Fall family photo season is here!

And listen—I love fall photos. The light is beautiful. The temperatures are usually cooperative. My hometown Carroll County gives us some absolutely gorgeous backdrops. And if you’re hoping to update the frames around your house, knock out your holiday cards, or finally give the grandparents some current photos of everyone, this is a pretty perfect time to do it.

But fall is also BUSY.

School is back. Sports are happening. Weekends disappear. The sun starts setting approximately five minutes after everyone gets home. And suddenly you’re trying to get four people dressed, fed, happy, and out the door for family photos.

So let’s make this easier.

Here are my best tips for planning fall family photos that feel less like a production—and more like time spent actually enjoying your family.

1. Book Early. Seriously.

If family photos are on your fall to-do list, don’t wait until November to start thinking about them.

Fall weekends are some of the first dates to fill, especially if you’re hoping for peak color, a specific location, or enough time to order holiday cards and photo gifts afterward.

Late September through late October is generally our sweet spot here in Maryland. But here’s the other thing people forget: we lose our evening light FAST.

As we move deeper into fall, sunset gets earlier and earlier, which makes weekday sessions much harder to squeeze in around work, school, dinner, and all the other things competing for those precious evening hours.

Here are the real numbers:

September 1 — Sunset: 7:38 PM
October 1 — Sunset: 6:49 PM
October 31 — Sunset: 6:06 PM
November 1 — Sunset: 5:06 PM

Yes. We lose an entire hour of usable evening in ONE DAY. Thanks, Daylight Saving Time.

So this is me lovingly telling you: get on your photographer’s calendar.

Maybe my calendar??

2. Pick a Location That Actually Fits Your Family

You do NOT need to find the most Pinterest-perfect pumpkin patch in Maryland.

In fact, sometimes the best location is the one where your family can comfortably move around, play, explore, and be themselves.

That might be a wooded trail, an open field, tall grasses, a farm, a favorite park, your own backyard, a cute downtown spot, or somewhere with beautiful old barns, fences, stone walls, or other interesting textures.

And if you don’t know where to go? That’s okay. You don’t have to figure this part out by yourself.

I can help you choose a location based on the look you love, the ages and personalities of your kids, how much walking your crew can realistically tolerate, and what will photograph beautifully at the time of your session.

3. Coordinate Your Clothes. Please Don’t Match Them.

You know the family photo where everyone is wearing a white shirt and jeans?

We have evolved.

Instead of matching, coordinate.

Pick two or three main colors and let everyone’s clothing work within that palette. Fall is beautiful with creams, tans, denim, navy, olive, dusty rose, rust, terracotta, mustard, soft browns, and muted jewel tones.

Then add texture: knits, denim, linen, corduroy, a cardigan, a vest, a great jacket.

A few things I generally recommend avoiding:

• Neon or extremely bright colors
• Large logos and graphics
• Lots of competing patterns
• Tiny stripes that can photograph strangely
• Very short dresses if we’ll be sitting, moving, or dealing with wind
• Anything your child absolutely HATES wearing

That last one matters.

Your three-year-old does not care that the adorable wool sweater perfectly completes your color palette. If he’s itchy and furious, we’re all going to know about it.

Comfort wins.

4. Don’t Tell Your Kids They Have to Smile for Me

Tell them we’re going to have fun together.

That’s it.

You don’t need to spend the car ride saying, “You better behave,” or “I need you to smile nicely for the photographer,” or promising increasingly elaborate rewards for twenty consecutive minutes of cooperation.

Come fed. Come rested, to the extent that children ever cooperate with our carefully planned sleep schedules. Bring a simple snack. Bring water. Bring the lovey if your child needs the lovey.

And then let me work with them.

I don’t expect little kids to stand perfectly still and smile at the camera for an hour. We’ll move. We’ll play. We’ll explore. We’ll be silly. I’ll give them things to do instead of constantly asking them to perform.

That’s usually where the good stuff happens anyway.

5. Give Yourself More Time Than You Think You Need

Nothing torpedoes everyone’s mood faster than screaming, “WE ARE LATE FOR THE FUN FAMILY PHOTO EXPERIENCE!” while somebody can’t find a shoe.

Build in buffer time.

Have outfits ready beforehand. Give yourself extra time for hair, snacks, diaper changes, missing shoes, wardrobe opinions, and whatever completely unpredictable crisis your child schedules for five minutes before departure.

Try to arrive about 10–15 minutes early so you aren’t flying into the parking lot already stressed.

This is especially important in fall because the sun does not care that we couldn’t find the other boot.

Once our light is gone, it’s gone.

6. Your Kids Are Allowed to Be Kids

This may be the most important thing I tell parents:

There is no such thing as a perfect family photo session—especially with little kids.

And I don’t need one.

I’ve photographed children who clung to Mom. Kids who needed breaks. Kids who decided they were finished approximately five minutes after we started. Kids who cried. Kids who wandered away. Kids who had very strong opinions about grass.

It is okay.

If your child has a hard moment, you don’t need to immediately fix it for the sake of the photos. Comfort them. Hold them. Snuggle them. Give them a minute.

Because sometimes the photograph of your little one tucked into your shoulder becomes more meaningful than the perfectly smiling portrait you thought you wanted.

Some of my favorite photographs happen in those in-between moments: a little hand reaching for Mom, a toddler wrapped around Dad’s leg, siblings exploring together, a giant laugh after something went completely sideways.

Kids don’t need perfection. They need connection.

And connection photographs beautifully.

I’m patient. We’ll change directions. We’ll play a game. We’ll take a break. We’ll reset. We’ll try something completely different.

Trust me.

7. Throw a Tiny Emergency Kit in the Car

You do not need to arrive carrying enough supplies to survive three nights in the wilderness.

But a few things are worth having nearby:

• Water
• A non-messy snack
• Wipes or tissues
• A brush or comb
• Lip balm
• Powder or whatever makeup you’d like for touch-ups
• An extra layer if temperatures are questionable
• Backup clothes for very young kids
• Comfortable walking shoes if you’re changing into nicer shoes for photos

And yes, I fully support the strategic deployment of an after-the-session treat.

8. Think About What You Want to DO With These Photos

Before your session, think beyond “I need a family picture.”

Where are these photographs going?

Maybe you want a big framed family portrait for the living room. Maybe Gram needs updated pictures of the kids. Maybe you’re creating holiday cards. Maybe you want an album. Maybe you simply realized the last good photo you have of all of you together is three years old and somebody in it didn’t even have teeth yet.

Knowing what you want to do with your photographs can help us plan the session intentionally.

And please—print your photos.

Your camera roll does not count as home décor.

9. Once We Start, Your Only Job Is to Enjoy Your Family

This is the part I want you to remember.

You hired me so you don’t have to manage the photographs.

You don’t need to watch every child and tell them where to look. You don’t need to straighten everyone after every shot. You don’t need to keep asking, “Did you get one where everyone is smiling?”

I’ve got it.

I’ll watch the light. I’ll guide you when you need direction. I’ll fix the awkward hand. I’ll notice the hair tie on your wrist. I’ll wrangle the group photo. I’ll make sure we get the photographs Gram wants and the photographs you didn’t know you wanted.

Your job is to love on your people.

Play with your kids. Pick them up. Chase them. Snuggle them. Laugh with them.

Let me take care of the rest.

Ready for Fall Family Photos?

If you’ve been thinking, We really need new family pictures this year (or if you’ve procrastinated getting your Senior’s portraits), consider this your reminder.

Fall dates are limited, and the best dates and times disappear quickly.

Contact Kelly Heck Photography to reserve your fall session.

Come as you are. Bring your people.

We’ll make something beautiful out of the perfectly imperfect season you’re in.

The post Your Fall Family Photo Survival Guide (Plan Now, Smile Later) appeared first on Kelly Heck Photography.

Most of the photographs I create live on screens. They become LinkedIn profiles and website banners, appear in annual reports and advertisements, and fill all sorts of places where businesses need imagery to tell their stories.

That’s the nature of commercial photography—and I love seeing my photographs put to work. But earlier this summer, I had the opportunity to create something a little different: a formal portrait designed to become a piece of someone’s home.

Angela booked this portrait session nearly a year in advance as a gift for her husband, John. He had always dreamed of having a formal portrait taken in his military uniform with the love of his life beside him.

