+ Why should I choose you as my personal branding photographer?

While many photographers offer personal branding photography services, many of them also photograph families, weddings, pets, babies, food, and the list continues. I intentionally don’t do this. Instead, I specialize in only photographing adults for personal branding, headshots, and online dating because those are what feel the most energizing to me and allow me to really excel at what I do. I love being able to bring together the same tools celebrities use to look their best on camera and offer that experience and outcome to the “normal, everyday” people I photograph. While I am an artist, I'm also very much a systems and processes person. I am constantly tweaking and refining the process to make it as easy, effective, and thorough as possible for my clients in order to create the absolute best results for them. I believe if you're going to invest your time, money, and emotion (we all feel at least a little vulnerable having our photos taken), it's worth doing it right (otherwise you end up with mediocre photos, which make a medicore first impression, and subsequently get you mediocre opportunities). Also, before transitioning to photography full-time, I was the marketing director for a local winery. While there, I grew their email list by 460% to 31,000 subscribers, increased e-commerce wine sales by 650%, and launched a campaign that organically reached 3.2 million people on Facebook and brought in more than a quarter-million dollars in revenue. I find that applying these same product marketing skills to my photography work greatly benefits my clients. In the same way I took the time to do my research and get to know a product, I take the time to get to know you and how you plan to use your final images, so I can make sure your photos really look like you (or how you aspire to be), and then strategically create images (while paying attention to all of the little details that make the difference between a just okay photo and the best photo you’ve ever seen of yourself) to help take your career, personal brand, and confidence to the next level.

+ How often should I update my branding photos?

I recommend updating your personal branding photos every two to three years to stay consistent with your actual look and to reinforce the message that you’re staying current professionally. If you’ve made significant changes to your physical appearance, offerings, or website, you’ll want to update them sooner.

+ How far in advance should I book my session?

I recommend booking your personal branding session at least three weeks before you need your final images in hand, ideally six weeks out. We want you to feel prepared and to look like your best self for your session. This time frame allows us to work out the details of your session and customize it to your needs, as well as for you to book a haircut and/or manicure, plan your outfits, take a trip to the dry cleaners, etc. Your image reveal session will take place 7 to 10 days following the personal branding photoshoot. You'll decide which images you'd like to purchase at this image reveal and ordering appointment and then you’ll receive a link to download your fully retouched final images ten days later.

+ On which days of the week can I have my personal branding session?

I schedule shoots Monday through Thursday, typically between the hours of 9 AM and 4 PM to avoid rush hour traffic. Saturday and Sunday sessions are available to book with pre-purchase of the top image collection.

+ Where will my photo session take place? Do you have a studio?

Personal branding sessions start at my studio in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Once you're done with hair and makeup, we may stay at the studio or go on-location depending on your needs.

+ How long will my session last?

Personal branding sessions are four-hours long.

+ Do you provide hair and makeup? Do I need to bring my own makeup and hair products with me? What about for men?

Please arrive with your hair washed and cut, if required, and leave the styling to my team! Professional hair and makeup styling is included in all of my sessions, and the artist stays for the duration of the shoot to make sure you look fantastic throughout. My artist will get you camera-ready and work with your existing hairstyle to add extra oomph and polish!

All of the artists on my team are experienced, full-time hair and makeup artists, specifically trained in camera-ready makeup and well-versed in working with all ages, hair types and textures, skin types and complexions, and levels of makeup application from natural beauty to full-on glam. You are more than welcome to bring your own products, especially if you have a lip color you love, but my artists will have everything you need to look your best on camera, ready and waiting for you.

Just as your favorite male sportscaster or celebrity wouldn't get in front of the camera without some "skin prep and grooming," we offer hair and very light makeup styling for our male clients. This ensures you won't have any shininess, blemishes, or hair out of place that will detract from your photos.

+ What should I do to prepare? What should I wear?

Once you book your personal branding session, you’ll have all of these questions answered in detail in my Lisa Damico Portraits Session Preparation Guide. This guide, along with the pre-session video consultation we’ll schedule, will address exactly how you should prepare your face, skin, hair, and wardrobe to look your best at your personal branding session. I pride myself on offering a comprehensive photoshoot experience to my clients, so expect a very informed process that involves a lot more instruction than just showing up to the session. I know that you are likely busy and have other things to think about other than your personal branding photoshoot, so let me be the one to organize all of the details and guide you through every step along the way.

+ I’ve never been photographed by a professional photographer before and I’m not a model, what do I do in front of the camera?

