A professional headshot is an essential part of a press kit. It puts a face to your name and gives journalists, editors, and event organizers a polished image to work with. But depending on your profession, one headshot may not be enough.
A strong press kit photography collection can include several types of images that give your story more context and give publications more flexibility when choosing what to use.
The Portrait That Shows More
A traditional headshot works well when a publication simply needs a clear portrait. But an environmental portrait can show more of who you are and what you do. A chef photographed in a kitchen, an architect in a finished space, or an author surrounded by their books immediately provides context that a studio headshot cannot. The photograph becomes part of the story rather than simply an identification image.
The Working Image
What do you actually do? A photograph of you working, speaking, creating, meeting with clients, or engaging with your subject can help answer that question visually. These images can be especially useful for feature stories, interviews, profiles, and articles where the publication needs more than a simple portrait.
Give Editors Options
A press kit may be used in many different formats. A website might need a horizontal image with room for text. A magazine may want a tighter portrait. A publication may need a vertical image for a specific layout. Providing a small collection of thoughtfully composed professional photographs gives editors options without forcing them to crop or improvise with whatever image they happen to find online.
Your Images Should Match Your News
The right photography also depends on what you’re announcing. A book release, new business, speaking engagement, product launch, company milestone, or major professional achievement may call for a different visual approach. Publicity photography is particularly useful here because it can be created around a specific story, announcement, or moment. The important point for a press kit is simple: the images should help support the story you’re trying to tell.
Build a Press Kit That Is Ready Before You Need It
News doesn’t always arrive with plenty of warning. When a journalist requests a photo tomorrow, having a current headshot and a selection of professional portraits ready to go can save time and make your response much easier. Your press kit should make it simple for someone else to tell your story. And the right photographs can give that story a much stronger visual beginning.
Need professional photography for a press kit, media appearance, or upcoming announcement? Visit our galleries and contact us to create a versatile collection of headshots, portraits, and publicity images ready for wherever your story goes.
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Co-owner of Headshots NYC, Deutsch Photography & Gotham Family Photos. Lover of images & the stories they tell. Fanatic about words, numbers & patterns. Entrepreneur & adventurer w/keen wanderlust. Life/love/business partner of my husband, photographer Brett Deutsch. Eternal love affair with NYC, where I landed by way of GA, TX & CA.