A Portrait Honoring a Lifetime of Service

John served in the U.S. Army Special Forces as a Green Beret, with service that took him to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Central America. He later continued his career of service as a Baltimore City SWAT officer.

But one of my favorite stories of the afternoon came from Angela.

She told me that when John finally retired, she felt almost as though time stopped—like she’d stopped aging overnight. For decades, she’d carried the worry that comes with loving someone whose work repeatedly puts him in harm’s way. Retirement didn’t simply end a career; it lifted a weight she’d quietly carried alongside him.

You can feel that history when these two are together, and that’s what made creating this portrait so meaningful.

And where did we create something so formal and timeless?

Their dining room.

The space was tight, but that’s something my commercial photography work has prepared me for beautifully. I’m regularly handed an office, conference room or tiny corner and asked to make it work.

So I tucked a light stand into one corner, carefully positioned Angela and John, backed myself into the front doorway for the perspective I needed, and used the architecture of their home to our advantage.

Inside the finished frame, the dining room simply disappeared. What remained was the elegant, traditional portrait they’d envisioned.

From Photograph to Finished Wall Art

Then, months later, Angela sent me something I don’t get to see nearly often enough.

The portrait was printed, beautifully matted and framed, and hanging in their home.

There’s something incredibly special about seeing a photograph leave my computer and become a physical piece of someone’s life. Angela and John will walk past it every day. Their family will see it for years. And someday, perhaps, it will belong to another generation.

We create and consume so many photographs on screens now that it’s easy to forget how different a photograph feels when we choose to make it permanent.

This one was created to honor John’s extraordinary lifetime of service, but also the woman who stood beside him through the deployments, dangerous shifts, uncertainty, homecomings, and finally, retirement.

Angela gave John the portrait he’d dreamed about for years.

I simply had the privilege of creating it for them.

And I can’t think of a more deserving photograph to have made it to the wall.

The post Meet Angela & John Reed: A Portrait of Love & Service appeared first on Kelly Heck Photography.

My relationship with Flourish Beauty Studio started with a referral.

Jon Allen of Advantage Internet Marketing connected me with owner Jenni and her team as they were creating the imagery for Flourish’s beautiful new website.

At the time, I was increasingly pregnant with Lyra.

And somehow, pregnant photographer + a full day on my feet + an entire salon full of people to photograph turned into one of the most glorious commercial shoots.

Maybe I should have realized then that this place was going to stick around in my life.

A Full Day of Photography at Flourish

This wasn’t a quick headshot session.

We spent the day creating a complete collection of custom photography that could help prospective clients actually experience Flourish before ever walking through the door.

The people.

The space.

The services.

The details.

The interactions.

The personalities behind the business.

We created professional portraits and environmental imagery, photographed the team at work, and built a library with enough variety to support a full website rather than simply filling one About page.

And the whole day just felt… good.

Warm. Creative. Collaborative.

Very Flourish.

That’s something that’s difficult to fake in commercial photography.

You can hire models. You can stage interactions. You can arrange the perfect composition.

But when a team genuinely enjoys one another and people feel comfortable in their environment?

You can see it.

A Website Filled With Their Own People

Today, one of my favorite things about visiting the Flourish Beauty Studio website is seeing so many of those photographs actually doing their jobs.

That’s always the payoff for me.

The photographs don’t live in a gallery somewhere gathering digital dust.

They’re part of the business.

They’re introducing the team.

They’re creating the feeling of the salon.

They’re helping prospective clients imagine themselves there.

And yes, Flourish naturally supplements our photography with imagery we didn’t create that day—stock photographs and before-and-after examples serve their own purposes.

That’s exactly how a good commercial image library should work.

Custom photography doesn’t necessarily have to provide every single image a business will ever need.

It should provide the photographs that can’t be replaced by stock.

Your people.

Your space.

Your personality.

Your client experience.

The things that make your business yours.

And Then I Became the Client

Here’s where this commercial photography story took a turn I didn’t necessarily expect.

After spending a full day photographing Flourish, I trusted them with my own hair.

And then I kept coming back.

Over the next year, my life brought an enormous amount of change—grief, stress, growth, and a whole lot of figuring out who I was on the other side of it.

And every so often, I got to sit down in a chair at Flourish and let somebody else take care of me for a little while.

There is something pretty wonderful about that.

Jenni and I have talked about so many of the things we have in common. She helped me embrace choices that feel like me—including honoring my natural grays rather than treating them as something that needs to disappear.

Nic has taken such thoughtful care with communication and making sure everything is set before an appointment.

The entire team has always been warm and welcoming.

And then there’s the hair washing.

Guys.

THE HAIR WASHING.

Why is this not a standalone service?

Forget the haircut. Forget the color. I would like to book three consecutive hours of somebody washing my hair and massaging my scalp, please and thank you.

It’s glorious. And soothing.

And for someone who spends a great deal of her life taking care of other people, there’s something especially lovely about sitting still and letting someone take care of you.

Photographing the Feeling of a Business

Having now experienced Flourish from both sides gives me a different appreciation for those photographs we created together.

First, I experienced the salon as their photographer.

I watched the team interact. I paid attention to the environment. I looked for the details that would communicate warmth, expertise, creativity, and personality.

Then I became the person sitting in the chair.

And it turns out that what I saw through my camera was real.

The warmth is real.

The care is real.

The welcome is real.

That’s what I ultimately want photographs like these to accomplish.

Someone can look at a picture of a stylist working with a client and understand what is happening.

But a great branding photograph should communicate something more:

What might it feel like to be there?

That’s a much harder thing to photograph.

And a much more valuable one.

From a Referral to Something More

I owe a huge thank-you to Jon Allen of Advantage Internet Marketing for making the original introduction.

At the time, it was a business referral.

Photographer, meet salon.

Salon, meet photographer.

Simple enough.

But that one connection turned into a full-day commercial photography project, a gorgeous website filled with images I’m still proud to see in use, a client relationship I treasure—and eventually a place and a group of people I trusted to care for me during a pretty transformative chapter of my own life.

You never quite know where one introduction will lead.

Jenni, Nic, and the entire Flourish team: thank you for trusting me with your business.

And then, unexpectedly, for creating a space where I felt comfortable trusting you with a little piece of me, too.

I’m very glad Jon introduced us.

And I’ll happily come photograph you again anytime.

Especially if someone washes my hair afterward.

The post Meet Flourish Beauty Studio in Westminster, Maryland appeared first on Kelly Heck Photography.

First Things First: You Should Still Look Like YOU

One of the questions I hear most before a business photo session is:

“What should I wear?”

And while I have plenty of suggestions (my personal clients get the exclusive KHP prep guide), my first piece of advice is pretty simple:

Dress like yourself.

Your professional photos shouldn’t turn you into some generic version of a “business person.” They should look like you on a really good day.

If you’re a suit-every-day person, fantastic. Wear the suit.

If your everyday work uniform is jeans, boots, and a button-down, don’t suddenly put yourself in a three-piece suit because someone told you that’s what a professional headshot is supposed to look like.

And if you’re known for fabulous glasses, bright colors, statement jewelry, funky shoes, or a signature pink blazer? PLEASE don’t leave your personality at home.

The goal is polished, confident, approachable, and authentic to the way you actually show up in your business.

1. YES, You Can Wear Color!

I love color.

And contrary to a lot of traditional headshot advice, bright, vivid, saturated colors can photograph BEAUTIFULLY.

Rich blue. Emerald green. Hot pink. Red. Orange. Yellow. Purple. Jewel tones. Bring them on.

What matters isn’t whether a color is “bold.” What matters is whether it:

• Looks great on you
• Works with the planned background or location
• Makes sense for your brand and personality
• Doesn’t create an unwanted color cast on your skin
• Plays nicely with everyone else if we’re photographing a group

Neutrals are wonderful too. Navy, charcoal, cream, black, white, camel, gray, and earth tones can create beautiful, timeless portraits.

But neutral does not automatically mean more professional.

What about your brand colors?

Your brand palette can be a wonderful jumping-off point, but you do not need to literally dress in your logo colors.

Sometimes incorporating a brand color into clothing makes perfect sense. Other times it’s better brought in through the background, environment, accessories, props, or simply the overall color palette of the finished images.

And sometimes your bright blue shirt against your company’s orange branding is exactly the pop we need.

