Yesterday, as I was in downtown Portland working with a charming young kid who’s dipping his toe into the acting world, I turned the camera around to show his Mom what we were capturing in that moment (and, of course, she loved the picture). Then, I showed it to the kid and his face lit up. “Wow, that’s so good,” he said.
This morning, as I was sifting through a few of the select emails I allow into my inbox, I came across an article by Canadian headshot photographer Rafal Weigel called “Headshot Aren’t Just Pictures - They’re Brain Activators.” In the article, he writes about the neuroscience of what happens when someone sees a picture of themself, how different areas of the brain light up.
More important, he talks about how seeing a “professionally captured, confident version of (yourself) is a turning point,” how it can reframe insecurities, build personal pride and offer an “anchor for confidence.” He goes on to say why it’s important hire an experienced professional photographer:
You’ll see yourself differently. A selfie can’t capture confidence, presence, and expression the way a trained professional can.
You’ll feel different. A strong headshot session is empowering. It’s a moment of focus on you—not filtered through someone else’s gaze or rushed through poor lighting.
You’ll be remembered differently. Whether on LinkedIn, a website, or a casting platform, a compelling headshot gets attention, builds trust, and tells your story before you speak.
So, when the time comes to create your headshots, be it for business or personal reasons, choose the right photographer, communicate your goals and keep an open mind. You may be surprised and think “Wow, that looks so good!”
Michael Verity is a Portland, OR-based photographer specializing in professional headshots and modeling portfolios. The husband of an acting coach and father of two young adult actors, he’s been photographing successful actors, models, creatives and business professionals for more than a 15 years.
