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REAL PICTURES OF YOU…
ONLY BETTER!

NEED SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT?

These packages are a great starting point, but sometimes people need a little something different. I’m happy to put together a custom quote for your project.

“My session with Rick was terrific. A lot less painful than I had feared. Fantastic shots. Also, Rick communicated promptly and efficiently on email to set up the shoot.”

★★★★★
Nancy Taylor

“Rick was very willing to work with me in terms of scheduling, and very friendly and professional. Made the process totally painless.”

★★★★★
Carl Schirmeister

“Rick was awesome to work with. He took the best photo of me that I have ever had taken. He has my highest recommendation!”

★★★★★ 
Sean Figy

What Forms of Payment Do You Accept?
I accept Venmo, ApplePay, cash, checks and all major credit cards.
What Do You Recommend for Hair & Make-up?

If you choose to do your own hair/makeup, cover any blemishes as you normally would. Do not assume that you need excessive powder or cover-up as you may have seen in the movies or on news anchors. The general rule of thumb is just slightly more than usual.

Do You Have a Hair and Makeup Artist Available?
Over the past 8+ years I’ve been extremely fortunate to have a relationship with hair and makeup artist Bre Welch. She regularly works on national magazine campaigns and celebrity shoots. Bre also helps create a finished look for hundreds of headshots and portraits every year. She’s an incredible talent who was even recognized as “Best of Boston” by the Improper Bostonian Magazine.

The cost for a hair and makeup session is $200 and takes about an hour. Please plan to set appointment times 2-3 weeks in advance. If you need something sooner, let us know and we will try our best to accommodate.

As a general rule, men don’t need hair/makeup. But if you know you have shiny skin and you need a little help, let me know. I will try to fit your session in at the same time with a female client. We can apply light powder, cover blemishes, even out skin tones – all in about 5 minutes. Bre will remove the makeup after the session is over so you can go back to work directly from your session.

How Do I Prepare For the Hair/Makeup Artist?
Come to the studio with dry, manageable hair and a clean face. Bring a separate set of clothes when sitting in the makeup chair and please be a few minutes early as we normally schedule a full day of back to back appointments with our artists. There’s two full bathrooms steps down the hall from my studio which we also use as changing rooms.
Should Cut My Hair Before My Portrait Session?

If you’re planning on getting a haircut, schedule it about a week before your portrait. This assures your hair is neatly groomed, but has “settled” from being freshly cut.

Should I Wear My Glasses During My Session?

The lights create reflection that may or may not be fixable in post-production, but don’t let that stop you from wearing glasses. If it’s easy to pop the lenses out (and you know you can put them back in), problem solved. I wear glasses all the time and at this point I look strange without them. Definitely bring them with you and be sure to clean them well. I’ll work with the lighting to reduce the glare as best I can.

What Should I Wear for My Headshot Session?
My personal opinion is that guys should avoid collars with buttons, mainly because I just don’t like them. You want to looks as crisp as possible. Press your shirt, dry clean your suit, get a haircut. Put in stiff (ie, metal) collar stays. If you haven’t shopped in a while, use our session as an excuse to buy a new shirt and tie. People with pale skin tones should probably avoid a bright white shirt and blouses, especially during New England winters. Light blue can be a better choice. In the end it’s really up to you. Be true to your personal style. Bring multiple outfits, ties, shirts, etc. I’m here to help…whether or not you ask for it.

In general I tell everyone to keep to solid colors. Patterns, designs, logos and graphics lead the viewer’s eyes away from where they should be. The goal is to lead the viewer to the person’s face in the portrait, not to their choice of clothing.

And even though I just said solids are the standard, there are no rules. I’ve seen striking outfits with all sorts of patterns and I even photographed a family who came in wearing all different color plaid shirts! The picture turned out great once we converted it to black and white so you just never know.

So what am I saying? Be authentic, bring entirely too many options, consider what the images will be used for and most importantly, who the audience will be. Who will be looking at this headshot? What’s your brand? Suitcases encouraged.

For dating or more relaxed portraits, bring something black, gray, and one outfit that you think makes you look like a rock star. When there’s going to be more than one person in the shot, make sure all the colors are similar in appearance. Be sure the clothes share a similar value, which is defined as the relative lightness or darkness of a color. For example if the photo was shot in black and white, all clothing would look similarly light or dark. The goal is to not have one item of clothing overpowering another, to create balance, and to not have any person or item of clothing becoming the focal point. If you’re stuck for ideas, check out Pinterest or give me a call and we can discuss.

What Time Should I Arrive for My Appointment?

According to Vince Lombardi, “If you are 5 minutes early, you are 10 minutes late”. Coming late to your session makes everyone feel rushed and it’s really not great for creativity. Please be considerate of the clients who follow your appointment who are likely on a tight schedule just like you. Please leave enough time to find the building, use the restroom, get changed, fix makeup, etc. I recommend arriving about 10 minutes before your scheduled session so we can begin on time. No need to come more than 10 minutes early, or you could end up waiting in your car. All missed appointments without 24 hour notice will be billed the full session fee.

Can I Take Pictures During My Session?
All images seen on the monitor are protected by copyright and therefore all unauthorized photos taken in the studio, even using an iPhone, are in violation of copyright protection.
Can I Post Images on Social Media?
Absolutely. Once you receive the retouched images, feel free to post them on social media. All I ask is that you tag me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn so the images link back. Also when you tag a photo, please write “photo credit: Rick Bern” in the comments.
 
Rick Bern

Teamwork Makes the Dreamwork

I love working with my clients to help them look their best.

 
Office Headshots

MAKE-UP ARTIST

I am lucky enough to have a relationship with hair & makeup artist Bre Welch, who was voted “Best of Boston” by Improper Bostonian Magazine and several other great artists who are part of her team.

INSTANT IMAGE REVIEW

I shoot tethered to a computer to allow my clients to see the images in real-time.

Environmental Portraits
I’m so sure that you will be thrilled with the results, that I offer a 100% money-back guarantee of your session fee if you are not completely satisfied with your photographs.
*Refunds do not apply to special offers or promotions.