This is part of why we plan.

2. Solids Are Easy — But Patterns Aren’t Forbidden

Solid colors photograph beautifully and are usually the easiest choice, especially for a traditional headshot.

But I’m not going to tell you patterns are off limits.

A great pattern can add personality, texture, and visual interest to a portrait. Florals, plaids, geometric patterns, stripes—they can all work.

There is one technical consideration: very tiny, tightly repeating patterns can sometimes create a weird visual effect called moiré on camera. Fine pinstripes and very small checks are common offenders.

Otherwise, the bigger question is simply:

Is your clothing adding something to the portrait—or stealing all the attention?

Texture is also fantastic. Knits, linen, denim, layered fabrics, jackets, sweaters, and other tactile materials can add dimension without competing with your face.

3. Fit Matters More Than the Price Tag

You do NOT need to go shopping for an expensive new outfit.

You do need something that fits you well.

Clothing that pulls, bunches, gaps, rides up, collapses around the collar, or requires constant adjusting will probably annoy you during the session—and you’ll see some of those issues in the photographs too, no matter how “on it” we are.

Try your outfit on ahead of time.

Sit down in it.

Cross your arms.

Move around.

Look at yourself from the front and the side.

Make sure you feel good in it.

Do a little dance, if you dare.

And please, please, please check for wrinkles.

A $40 shirt that fits beautifully and has been freshly steamed will photograph better than a $400 shirt that doesn’t.

Pro tip: If you’re debating between two outfits (or ten), bring both! I’m always happy to help.

4. Dressing a Team? Coordinate — Don’t Clone Everybody.

Please don’t put your entire staff in identical shirts unless matching apparel is authentically part of your brand or uniform.

For most teams, we’re looking for cohesion, not matching.

Instead, think about the overall level of dress.

Are we going:

• Traditional corporate?
• Business casual?
• Relaxed and approachable?
• Creative?
• Rugged/industrial?
• Medical?
• Hospitality?
• A mixture that accurately represents the different roles within your company?

You can also give everyone a loose color family if it makes sense: blues and neutrals, jewel tones, warm earth tones, company colors, etc.

But I actually LIKE having some visual variation in a group.

Different colors, textures, jackets, necklines, and layers create dimension. We want everyone to look like they belong to the same company.

5. Think About Where the Photos Will Be Taken

Wardrobe doesn’t exist in a vacuum.

Before your session, I’m thinking about you + your clothing + your background + your brand + where these photographs need to live.

A dark jacket may disappear against a dark background—or that might be exactly the dramatic look we’re going for.

A bright color can absolutely sing in an industrial space.

White can look incredible outdoors.

A company uniform may make much more sense than business attire when we’re photographing someone in their actual work environment.

There aren’t many universal wardrobe rules because context matters.

This is also why sharing outfit ideas with me before the session is always welcome. Send me a quick photo from your closet. I would much rather help you decide beforehand than have you standing in front of the camera wondering if you chose the wrong thing.

6. Layers Give Us Options

Jackets, cardigans, overshirts, sweaters, scarves, vests, and other removable layers are fantastic because we can create multiple looks without requiring a complete wardrobe change.

A blazer on and blazer off can turn one outfit into two very different portraits.

For a personal branding session, I often recommend bringing several pieces so we can vary the level of formality throughout the shoot.

You might want:

The polished version.
The approachable version.
The let’s-get-to-work version.
And the one that just feels completely YOU.

Those photographs serve different purposes—and that’s valuable.

7. Don’t Forget the Little Things

A few things worth checking before you walk out the door:

• Are your glasses clean?
• Is there pet hair on your jacket?
• Did you remove the hair tie from your wrist?
• Are your pockets full of keys and phones?
• Is your collar sitting correctly?
• Are your clothes wrinkled?
• Is your jewelry sitting where it belongs?
• If your shoes will be photographed, are they photo-ready?
• Are your undergarments fitting correctly and indiscernible once dressed fully?
• Did you pluck the pesky whiskers from your chin, nose, ears, and eyebrows? Yes, I’ll see those, LOL!

And if you’re wearing a uniform, lab coat, safety vest, branded polo, apron, or other workwear, bring the cleanest, newest-looking version available.

The camera sees details. And the studio lighting highlights them.

8. Hair, Makeup & Grooming: Look Like Yourself

This is another area where I don’t believe in reinventing yourself for picture day.

If you normally wear makeup, wear the makeup that makes you feel fantastic. Pro photo tip: Be cautious with very dewy, luminous, or reflective makeup products. Studio lighting—and even bright natural light—can amplify that sheen, creating overly shiny areas or bright hotspots on the skin. A natural or soft-matte finish generally photographs beautifully, and you can always add a little glow and/or gloss intentionally where you want it.

If you don’t normally wear makeup, you certainly don’t need to start because you’re having professional photographs taken.

Wear your hair the way you like your hair.

Keep your beard if your beard is part of you.

Wear your glasses if people know you in glasses.

You should be recognizable!

The goal is simply to arrive feeling fresh and prepared… and maybe even slightly enhanced. Give yourself enough time that morning that you aren’t rushing through the door already frazzled.

And maybe don’t experiment with a brand-new haircut, spray tan, facial treatment, or completely unfamiliar beauty routine the night before your session.

Picture day is not the day for surprises.

9. What Should You NOT Wear?

I don’t have a giant list of wardrobe commandments.

I would be cautious about:

• Extremely tiny repetitive patterns that may cause moiré
• Clothing that wrinkles the second you look at it
• Distracting logos or text that aren’t relevant to your brand
• Clothing you constantly have to tug, straighten, or adjust
• Anything uncomfortable
• Anything that doesn’t actually feel like you

That’s about it.

I’m not going to tell you that executives can’t wear pink, creatives can’t wear suits, women can’t wear sleeveless tops, or everyone needs to show up in navy.

There is no single uniform for looking professional.

10. The Most Important Thing You Can Wear Is Confidence

I know. Cheesy photographer line.

But it’s TRUE.

Nearly everyone starts a photo session by telling me some version of:

“I hate having my picture taken.”

And that’s okay.

You don’t need to know how to pose. You don’t need to know what to do with your hands. You don’t need to practice your smile in the mirror.

That’s my job.

Your job is to show up in something that makes you feel comfortable, capable, and like yourself.

We’ll take care of the rest together.

Planning Photos for an Entire Company?

If you’re coordinating headshots, leadership portraits, personal branding, or a larger corporate photography session, wardrobe is something we can talk through before anyone steps in front of my camera.

We’ll consider your brand, your people, your location, how the photographs will be used, and what level of consistency actually makes sense.

And if someone on your team is staring into their closet thinking, “I have absolutely no idea what Kelly wants me to wear…”

Send me a picture.

Seriously.

I’d rather answer the question.

Great business photography isn’t about making everybody look the same. It’s about making everyone look like the very best version of themselves—and making the finished collection feel unmistakably like your company.

Ready to update your professional photos? Whether you need a fresh headshot, a personal branding library, or cohesive photography for your entire team, we’ll plan the details together—from wardrobe and location to the final images your business actually needs. Let’s create photographs that look polished, professional, and most importantly, like YOU. LET’S PLAN YOUR PHOTO SESSION!

The post What to Wear for Business Photos (For You + Your Entire Team) appeared first on Kelly Heck Photography.

Their team.

Their clients.

Their students.

The people they serve.

So there’s something especially fun about finally turning the camera around and saying:

Okay. This time, this one’s about YOU.

That’s how I felt photographing Kim Golliday, owner of Taneytown Dance Center, during our most recent session together.

And Kim showed up wearing a shirt that couldn’t have been more perfect:

SUPPORT LOCAL ARTISTS.

Very intentional.

And, as it turns out, pretty much the theme of the whole shoot.

The Woman Behind Taneytown Dance Center

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Kim and the Taneytown Dance Center team over the years, creating professional portraits and photography for the studio.

Kim has built a business around the arts and created a place where local dancers can learn, perform, create, and grow. She’s also one of those people who understands that the personality behind a business matters.

So when it was time to create portraits specifically of Kim, I didn’t want to make another perfectly pleasant business headshot.

I wanted something with a little more personality.

Something artistic.

Something that felt like her.

And that SUPPORT LOCAL ARTISTS shirt?

