Pauly is a tattoo artist from Norwich who works at the Burning Crow Tattoo Company. He needed a headshot for his profiles, but a standard shirt-and-tie corporate portrait would have looked nothing like him. The point of the session was a professional image that still read as Pauly.
A headshot should look like you
A headshot is often the first thing a potential client sees, so it needs to match the person they will actually meet. Pauly’s tattoos and style are part of who he is and part of his work, so hiding them behind formal clothing would have sent the wrong message. We built the shot around him rather than around a template.
How we shot it
We planned the backdrop, wardrobe and lighting to suit him. He wore a black long-sleeved top with layered necklaces, which fit his style. The lighting was set to show his tattoos and features clearly without making the tattoos the only thing you notice, so the image still works as a headshot rather than a tattoo portfolio shot.
Why it matters for a creative
For anyone in a creative trade, an honest headshot builds trust. Clients want to see the person they will be working with, and a photo that looks like you, in your own clothes, does more for that than a polished portrait that could be anyone.
If you want a headshot that actually looks like you, have a look at the headshots page or get in touch.
