A Personalized Portrait Session for an Author and Mom
Hi, I’m Dan Cleary of Cleary Creative Photography here in Dayton, Ohio. Today, I’d like to walk you through a recent portrait session I conducted for a client who is an author. She needed professional headshots for PR and publicity use, and I thought it’d be helpful to show what that process looks like—especially if you’re looking for on-location portraits in Dayton.
When she first reached out, we discussed what kind of setting would best reflect her personality and work style. Since she’s a writer, she loved the idea of using a bookstore as our backdrop. The next step was to call the bookstore and see if they’d let us shoot there. You never know if they’ll say yes—but thankfully, they did.
More Than Just an Author—She’s a Mom Too
Like a lot of my clients, this woman wears many hats. Yes, she’s an author, but more importantly, she’s a mom of four boys and a supportive wife. In fact, this might’ve been the first time she’d had professional photos taken since her wedding day. That’s pretty common, especially for busy parents.
Making People Feel Comfortable in Front of the Camera
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that photography isn’t just about cameras and lights—it’s about people. Most folks are a little nervous when a camera gets pointed at them. The best way to help someone feel comfortable is to engage in conversation with them.
While I was setting up, I chatted with her. I learned she’s from Australia, married to an Australian Air Force officer stationed here in the U.S. for a few years. Her oldest son is 16. We had a pleasant conversation while I got my lights and angles just right.
To break the ice when it was time to shoot, I said, “You’re only the second Australian woman I’ve ever photographed. Can you guess who the first one was?” She laughed and said no. I told her it was Olivia Newton-John. That got a big smile—and suddenly she wasn’t thinking about the camera anymore. She was relaxed and ready.
Shooting Horizontal and Vertical PR Headshots
Her publisher requested both horizontal and vertical headshots, so we adjusted the setup a few times. For a wide, horizontal shot, I moved back about ten yards to include more of the bookstore in the frame. I hid two of my Godox flashes behind the pillars and pointed them at the ceiling to give a soft, even light in the background. Then I used my softbox and umbrella lights to illuminate her face gently.
For a more intimate shot, I had her lean against a bookshelf. I used the same lighting on her and added a bounce off the ceiling to give the background a little extra glow and add some highlights to her hair.
Outdoor Portraits with Natural Light and Fill Flash
We wrapped up the session with a few portraits outside. Luckily, it was an overcast day, which makes for beautiful, soft natural light. But I still like to add a little pop to the face, especially on cloudy days.
To achieve this, I used my Godox speedlight directly on the camera at about 1/8 power. It worked perfectly as a subtle fill flash—just enough to bring a little light into her eyes and make her stand out against the soft background.
Looking for Professional Portraits in Dayton?
Whether you need PR headshots for your business, author portraits for your next book, or want to capture who you are at this point in your life, I’d love to help. I offer custom portrait photography sessions in Dayton, Ohio, tailored to fit your needs and personality.
Visit www.DaytonCreativePhotography.com to learn more or reach out to schedule your session.