It wasn’t just a cute wardrobe choice.

Kim has built her career supporting the arts in our community. And for these photographs, she was doing exactly what the shirt said—hiring another local artist to create something for her.

I love that.

When a Business Portrait Gets to Be Personal

We kept everything wonderfully simple.

Black tights. Those fantastic lace-up boots. Statement earrings. And that shirt.

Then we played.

We created a series of black-and-white portraits throughout the dance studio that feel polished without feeling overly polished. Strong, but still soft. Professional, but personal.

Some are clean and classic.

In another, Kim stands in front of the studio windows with TANEYTOWN DANCE filling the space behind her.

And then there’s one of my favorites from the entire series.

For that one, I backed up.

Way up.

Instead of carefully keeping my photography equipment outside the frame like I’m normally supposed to do, I intentionally photographed right through it.

Light stands.

Softbox.

Backdrop.

C-stands.

The whole setup.

And there sits Kim, right in the middle of it all, wearing:

SUPPORT LOCAL ARTISTS.

Come on.

How could I not make that photograph?

An Artist, Framed by Another Artist’s Tools

Usually, all of that photography equipment exists outside the finished frame.

It’s the behind-the-scenes stuff.

It’s there to make the photograph, not be the photograph.

But this time, including it felt like part of the story.

Kim is an artist and business owner who has spent years creating a space where other people get to make art.

I’m a local artist standing inside that space, using my own tools to create something about her.

And right there in the middle of the frame is this wonderfully unsubtle little reminder:

SUPPORT LOCAL ARTISTS.

So I left the tools in.

And I think that photograph says something a perfectly clean portrait couldn’t.

We’re not pretending this moment just happened.

We’re making something together.

Two different kinds of artists, on opposite sides of the camera.

Your Professional Portrait Doesn’t Always Have to Be a Headshot

That’s something I wish more business owners knew.

Yes, you need the smiling headshot.

Please have a great smiling headshot.

But once we have it?

Let’s play.

Sit on the floor.

Change the expression.

Use the architecture.

Move away from the backdrop.

Let me photograph through something.

Wear the boots.

Wear the shirt that actually says something about you.

Let’s make the photograph that might not belong beside your employee bio, but does belong in an interview, an About page, an anniversary post, an editorial feature, a speaking announcement—or simply in your collection because it feels like you.

Personal branding photography doesn’t have to turn you into a brand.

Done well, I think it should do the opposite.

It should give us room to show more of the person behind it.

Supporting Local Comes Full Circle

There’s another reason this particular relationship feels especially sweet to me now.

This fall, my own two little ones are stepping through the doors of Taneytown Dance Center as dancers.

There’s something wonderfully full-circle about that.

I’ve gotten to know the studio from one side—as Kim’s photographer and friend, working with her team and seeing some of the care and personality behind the business.

Now I get to experience a little piece of what she’s built as a mom, too.

That’s one of my favorite things about owning a small business in the community where I live.

“Supporting local” isn’t really an abstract idea here.

Our worlds overlap.

We hire each other.

We recommend each other.

We celebrate each other’s milestones.

We bump into each other around town.

Our kids grow up in the businesses and organizations our neighbors have poured years of themselves into building.

And sometimes, one of those business owners sits down in the middle of my photography lights wearing a shirt that manages to sum the whole thing up better than I ever could:

SUPPORT LOCAL ARTISTS.

Support them with your words.

Support them with your referrals.

Support them by showing up.

And when you can, support them by hiring them to do what they do best.

Kim certainly does.

And I’m grateful that, for all these years, one of the local artists she’s chosen to support has been me.

Support local artists, indeed.

The post Meet Kim Golliday of Taneytown Dance Center in Taneytown, Maryland appeared first on Kelly Heck Photography.

Think about that for a second.

I had the privilege of documenting the 50th Anniversary Celebration of Shelter Systems Limited in Westminster, Maryland, and for an event built around such an impressive milestone, what struck me most wasn’t actually the number.

It was the people behind it.

I’ve had the pleasure of sharing my photography skills with Shelter Systems for several years now, thanks to an introduction from Denise Beaver through Carroll County Economic Development years ago. Over that time, I’ve photographed their people, their work, and their story—and today, you’ll find my photographs used throughout the Shelter Systems website.

I LOVE seeing that.

There’s something especially rewarding about watching photographs from multiple projects become part of how a company presents itself to the world. And every time I work with this team, I’m reminded why Shelter Systems has built the reputation—and the relationships—it has.

Family-owned. Multi-generational. Employees who have been with the company for more than 40 years.

You don’t build that kind of loyalty by accident.

More Than 350 People Celebrating 50 Years

More than 350 guests gathered for the anniversary celebration: employees and their families, business partners, friends, community leaders, and local officials. It was a huge event, but somehow it still felt incredibly personal.

And they certainly knew how to throw a party.

There were food trucks, giant yard games, a DJ, a 360 video booth and traveling photo booth, local brews, a live painter, gorgeous florals, giveaways, a beautiful anniversary cake and even a T-shirt cannon.

Yes. A T-shirt cannon.

Guests eventually headed home carrying flowers, cake, shirts, take-home meals, and plenty of other goodies. But the best parts of the afternoon weren’t things anyone could carry.

They were the hugs.

The laughter.

The stories.

The people who hadn’t seen each other in a while finding one another in the crowd. Families celebrating alongside the people their loved ones had worked with for years—or decades.

Those are the photographs that tell you what fifty years actually looks like.

Looking Back—and Looking Forward

One of my favorite parts of the celebration was watching the documentary created by my talented friends at Coronation Media.

I had been excited to connect Coronation with Shelter Systems for their video project, and seeing the finished film shared with everyone that day was incredibly rewarding. It gave the room a chance to stop celebrating for a moment and really look back—at where the company started, the people who built it, and just how much has happened over five decades.

The speeches carried that same feeling. There was plenty of laughter, a few tears, and stories from people who have spent enormous portions of their careers and lives building something together.

And then everyone went right back to celebrating.

Throughout the afternoon, I kept bumping into familiar faces of my own—friends, colleagues, clients, and community leaders. Mike McMullin from the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce even grabbed a few behind-the-scenes photographs of me working, which is always such a gift when I’m usually the one behind the camera.

Cara and the team at Cover Paige Creative brought the enormous celebration together beautifully, right down to the smallest details. Even Mother Nature cooperated: blue skies, comfortable temperatures, scattered clouds, and just enough shade to make an outdoor event photographer very, very happy.

Photographing a Legacy

I’ve photographed plenty of corporate events, but anniversaries like this feel different.

The obvious job is to document what happened: the speakers, entertainment, food, details, guests, candid interactions, and all the moments the company will want to remember afterward.

But at an event like this, you’re also creating a record of who was there at this particular moment in the company’s history.

Years from now, someone will recognize a longtime employee in one of these photographs. A child who attended with a parent may someday work for the company themselves. The leadership will change. The company will continue to grow. And the photographs become a little time capsule of what Shelter Systems looked and felt like at fifty.

That’s one of the privileges of being an event photographer.

I get a front-row seat to moments like these—and, apparently, once again, a very late night afterward sorting through all of them.

But they’re worth preserving.

Not just milestones.

Legacies.

Congratulations to everyone at Shelter Systems on an incredible 50 years. Thank you for continuing to trust me to document your people, your work, and now such an important chapter in your company’s history.

I have a feeling the best is still yet to come.

The Team Behind the Celebration

An event of this size takes a village! Shelter Systems’ 50th Anniversary Celebration brought together an incredible group of local businesses, creatives, food vendors, and event professionals who helped make the day so memorable.

Event Planning & Production: Cover Paige Creative

Anniversary Documentary: Coronation Media

Event Photography: Kelly Heck Photography

Food & Treats: R&D Eats • The Cow • Jimmy’s Famous Seafood • Kevin’s Bistro Mobile • Braglio Farms

Brews: 1623 Brewing Company

DJ & Entertainment: Find Your Purpose

360 Video & Traveling Photo Booth: Raptor Productions

Florals: Flowers by Wendy Carol

Anniversary Cake: Starry Night Bakery

Plus: Live painting, giant yard games, giveaways, a T-shirt cannon, and countless thoughtful details that brought the celebration together.

