Editorial Headshots That Get You Magazine Coverage
Make Me Look Like I Belong in the Financial Times – And How We Did It
A financial services professional had a clear brief: he wanted headshots that looked editorial. Magazine-ready. The kind of imagery that could sit alongside a prominent feature in a major publication like the Financial Times. Clean. Professional. Authoritative. To communicate serious expertise and presence. That's the bar we were aiming for.
The Execution: How Editorial Headshots Actually Get Made
Research: Before I even pick up a camera I make sure I understand exactly what my clients want to acheive, I usually knock up a mood board and run through the client brief in person.
Location: For this shoot we picked Platform 9, a co-working space in Brighton. Real environment, authentic setting. No fake backdrop.
Lighting: One window for natural light. One silver reflector to bounce light back and create dimension. That's it. No multi-light studio setup, no expensive equipment rental. Simplicity wins because it means flexibility—we worked with what existed rather than fighting the space.
The Lens: 50mm. This choice matters more than most people think. It renders faces naturally with minimal distortion. Unless, of course, you get too close to the subject. All that said you can get closer than you would with an 85mm portrait lens and if you look again at the resulting images you can seevhow close I actually do go to the subject. This more intrusive standpoint creates images which confront the viewer and make an impact.
Styling: Navy suit, white shirt. High contrast. Structured. The kind of thing that works on camera, works in a boardroom, works in a press feature. No overthinking. Professional and appropriate across contexts.
Direction: I always direct my subjects with simple commands, ie look at the camera, look off camera, turn slowly back toward me, give me a smile, your best fake laugh etc. Straightforward commands, nothing performative, just helpful direction.
The shoot: 2.0 hours. We captured a ton of scenes and moods which will give my client endless content options going forward.
The edit: Natural skin tones with richness, deep blacks where they belong, sharp focus on the eyes, warm but timeless colour grading. This is where the actual craft happens. Shooting is half the job. Editing is where we make the image work.
The delivery: 48-hour turnaround, in a private online gallery with high-resolution files and web-optimized versions. My client now has editorial-quality imagery that works across LinkedIn, his website, email signature, and any press features.
The result: Editorial-quality professional headshots. Magazine-ready imagery with presence, credibility, and intentionality that works across professional contexts, communicating expertise and building authority.
This is real work. Real results. This is what editorial headshots look like when they're done properly.
Why This Matters: The Broader Lesson About Personal Branding
That brief—"make me look like I belong in the Financial Times"—isn't unique. Plenty of professionals have the same ambition. They want to look serious, editorial, magazine-ready. They want imagery that communicates expertise and presence. The truth is: your headshot is one of the most frequently-seen images associated with your professional identity. It appears on LinkedIn. On your website. In your email signature. On your team page. In any press coverage about you. It's the first impression people form.
Most headshots are forgettable. Safe. Generic. They say "I have a job" but they don't say anything interesting about who you are or why someone should work with you.
Editorial-quality professional headshots are different. They're branded photography designed to command attention, build credibility, and communicate presence. They're the difference between blending in and being remembered.
I've been shooting professional corporate photography for over 25 years. I've worked with the National Audit Office, NHS England, Royal College of Nursing, Macmillan Cancer Support, and pharmaceutical companies like AbbVie and Boehringer Ingelheim. I understand what works across corporate, healthcare, and professional sectors. I know what photographs well and what builds actual credibility.
Here's what I've learned: editorial headshots get you coverage, traction, and business results. A strong personal brand, supported by professional imagery, changes how people perceive you.
Why Many Professionals Skip Professional Headshots (And Why You Shouldn't)
The real barriers:
"I don't have time for a photoshoot." You have a business to run. You're busy. The last thing you need is a lengthy process that pulls you away from work.
"I don't know what to wear or what works." You're not a model. You're a professional. You shouldn't have to figure out lighting, angles, styling, and expression all on your own.
"I need it to work across all my platforms." LinkedIn looks different from your website, which looks different from press materials. You need images that work everywhere without constant resizing and cropping.
