian this was going to be a super fun wedding for us to photograph together. The bride and groom, Kelly and Chris, exude fun and laughter, and their happiness is simply infectious. I had already met them for a family shoot earlier in the year, and again for their pre-wedding/engagement shoot, and so I knew just how hard they had worked to design a wedding that would involve all their friends and family.

Fun, happy and emotional it was too!

Laughing together as the new Mr and Mrs in the dappled sunlit grounds of Tournerbury Wedding Venue. Photos by Naomi Lloyd Photography

 

Outdoor Decking For Exchanging Your Vows

I love natural light so I am always excited to hear when a couple have been bold enough to pick an outdoor wedding setting to say their vows. The owners of Tournerbury have built a stunning covered decking on their grounds to allow couples to experience their marriage ceremony in a truly natural outdoor setting, come rain or shine. Fortunately for Kelly and Chris, the weather was glorious on their late September wedding date!

 

Tournerbury Wedding Hampshire wedding venue, Naomi Loyd Photography. www.naomilloyd.co.uk

Tournerbury Wedding Hampshire wedding venue, Naomi Loyd Photography. www.naomilloyd.co.uk

Woodland and Seaside All In One Wedding Venue

This is a real hidden gem of a wedding venue. You may have to write more extensive directions on your wedding invitations – you access the private woodlands via a farm – but when all is revealed, after driving down the private lane, you will fill as though you have invited your guests to a little bit of hidden wedding paradise!

Tournerbury Wedding Hampshire wedding venue, Naomi Loyd Photography. www.naomilloyd.co.uk

Tournerbury Wedding Hampshire wedding venue, Naomi Loyd Photography. www.naomilloyd.co.uk

Creating an atmosphere that is both romantic and full of family fun!

I loved how Kelly and Chris’s wedding catered for all the generations and the venue provides the space for this so well. There were lots of entertainment opportunities for the little ones to enjoy and adults to enjoy: face painting; magicians for the children during the speeches and a cartoonist for the adults whilst sipping champagne and sampling canapes from Vanilla Catering. 

Tournerbury Wedding

From Twilight Speeches to Starry Dancing and Firepit Romance

The sun set in perfect time to the beautifully written speeches. A fire pit just outside the marquee and a live band comprised of excellent musicians meant the guests were merrily led into the evening party atmosphere.

Tournerbury Wedding Hampshire wedding venue, Naomi Loyd Photography. www.naomilloyd.co.uk

This really was a special wedding to photograph. Kelly and Chris kindly  invited us to stay and party, or even to join for the following day’s festivities : a hog roast ! It was tempting but it was time to hit the hay! Party on, we said, and then drove down the dark woodland path back to our boys in Southsea, leaving the lively wedding festival goers to continue their celebrations in this rather special little hideaway!

Where to Find Us?

We are taking bookings for 2019 and even 2020 already. Please do not hesitate to contact me on naomi@naomilloyd.co.uk or take a look at this link below to learn about what we can offer for your wedding photography needs.

https://www.naomilloyd.co.uk/why-choose-naomi-lloyd-photography-

 

 

Choosing a restaurant for your wedding reception

One of my favourite parts of being a wedding photographer is the opportunity to capture the style and expression of each unique wedding. By this, I mean the type of wedding experience a couple creates for their day, something determined by a number of factors: the decor; the colours of dresses; type of flowers; even the invitations to annouce the theme! I could go on. The venue, however, is the factor that gives the day most of its shape.

Choosing unique weddings venues

The venue is often an expression of the couple’s journey together, so far. It can also be a fitting reflection of their preferred setting in life. A grand ballroom in a city hotel is, of course, a very different reflection of preference than a country barn or a medieval castle.

Photographing the details of a wedding venue

I love all the venues I photograph because they are the spine of the wedding book; their unique look – often enhanced by the wedding decor- allows the wedding story to unfold. And that’s why I always photograph the details at a venue: the chandeliers or victorian lamps; the wooden beams or stone walls; the mirrored art deco walls. Just a few examples. These are the little details that allow the big story of the day to come together in an album!

Weddings at Portsmouth Registry and Wellington Portsmouth

Recently, I have photographed some lovely weddings near to the beaches of Old Portsmouth, fondly known in our area as The Hot Walls. Extremely hot walls they have been too throughout this glorious summer!.