The post Celebrating 50 Years of Shelter Systems in Westminster, Maryland appeared first on Kelly Heck Photography.

Introduction: Orientation Is Now a Strategic Decision (Not a Style Choice)

Once upon a time, photos were horizontal by default.
Websites were horizontal.
Print was horizontal.
Presentations were horizontal.

And then… the smartphone became the world’s primary viewing device.

Today:

• More than 82% of digital content is consumed on mobile
• Vertical formats dominate social reach
• Platforms reward vertical content with more visibility
• Users scroll vertically, not horizontally
• Websites must work in both formats

If your brand isn’t intentionally planning vertical and horizontal images, your content is already underperforming.

Let’s break down the differences, the strategic uses, and how to make sure you always have the right format ready.

1. When to Use Vertical Images (9:16)

Vertical = attention + engagement.

Vertical visuals rule 2026 because they fill the entire mobile screen — creating a more immersive experience.

Use vertical photography for:

Instagram Reels
TikTok
YouTube Shorts
LinkedIn vertical posts
Pinterest Idea Pins
Facebook Reels
Mobile landing pages
Vertical website sections
Email banners on mobile
Story-style ads
Mobile hero images (growing trend)

Verticals feel modern, personal, and native to the way people consume content.

Why vertical works so well:

• Takes up more screen real estate
• Stops the scroll
• Matches how people naturally hold their phones
• Provides better face/subject visibility
• Adds variety to your visual marketing
• Makes your brand look current & tech-aware

If your current photo library is mostly horizontal, you’re missing huge mobile opportunities.

For vertical inspiration, browse my Brand Photography Portfolio — most sessions now include intentional verticals.

2. When to Use Horizontal Images (16:9 or 4:3)

Horizontal = clarity + professionalism.

Despite the rise of vertical content, horizontal photography is STILL essential — especially for places where clarity and structure matter most.

Use horizontal photography for:

Website homepage hero banners
About pages
Team photos
Blog headers
Presentation slides
Email headers
Print marketing
Product detail pages
“Wide” environmental portraits

Horizontal is ideal for any space where you need:

• Text overlays
• Negative space
• Clean layouts
• Professional, structured design

Why horizontal still matters:

• Most websites are designed around horizontal elements
• Banner images simply look better wide
• Designers often need “breathing room” on the edges
• Horizontal orientation supports storytelling and context

The best brands use horizontal images as their foundational visual structure.

You can see great horizontal examples in my Headshot + Team Portfolio.

3. When to Use Square Images (1:1)

Square = versatility.

Although less dominant than vertical, square is still a workhorse.

Use square images for:

Instagram feed posts
Grid-style galleries
Product listings
Email graphics
Ads where cropping is unpredictable
Website grid sections

Squares are simple, balanced, and easy to plug in anywhere. Many businesses underutilize them.

4. Why You Need BOTH Vertical and Horizontal (This Is Where Most Businesses Mess Up)

Most businesses rely heavily on horizontal images, simply because that’s what photographers defaulted to for decades.

But here’s the truth:
If you want to maximize your investment, you need BOTH orientations built into every brand session.

When you only have horizontals:

• Reels and TikToks look cropped or awkward
• Stories look unprofessional
• Mobile site layouts suffer
• You miss platform-specific opportunities

When you only have verticals:

• Website banners become unusable
• Blog headers look wrong
• Presentations fall apart
• Printed materials feel cramped

The real ROI? A dual-orientation shot list.

I plan this with all my business clients so you walk away with:
Website-ready horizontals
Social-ready verticals
Square options for grid consistency
Negative-space-friendly shots
Banner-friendly images
Full-lifestyle mid-frame shots

This dramatically increases how long your images stay useful — and how many places you can use them.

5. How Format Impacts Your Marketing (The Numbers Don’t Lie)

Vertical images get:

• Up to 3x more reach on social
• Up to 40% stronger engagement
• Higher full-screen retention on Reels/Stories
• Better ad performance on mobile

Horizontal images get:

• Better website conversions
• Better readability for text overlays
• More polished branding
• Stronger professional presence

Square images get:

• Consistent grid views
• Clean product displays
• Predictable cropping

Orientation is no longer a creative preference — it’s a strategic marketing tool.

6. How to Make Sure Your Next Photoshoot Covers All Your Orientation Needs

Step 1: Identify the platforms you use

Website? Social? Ads? Email?

Step 2: Note the crop requirements for each

This affects how I frame the shot.

Step 3: Build a dual-orientation shot list

One shot captured both ways = double the usability.

Step 4: Leave room for text

Negative space is a huge part of orientation planning.

Step 5: Capture “safe zone” compositions

This ensures nothing important gets cut off in awkward crops.

This entire process is built into my Photography Consulting Program so businesses walk away with a ready-to-use, multi-platform photo library.

Ready to Get More Out of Every Photo You Create?

If you want a photo library filled with vertical AND horizontal images — all shot intentionally for your website, social media, and marketing — I’d love to help you plan your next session.

Contact KHP: https://www.kellyheckphotography.com/contact/

Let’s build you visuals that work everywhere your brand shows up.

The post Vertical vs Horizontal — Why Format Matters More Than Ever in 2026 appeared first on Kelly Heck Photography.

After all these years—and hundreds (maybe thousands?) of sessions—I still occasionally catch myself wondering:

Did they hire the right photographer?

There may have been a little extra pressure going into my shoot with PEFF Med.

They were preparing to launch a brand-new membership-based concierge medical practice in Carroll County, Maryland, and their beautiful new website was quite literally waiting for photographs to bring it to life.

No pressure, right?

Oh, and one other tiny detail:

They didn’t have an office yet.

Building the PEFF Med Brand Before the Doors Even Opened

When Jill Peffall and Madison Whipple came to me to create the photography for Dr. Shawn Peffall’s new practice, PEFF Med itself was still taking shape—including its physical space.

But the brand already had a story to tell.

PEFF Med was being built around something that can sometimes feel increasingly rare in healthcare:

Time.

Time for patients to ask questions.

Time for their physician to really listen.

Time to look at the whole person instead of rushing through an appointment.

Our photographs needed to communicate that.

We needed warmth. Connection. Expertise. Movement. Health.

And we needed enough visual variety to help launch an entire website.

We definitely needed more than a headshot.

What Do You Photograph When the Business Doesn’t Have a Space Yet?

You get creative.

Once I saw PEFF Med’s branding packet, I immediately had a location in mind: a beautiful local college campus.

On a quiet summer weekend, it gave us exactly what we needed—the right architecture, colors, atmosphere, and variety without crowds getting in our way.

Instead of waiting for PEFF Med’s permanent office to be ready, we created the environment ourselves.

And then we got to work.

Dr. Peffall absolutely needed a strong professional portrait, but a website can’t run on one headshot.

We wanted an entire arsenal of imagery his team could pull from.

Photographs that could introduce him.

Images that communicated his personality and expertise.

Patient interactions and movement.

Conversations and examinations.

Medical tools and details.

Environmental portraits.

Horizontal compositions with plenty of breathing room for website copy.

Verticals.

Close-ups.

Wide shots.

Variations, variations, variations.

The goal wasn’t one great photograph.

It was options.

Real People Make Better Photographs

And PEFF Med really committed to making those photographs feel authentic.

In addition to the three founders, four wonderful friends and family members joined us to stand in as patients.

So there we were: eight of us, plus camera equipment, wardrobe, props, and furniture, roaming around a college campus for four hours.

We hauled furniture.

We rolled carts full of camera gear, props, and wardrobe from one location to another.

We changed outfits.

We staged examinations.

We sweated.

And we laughed.

A LOT.

The jokes started almost immediately and never really stopped.

One person’s eyebrows somehow earned the names Igor and Eye-gor.

Someone else was lovingly teased about his “chicken wing arms.”

And for reasons I still cannot explain, I spent a portion of the afternoon calling Jacob…

Alex.

“Nope. Wait. That’s right. His name is actually Jacob.”

Thankfully, they kept me anyway.

The Elevator Selfie

About halfway through the shoot, I did something I almost never think to do.

I asked everyone for a selfie.

We were all piled into an elevator together—clients, friends, family, gear—and I pulled out my phone.

I love that photograph.

Not because it’s beautifully composed.

Not because the lighting is perfect.

Not because anyone carefully planned it.