"I can't wait weeks for results." Your business moves fast. You need your updated professional image working for you now, not in a month.
"What if I look terrible in photos?" Most people photograph better than they think. Most headshot problems come from bad lighting, poor direction, or weak editing. Fix those and the results change completely.
"I don't want to pay for something that feels dated in a year." You need images that work for years, not months.
Here's the solution:
This process is built for busy professionals who need to look serious and polished without it taking over their life.
Minimal time commitment: 2 hours. One morning or afternoon. Not a full day production. Not multiple sessions. You show up, I handle everything else.
Professional guidance: You don't need to figure anything out. I direct you on posing, expression, and what to wear. My job is to get you looking your best. Your job is to show up.
Fast turnaround: 48-72 hours from shoot to delivery. Your new professional images are live within days. You're not waiting. You're not second-guessing. You're moving forward.
Multiple options: I shoot different moods and angles so you have real choice. You see options and pick what feels right. No surprises.
Works everywhere: The images are optimized for LinkedIn, your website, email signature, press materials, business cards. One shoot, multiple applications. Consistent brand across all platforms.
You own everything: All files are yours. High-resolution, web-optimized, you can use them however you need to. No ongoing fees. No licensing restrictions. They're yours to keep.
No unnecessary process: No extensive questionnaires, no multiple consultations, no overcomplication. You have a brief. We understand it. We execute it. You get results.
The whole approach is designed around one principle: make this as easy and frictionless as possible so you can actually get it done.
What Editorial Headshots Actually Deliver for Your Business
They get you noticed. Your LinkedIn headshot appears every time you comment, post, or interact. If that image is professional and distinctive, people notice. They engage more. They visit your profile more. They're more likely to reach out.
They support press coverage. Journalists, podcast hosts, and publication editors need professional images. If you have editorial-quality photography, you're more likely to be included in features. They're less likely to turn down your story because of poor imagery. This matters when you're pitching yourself or your business to media.
They build personal brand consistency. When your headshot is the same across your website, LinkedIn, email signature, and any press features, people remember you. Visual consistency builds authority. It signals that you're professional, intentional, and credible.
They increase inbound opportunities. People are more likely to reach out to professionals who look credible and approachable. A weak headshot says "I haven't invested in myself." A strong one says "I'm serious about this." That distinction is real and it's quantifiable.
They protect your long-term brand. A professional headshot doesn't date itself. You can use it for years. Poor headshots feel dated after six months. When you invest in quality editorial photography, you're investing in an asset that works for you consistently.
How We Work Together: The Process
Step 1: Let's Talk About Your Brand
Book a consultation (free, 20 minutes). We discuss your role, your goals, what you're trying to communicate. Every brief is different. Understanding yours means we can deliver exactly what you need.
Step 2: We Plan the Shoot
Timing, location, styling guidance. I'll recommend what works based on your industry and goals. We align on what success looks like
Step 3: The Shoot
Typically 2 hours. Could be in a studio, at your office, at a co-working space—somewhere that feels authentic to you. I handle direction, lighting, and capturing multiple options so you have choice.
Step 4: You Get Your Images
Fast turnaround (48-72 hours typically). High-resolution files, web-optimized versions, and a guide on where to use them. You own everything. You can download, print, share, or archive as needed.
Step 5: You Use Them
Update your LinkedIn. Update your website. Use them in press features, business cards, email signatures. The images work across platforms and contexts because they're designed to be versatile.
The Real Point
Your headshot is one of the most frequently-seen images associated with your professional identity. It appears everywhere. It says something about you.
When it's professional, intentional, and distinctive, people notice. They engage more. They trust you more. They're more likely to work with you.
Editorial-quality headshots aren't expensive luxury. They're a strategic business investment. They're the difference between blending in and being remembered.
If you're serious about your personal brand and the business results that come with it, professional branding photography is worth doing right.
Ready to upgrade your professional image?
Book a consultation to discuss your editorial headshot project
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