These were smaller weddings with approximately 60 guests and both took place in the beautiful Portsmouth Registry Office first, followed by a reception in a quirky red-roomed restaurant called the Wellington .

It had been a while since I had captured a smaller venue and I loved it – just as much as the larger ones. And why? Because they were both so wonderfully reflective of the couple!

Both brides have since commented on how much fun the guests had on their day. Everyone enjoyed cocktails and special gin and tonics in the garden before being served a gastro pub three-course meal that allowed for delicious dietary alternatives. Even pescetarians like me! Thank you Mario!

Finding Wedding Photography Locations Near A Smaller or City Venue

So if you are thinking of hiring a restaurant or country pub for your wedding reception there are some fantastic ones to choose from in Portsmouth, and all around Hampshire. I have lots of recommendations,for both large and smaller weddings, some with gardens, or near beaches or even with rooftops. You don’t need to worry about not getting the special wedding photographs for you day either because we can plan locations nearby on your pre-wedding shoot. There are always options, inside rooms and outdoors. You just need to know where to look for them!

Any questions please contact me here Naomi

Wellington Restaurant, Old Portsmouth

HMS Warrior Weddings – A Perfect Wedding Photography Location

HMS Warrior Weddings by Naomi Lloyd Wedding Photography.

Finding A Unique Wedding Venue in Portsmouth

HMS Warrior is a unique and romantic wedding venue in Portsmouth, Hampshire. Steeped in history this is a beautiful place to capture stunning wedding photographs with the Spinnaker Tower in the background. Sunset shots are a favourite too! A wedding photographer’s dream!

An All Inclusive Wedding Venue in Hampshire

See link to our main page for more photo examples Warrior

Unusual and Romantic Wedding Venue, Portsmouth, Mary Rose Museum

An Unusual Wedding Venue in Portsmouth, Hampshire

We are so lucky to live in Portsmouth and work as wedding photographers. Not only do we have access to stunning beaches and historic landmarks, we are also based near some of the most beautiful and unusual wedding venues on our doorstep. In fact, if you are looking for a wedding venue that is steeped in history, provides beautiful photography backdrops and epitomizes timeless romance then look no further than The Mary Rose Museum. Situated at Portsmouth’s infamous historic dockyard you can say your vows on a balcony right next to the historic ship remains surrounded by twinkling lights all around.

All Inclusive Wedding Venue in Hampshire

It can be tricky trying to find a venue to suit all your needs: a licensed venue; a room with a large capacity; an outdoor space for photographs; a wow factor for your wedding guests to enjoy celebrating with you.

Having photographed a number of weddings and events at The Mary Rose Museum I can vouch for the fact that this is one of those gems where you can tick a lot of boxes that may well be on your list. And…it helps that we love the variety of settings and lighting, as well as the fantastic staff members who treat the brides and groom, the guest AND the wedding photographers, like royalty! Well, it is a historic venue there to preserve and celebrate a rather famous time in our royal family too!

Please see our wedding video for an example of a recent wedding we photographed there or click here to read more about our weddings at The Mary Rose Museum

All Inclusive Wedding Packages

A direct link to their venue hire page can be found here http:

Rhinefield House

It has been a wonderful long summer of weddings and the wedding season certainly has not finished for us with some lovely September and October weddings to look forward to. Admittedly, between shooting, editing, album desiging and our portrait work as well as other social media updates this blog has been neglected recently but better late than never so here are highlights to follow.
April was a lovely month for weddings and one highlight was capturing the wonderful Jen and Nigel as they said their wedding vows at Rhinefield House Hotel in The New Forest. The drive up to this stunning hotel is one of the most impressive we have seen and the interior and exterior grounds do not disappoint either.
When Nigel came to collect their wedding album a couple of months after their wedding, we did have a giggle together as we browsed through the pages and he pointed to a photo of wiping away a tear after seeing his lovely bride walk down the aisle. Apparently, as Jen looked at him at this poignant and highly emotional moment she said, “Man up princess”. Priceless!
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Image showing bride and groom kissing at Rhinefield House Hotel

Christmas Winter Wedding at The Royal Marines Museum

Loved capturing this beautiful Christmas wedding of Emma and Ashley at The Royal Marines Museum. This was a such a special day full of excited children and a beautiful poem written and read out during the ceremony by their son Jack. Here are a couple of my favourites when the couple bravely stepped out on to the balcony in the December cold for their couple photographs.

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