I love it because of the smiles.

By then, we’d already been working hard for about two hours.

And I’m not just talking about me.

My clients had been posing, smiling, thinking creatively, changing outfits, moving furniture, following directions, and trusting me for two straight hours.

Being photographed is exhausting.

But look at those faces.

You can feel the friend energy packed into that tiny elevator.

Somewhere along the way, this had stopped feeling like eight people working through a commercial photography shot list.

We were just having fun together.

53 Finished Photographs—and a Website Waiting for Them

At the end of our session, PEFF Med walked away with 53 finished images.

And now comes one of my absolute favorite parts of commercial photography:

I get to see them working.

PEFF Med’s website is live, and it is filled with photographs from our session.

A photograph becomes a website banner.

Another introduces a service.

Another supports a message about patient care.

Another becomes a physician portrait.

Another can become a social media post, press image, advertisement, newsletter graphic, speaking-engagement bio, or marketing piece we haven’t even thought of yet.

Instead of someone on the PEFF Med team asking:

“Do we have a photo for that?”

They have options.

And THAT is exactly what I want to accomplish with a commercial branding session.

That’s the Difference Between a Headshot and a Branding Library

You don’t necessarily need 53 photographs.

You don’t necessarily need the perfect office.

And you definitely don’t need to know exactly where every photograph will eventually be used.

You just need to think beyond what you need today.

Maybe that’s your headshot plus five strong environmental portraits.

Maybe it’s a handful of staged images showing what you actually do.

Maybe it’s your team interacting.

Your hands at work.

Your tools.

Your products.

Your workspace.

The exterior of your building.

Or the little details your clients experience every day.

And maybe it’s a complete visual library like PEFF Med’s.

We can do a lot with a little.

Maybe You’re More Photogenic Than You Think

There’s one other thing this shoot reminded me of.

Behind the scenes, I see everything my clients never do.

The blurry frames.

The missed focus.

The awkward expressions.

The pose that absolutely did not work.

The test shots.

The photographs that will never see the light of day.

Nobody looks incredible in every single frame.

But I also get to see the exact moment something changes.

I see when someone relaxes.

I see the split second they forget they’re being photographed.

I see the version of them they may have never seen in a photograph before.

People tell me all the time that they’re “not photogenic.”

I don’t believe that for a second.

Maybe you’ve been in the wrong light.

Maybe it was the wrong angle.

The wrong lens.

The wrong mindset.

Or maybe you simply needed someone who knew how to help you feel like yourself.

Nobody looks incredible all the time.

But nearly everyone can look incredible, at least for a moment.

Finding that moment is part of my job.

I went into this shoot wondering, as I occasionally still do:

Did they hire the right photographer?

Four hours, 53 finished photographs, a whole lot of laughter, one crowded elevator selfie, and one gorgeous new website later…

I think we did alright.

And I absolutely fell in love with this work all over again.

The post Meet PEFF Med: A New Concierge Medical Practice in Carroll County, Maryland appeared first on Kelly Heck Photography.

I recently had the opportunity to be interviewed by Bold Journey, where we talked about my path as a photographer and business owner, the experiences that have shaped me along the way, and some of the lessons I’ve learned about creativity, resilience, confidence, and building a career that actually feels like mine.

After nearly two decades in business, there’s something pretty special about getting to look back at where you started, recognize how much has changed, and realize how much of yourself has become woven into the work you do.

If you’d like to get to know the person behind Kelly Heck Photography a little better, I’d love for you to give it a read.

Read my Bold Journey interview → boldjourney.com/meet-kelly-heck

The post Kelly Heck’s Interview with Bold Journey appeared first on Kelly Heck Photography.

Mike invited me onto Episode #460 of Chamber Chat, the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce’s ongoing interview series highlighting local businesses, organizations, and the people behind them. And somehow, I earned the episode title “Photographer Extraordinaire, Kelly Heck.” (Mike’s words, not mine… but I’ll take it! )

A Conversation About More Than Photography

Mike and I have known each other through the Carroll County business community since 2011, so this didn’t feel like a formal interview. It felt much more like catching up with an old friend.

We talked about Kelly Heck Photography, the work I do with businesses and professionals, and some of the philosophy behind the way I approach photography.

Because for me, a great professional photograph has never been just about making someone look good.

It’s about helping people feel comfortable in front of the camera. It’s about understanding what a business is trying to communicate before I ever pick up my camera. And it’s about creating photographs that actually have a job to do—whether they’re building trust on a website, introducing a team, supporting a marketing campaign, accompanying a press feature, or helping someone confidently put themselves out into the world.

After more than 20 years behind the camera, that part of the work still excites me.

Reconnecting With My Community

There was another layer to this interview that made it especially meaningful.

For many years, I was heavily involved in our local business community. Life eventually pulled me away from some of that involvement for a while, and over the last few years, my focus needed to be elsewhere.

So being invited back into the Chamber Chat studio with Mike felt a little bit like coming home.

I’ve been gradually reconnecting with familiar faces, meeting new ones, attending events again, and rediscovering just how many incredible people are building businesses and doing meaningful work right here in Carroll County.

Sometimes you don’t realize how much you’ve missed a community until you begin finding your way back into it.

Thank You, Mike!

A huge thank you to Mike McMullin for inviting me onto Chamber Chat, for such a thoughtful and enjoyable conversation, and for giving me the opportunity to share a little more about my work.

Mike has an incredible way of making an interview feel completely natural, and I walked away grateful not only for the opportunity to talk about Kelly Heck Photography, but also for the chance to reconnect after a few years away.

And if you’d like to hear our conversation for yourself, give Episode #460: “Photographer Extraordinaire, Kelly Heck” a listen!

Listen to my Chamber Chat interview here.

Thank you to Mike and the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce for continuing to create opportunities for local businesses to tell their stories – and for welcoming me back into the conversation.

The post Finding My Way Back: A Conversation on Chamber Chat appeared first on Kelly Heck Photography.

Your Website Photos Matter More Than You Think

When someone lands on your website, your photos do the talking long before your text does.

In fact:

• Visitors form an impression in 0.05 seconds
• 75% judge your credibility based on your design
• Custom brand photos can increase conversions by up to 45%

Your visuals set the tone for your entire customer experience.

But here’s the problem: most businesses unintentionally use photos that hurt their website performance rather than help it.

The mistakes are subtle — wrong orientation, outdated headshots, mismatched color tones — but the impact is huge.

Let’s walk through the most common website photo mistakes and how to fix them quickly and strategically.

1. Using the Wrong Crop Sizes

Your website isn’t a one-size-fits-all platform. This is the #1 issue I see during website audits.

Common mistakes:

• A horizontal photo forced into a narrow vertical container
• A vertical shot used in a wide homepage banner
• Faces or key details cropped out
• Image text unreadable because of poor placement
• Busy backgrounds competing with overlay text

When images don’t fit the frame they’re used in, your site instantly looks unprofessional.

The Fix:

Plan for the exact dimensions your site requires:

• Homepage hero images: WIDE
• About section portraits: vertical or square
• Product/service explainers: horizontal
• Blog headers: horizontal with negative space
• Social embeds: vertical or square

When I plan brand sessions with clients, I shoot with future crops in mind, so your images fit beautifully.

2. Mismatched Lighting Across Your Webpages

Lighting inconsistency is one of the biggest subconscious trust killers.

Example:

• One team photo is cool-toned
• Another is warm and yellow
• An office photo looks dim
• A group shot looks overly bright

Your customers can feel the inconsistency even if they can’t name it.

The Fix:

• Update mismatched images with a new, unified set
• Use professional editing to harmonize tones
• Build lighting consistency into your brand style guide
• Avoid mixing phone photos + pro photos on the same page

3. Outdated or Inaccurate Team Photos

Customers look for themselves on your website.
They want to see real, current humans — not:

• A former employee
• A haircut from three years ago
• A team photo that no longer matches your branding
• A leadership portrait that feels stiff or overly formal

Old photos signal one thing:
If this is outdated… what else is outdated?

The Fix:

Refresh your team photos every:

• 1–2 years for growing teams
• Any time someone new joins
• Any time roles change
• Immediately after a rebrand

This is one of the simplest ways to modernize your whole website.