Not to worry, I specialize in working with “everyday people,” especially those who feel they’re not photogenic and/or don’t like having their photo taken. I will coach you through exactly what to do and the poses and expressions that will make you look your best. All you have to do is show up for your session and my team and I will take care of the rest!

+ Can I have someone with me at my session?

Of course, we want you to feel comfortable, but as studio/waiting space is limited and, more importantly, as many people feel self-conscious having their photo taken, I find that having another set of eyes watching can make that worse. My team and I also want to give you our undivided attention during your session and having additional people present can take away from that or change the connection you have with the camera.

+ How much editing or retouching will you do to my photos?

Particularly with professional and branding photos, it’s important that you look like your photos, so I take a very natural approach to retouching. I’ll use posing, lighting, and wardrobe selection at your session to accentuate or downplay your favorite or least favorite features. Then, in Photoshop, I will remove stray hairs, blemishes, under eye circles, and, if requested, small scars. Basically, anything permanent, I keep, and anything you could change about your appearance in a couple of weeks, I retouch. No one should be able to tell your photos have been retouched and you will look like the best possible version of yourself. [See an example of what an image looks like before and after retouching.][1] [1]: /retouching-example

+ What do your packages include? How much should I expect to spend?

I charge a session fee which covers the cost of the photoshoot experience and is separate from your image purchase. The custom personal branding session fee is $990 and includes a 30-minute pre-session video consultation to meet me, plan your shoot, and talk through any questions you may have, a professional 90-minute virtual wardrobe styling and image consultation session to select the exact outfits you'll wear at your photoshoot, professional hair and makeup styling (artist stays for duration of shoot to make sure you look fantastic throughout), a customized in-studio and/or on-location portrait session with up to 5 wardrobe changes, full retouching of the final images from your session, and an hour-long virtual photo viewing to select your final images. After all is said and done, personal branding clients spend between $3,500 and $7,000 for their session and the photo products they desire. Almost every client goes into the session thinking they’ll only purchase a couple of images and then are surprised by how many photos they just can’t live without from their session. Please know that there is no hard sell—we only want you to purchase the images you love and that will serve you best.

+ This all sounds great, but what if I only need a basic headshot photo or two?

Our monthly Mini Headshot Sessions are a perfect option for you. We'll share our favorite wardrobe styling and preparation tips with you and you'll enjoy an abbreviated in-studio headshot session with hair and makeup styling and three outfit changes.

+ What's the difference between the personal branding session and the custom headshot session?

The headshot session includes four looks and takes place in-studio only. The personal branding session includes five looks, the option of in-studio and/or on-location, and lasts an hour longer to allow time for the additional look, travel, and setup/breakdown of more customized sets.

+ When and how will I select my favorite images from my personal branding session?

Once you’ve scheduled a date for your personal branding session, you’ll also schedule a date for your virtual image reveal and ordering session—this typically takes place 7-10 days after your photoshoot and is my favorite part of the whole process! I do this for a couple of reasons: 1) It makes the best use of your time and money. For example, if left to your own devices, you might select a closeup vertical shot for use on LinkedIn. As LinkedIn forces you into a circular crop, using that shot would mean no one would see your carefully selected outfit, or even the top of your head for that matter. You would likely have to come back to purchase another image. I can use my expertise in sites like LinkedIn to help guide you to select the images which will work best for your intended purposes. 2) It can be overwhelming to look at so many photos of yourself and try to navigate making the right selection on your own when there are many variations, some more pronounced and others more subtle, in body language, expression, energy, etc. among the images. There are actually studies that show that a different part of your brain is activated when you look at a photo of yourself versus a photo of someone else, so in many ways, you’re the least qualified person to select in which image you look your best. I can help bridge this gap and guide you through my tried and true system that makes it easier for clients to decide between images, showing similar images side by side for easy selection.

+ How long before I will receive my final images?

You’ll receive the digital images you purchased at your image reveal session 10 days following the image reveal session. Print orders usually take about a three weeks to arrive from my professional print lab.

+ What about cancellations and refunds?

I like to take care of my paperwork upfront, so I’ll send you a contract and invoice once we work out the details and date of your session (this also allows me to secure a hair and makeup artist for your session). Once signed and paid, your session is officially reserved. As you’ll see in my contract, you can reschedule without penalty if notice is given at least 14 days prior to the session date, but the rescheduled session will need to take place within six months of the original session date. In the event you cancel or don’t show up for your session, the session retainer fee is forfeited. Due to the custom nature of this work, I cannot provide any refunds. However in the unlikely event that you are completely dissatisfied with your images, I offer a reshoot at a discounted rate. No client has ever had to take me up on this offer.