4. Stock Photos Where Brand Photos Should Be

Stock is fine in small doses.
But stock should never replace:

• Your team
• Your process
• Your product
• Your space
• Your customer experience

Stock rarely matches your brand colors, style, or vibe.
Using them too heavily creates a disjointed, impersonal feel.

The Fix:

Replace stock with:

• Real team action shots
• Real workspace images
• Real customer moments
• Real tools, materials, and setups

Authenticity always wins.

5. Using Dark, Moody, or Low-Quality Phone Photos

Nothing ages a website faster than:

• Grainy images
• Shadows across faces
• Overexposed windows
• Yellow indoor lighting
• Over-processed filters
• Busy backgrounds

Your images should support your brand, not distract from it.

The Fix:

• Invest in clean, professional images
• Use controlled lighting or consistent natural light
• Eliminate background clutter
• Match colors + tones across all images

Bonus Tip: Low-quality photos look even worse on retina displays and 4K monitors — which most customers now use.

6. Not Leaving Enough Negative Space

Designers (and visitors) LOVE negative space.
It creates room for:

• Website text
• Buttons
• CTAs
• Headlines
• Icons
• Cropping flexibility

When photos are too tight, too busy, or framed awkwardly, your website loses its modern feel.

The Fix:

Shoot intentionally with website usage in mind:

• Step back
• Include breathing room
• Leave areas that text can overlay
• Frame subjects off-center

I always build “negative space variations” into brand sessions so your designer has options.

7. Ignoring Vertical Images for Mobile Users

Mobile-first design is here to stay.

If your website doesn’t include strong vertical images, you’re missing out.

Verticals are perfect for:

• Services pages
• Contact pages
• Bio sections
• Landing pages
• Mobile layouts
• Social previews
• Story-style embeds

The Fix:

Always capture:

• Vertical and Horizontal orientation of your key shots
• Portrait-style team photos
• Vertical workspace and BTS shots

Dual-orientation planning = more flexibility everywhere.

8. Photos That Don’t Communicate WHAT You Do

This one is huge.

If someone lands on your site and can’t tell in 3 seconds:
what you do
and who you do it for,

…your photos aren’t working.

The Fix:

Use images that show:

• Your team in action
• Your tools + process
• Finished products
• Customer interaction
• Real results

A website should visually explain your business without needing a single paragraph of text.

How to Fix All These Photo Mistakes (Without Redoing Your Entire Site)

Start with a visual audit:

1. Walk through each page
2. Identify your most outdated images
3. Flag any inconsistency
4. Replace your most visible images first
5. Build a fresh shot list based on real needs

If this sounds overwhelming — I do this with clients regularly.

Ready to Clean Up Your Website Photos and Boost Conversions?

This is one of the fastest, simplest ways to elevate your brand.
If you’re ready to give your website the visual polish it deserves, I’d love to help.

Contact KHP: https://www.kellyheckphotography.com/contact/

Let’s build you a photo collection that gives your website a clean, trustworthy, polished look!

The post The Biggest Website Photo Mistakes (And the Fast Fixes) appeared first on Kelly Heck Photography.

Environmental portraits of company leadership. Teams working together. Beautiful imagery of offices, projects, and locations. A custom library of photographs that helps tell the story of a brand.

And sometimes?

You need 30 people to look like they belong together.

That’s what brought me to AMT Engineering’s Rockville, Maryland, office for a corporate staff headshot day with approximately 30 members of their team.

And what started as a trial run with a brand-new client turned into one of those workdays that left me driving home feeling completely energized.

Corporate Staff Headshots for AMT Engineering

For this particular assignment, we weren’t trying to reinvent the corporate headshot.

Quite the opposite.

AMT Engineering needed a clean, classic, polished look that could be repeated from person to person—and potentially from office to office.

Same lighting. Same gray background. Same crop. Same general positioning.

Consistency was the assignment.

The location where we’d make it happen?

An unfinished office space across from theirs.

Bare subfloors. Patched walls. Construction in progress.

And honestly, it was perfect.

It gave us a quiet little space away from the activity of the office where team members could rotate in and out throughout the afternoon. Once my lights and backdrop were up, everything outside those four edges of the frame became completely irrelevant.

We were ready to tackle about 30 staff headshots.

The Setup Repeats. The Person Never Does.

On a corporate headshot day like this, I might only have five minutes with each person.

Five minutes to introduce myself, read their personality, make them comfortable, pose them in a way that works for their body and face, catch the little details, find a genuine expression, and send them back to work feeling good about the photograph we just made.

Some people arrive ready for their close-up.

Plenty arrive telling me how much they hate having their picture taken.

And over the years, I’ve realized that one of my greatest strengths as a photographer has very little to do with my camera.

It’s connection.

If someone feels awkward or tense, the camera sees it immediately. And on a fast-paced staff headshot day, I don’t have 45 minutes to slowly coax someone into relaxing.

I need to build that trust quickly.

So we talk. We laugh. I direct.

And I pay attention.

I tidy hair. Straighten ties. Fix collars. Brush lint—and the inevitable pet hair—off jackets. Tuck or adjust a dress shirt when something isn’t laying quite right.

They’re tiny things most people would never consciously notice in the finished photograph.

But together, they make a huge difference.

Because I’m not only trying to make someone look polished.

I want them to feel like they’re being taken care of.

“Kelly’s the Right Photographer.”

Not even ten headshots into the day, Crystal—my point of contact at AMT Engineering—was already texting a colleague at another office:

“Kelly’s the right photographer.”

Well, if that doesn’t make a photographer’s day…

What meant even more to me was why she felt that way so quickly.

It wasn’t about the equipment I’d brought with me or some elaborate photography setup. We hadn’t even made it through a third of the team yet.

It was the experience.

Crystal was incredibly warm and welcoming throughout the day. We had great conversations, the team treated us to lunch, and person after person came through my little temporary studio, giving me a few minutes of their afternoon and trusting me to make them look good.

Multiple members of the AMT Engineering team seemed genuinely surprised—not only by how painless their headshot was, but by how much they enjoyed the experience and liked what they saw.

Those reactions fill my cup a little.

Creating Consistent Headshots for a Large Company

There was nothing flashy about this photography assignment.

No dramatic location. No elaborate concept. No wildly creative lighting.

Just classic, consistent staff headshots on a gray background.

Exactly what AMT Engineering needed.

And honestly?

I love this kind of work.

Because even during a fast-paced corporate photography session, I get this wonderful opportunity to connect one-on-one with dozens of people throughout the day.

For a few minutes, I get to make someone feel seen.

I get to take the person who walks over thinking, Ugh, I have to get my headshot taken, and hopefully send them back to their desk thinking:

Okay… that was actually kind of fun.

Better yet, maybe they look at their photograph and think:

Hey. I look GOOD.

That part never gets old.

And when you’re photographing a large staff, that experience matters.

A company might need every finished headshot to look consistent, but the process of creating them can’t be one-size-fits-all.

The setup repeats. The person never does.

Commercial Photography for Engineering Firms

Naturally, by the end of the day, my creative brain was already thinking beyond our gray backdrop.

A multidisciplinary engineering firm like AMT Engineering has so many stories to tell visually.

Leadership portraits that feel polished without feeling stiff.

Environmental portraits of engineers and other professionals in the places where they actually work.

Teams collaborating.

Offices and locations.

Projects in progress.

Details.

Company culture.

The people behind all that expertise.

Over time, those photographs can grow into a custom image library that gives a company authentic imagery to pull from for its website, recruiting, proposals, social media, press, marketing campaigns, internal communications, and whatever comes next.

That’s one of the things I love about developing an ongoing relationship with a commercial client. A headshot day might solve one immediate need, but it’s often just one small piece of a much bigger visual story.

By the end of our afternoon together, we were already talking about next time.

And I drove home feeling genuinely energized.

A brand-new client. A smooth day. Good people. Great conversations. Thirty new faces.

And work that genuinely filled my cup a little.

Hard to ask for much better than that.

I hope there are many more AMT faces—and stories—in front of my camera in the future.

The post Meet AMT Engineering | Corporate Staff Headshots in Rockville, Maryland appeared first on Kelly Heck Photography.

That’s how long I’ve had the privilege of working with the incredible team at LMW Auto Repair (LaScuola).

And over six years, a lot can change.

A business grows. Teams evolve. New locations open. Websites change. Marketing needs change.

And the photography needs to grow right along with it.

Today, LMW Auto Repair has three locations serving our region, and if you spend some time clicking around their website, you’ll see a whole lot of familiar photography. (Mine!)

Six Years of Photographing LMW Auto Repair

I’ve always loved long-term commercial photography relationships because you get to know a business in a way you simply can’t during one afternoon with a camera.

You learn the people.

You learn the spaces.

You start to understand what makes the business different—and which little pieces of it are actually worth showing prospective customers.

LMW has trusted me with that responsibility for six years now, and I don’t take it lightly.

For our most recent round of commercial photography, we planned two shoots across two of their locations with one big goal:

Build a versatile library of custom photography that actually shows people what it’s like to do business with LMW.

Creating a Custom Photography Library

We needed much more than a few photographs of mechanics working on cars.

So we photographed everything.

Team portraits.

Employees working throughout the shops.

Interactions at the front desk.

Conversations between team members.

Customer experiences.

Details throughout the facilities.

Wide environmental photographs that establish the space and tighter images that capture the little moments.

Some photographs were carefully staged. Others came together naturally as we worked our way through the locations.

The goal was variety.

When a business invests in commercial photography, I want them to walk away with more than a handful of beautiful images. I want to create photographs they can put to work across their website, social media, advertising, recruiting, print materials, and whatever else their marketing team dreams up next.

LMW has done exactly that.

Their website today is filled with photographs we’ve created together over the years—and I LOVE seeing that.

When Your Customers Show Up for the Photo Shoot

But there was one part of these shoots that told me more about LMW Auto Repair than any staged photograph possibly could.

Their customers showed up.

We wanted to create authentic photographs of the customer experience, so LMW invited several of their real customers to come into the shop and help us create them.

And they actually came.

These weren’t paid models pretending they’d brought their vehicle in for service.

These were real LMW customers giving up part of their evening to come hang out at their auto repair shop, pose for photographs, and enjoy a slice of pizza.

Think about that for a second.

Your mechanic calls and says, essentially, “Hey, we’re having a photo shoot. Want to spend part of your evening here pretending to talk to us while a photographer takes pictures?”

And you say yes.

THAT says something about a business.

People don’t give their personal time to a company they merely tolerate.

There was an ease between the customers and the LMW team that you can’t really manufacture. They knew each other. They were comfortable together. They laughed.

My job was simply to take that real relationship and translate it into photographs.

Staged Doesn’t Have to Mean Fake

That’s also why I don’t mind the word staged when we’re talking about commercial photography.

Yes, we staged plenty of moments.

“Stand over here.”

“Let’s have you guys talk while you’re looking at this.”

“Can we move the car?”

“Let’s do that again, but this time…”

That’s part of creating intentional imagery.

But there’s a big difference between staging an interaction and manufacturing a relationship.

The people were real.

The employees were really LMW employees. The customers were really LMW customers. The spaces were their actual working shops.

The relationships already existed.

I was simply arranging all those real elements into the strongest photographs possible.

That’s where commercial photography gets fun.

Photography That Grows With a Business

One of my favorite parts of looking back over six years with LMW is seeing how much has changed.

They now have three locations.

Their team has grown.

Their needs have evolved.

And the photographs we’ve created together have become part of how they present themselves to the community.

That’s exactly what I want from an ongoing commercial photography relationship.

Your business shouldn’t have to rely forever on the same handful of photographs from one photo shoot five years ago. As your company changes, we can keep adding to the library—new people, new spaces, new services, new locations, new stories.

Over time, the collection becomes something much bigger than a single photography session.

It becomes a visual history of the business.

The Spark Is Back

During my most recent visit with LMW, I snapped a quick selfie.

Nothing special. Just me at work.

But when I looked at it afterward, I noticed something I hadn’t seen in myself in a while.

The spark was back.

The excitement.

The creativity.

The energy.

I love this work.

Photography has always been about more than a camera to me. It’s people. It’s relationships. It’s learning businesses from the inside out and helping tell their stories in a way that feels authentic.

I love spending my days with business owners and teams who are passionate about what they do—whether that’s repairing vehicles, serving clients, building products, or changing their communities.

And after six years of walking into LMW Auto Repair shops with my camera, I still leave with the same two things:

Great photographs.

And a reminder of why I love what I do.

Thank you, John, Lonnie, and the entire LMW team for trusting me with your story for six years.

Here’s to many more.

The post Meet LMW Auto Repair: Three Locations, One Incredible Team appeared first on Kelly Heck Photography.

Most businesses don’t realize this, but the biggest factor that determines how much value you get out of a photoshoot… isn’t the photographer.

It’s how well you prepare.

Poor prep leads to:

• Wasted time
• Reduced productivity
• Fewer usable images
• Unhappy team members
• Higher per-image cost
• Longer shoot days
• Galleries that don’t fully meet your needs

The good news? With the right strategy, you can dramatically increase the number of polished, high-impact images you walk away with — and save real money in the process.

This guide breaks down the exact steps businesses should take before a professional photoshoot so everything runs smoothly, efficiently, and with maximum ROI.

1. Start With a Strategic Shot List

Without a photographer’s direction, many businesses show up to a photoshoot with a loose idea of what they want. But clarity = efficiency.

A strategic shot list helps:

• Prioritize needs
• Plan for different locations
• Identify what props, tools, or products need to be ready
• Direct team scheduling
• Ensure no image gaps

Your shot list should include:

• Headshots by person
• Team groupings
• Service demos
• Workspace photos
• Behind-the-scenes
• Product or deliverable flat lays
• Process shots
• Website banner images
• Social verticals
• Seasonal variations

2. Prep Your Space So We’re Not Wasting Time Cleaning

Your environment massively impacts your final photos.

Clutter is the biggest time-waster on shoot days.

Before your session:

• Clear desks + tables
• Tidy shelves
• Remove trash/recycling bins
• Hide cords where possible
• Move boxes/equipment out of sight
• Wipe surfaces
• Sweep floors
• Organize tools/materials

A clean space photographs BETTER, and it reduces the number of time-consuming tweaks needed on the day of your shoot.

3. Coordinate Wardrobe for a Cohesive Look

Nothing ruins team photos faster than clashing outfits or overly bold patterns.

Stick to:

• Solids or soft textures
• Brand-aligned colors
• Neutrals (navy, black, charcoal, tan, cream)
• Classic business or business-casual

Avoid:

• Neon
• Busy patterns
• Tiny stripes (they create moiré)
• Flashy logos
• Wrinkled clothing

4. Stagger Your Team’s Schedule So No One Waits Around

This is where productivity often gets lost.

If you want to minimize downtime (and maximize photos):

• Build a time block for each person
• Rotate team members in waves
• Keep late arrivals informed of the schedule
• Let people return to work between shots

Efficient scheduling = less standing around + fewer payroll hours wasted.

5. Prep Your Props, Tools, and Equipment Ahead of Time

The little details matter.

If your business uses:

• Tools
• Laptops
• Machinery
• Samples
• Packaging
• Finished products
• Customer deliverables

…make sure everything is staged, clean, and camera-ready.

Ask yourself:

“What will help tell our story visually?”

Those are the items you want handy.

6. Have Your Branding Visible (But Not Overwhelming)

Subtle branding details help tie your images together and reinforce your brand identity.

Great ways to integrate branding:

• Branded notebooks
• Mugs
• Lanyards/badges
• Signage
• Apparel
• Packaging
• Stickers

Avoid anything too loud — you want branding to support the story, not take over the frame.

7. Understand Your Orientation Needs (Vertical, Horizontal, Square)

Different platforms require different formats.

Before your session, you should know:

• What images will be used on your website
• Which ones need to be vertical for social
• Where banner-style crops are needed
• Which images need extra breathing room for text overlays

This helps us shoot intentionally instead of trying to crop later — which saves tons of time and eliminates unusable images.

8. Communicate With Your Team Before the Shoot Day

A prepared, relaxed team photographs SO much better.

Send a quick email with:

• Shoot date + time
• Wardrobe recommendations
• What to expect
• Where to meet
• Whether props/equipment are needed
• Hair/grooming notes
• Approximate timing

This prevents surprises and keeps everyone in a good frame of mind.

9. Trust the Process (And Leave Buffer Time)

The best photos come from:

• Calm energy
• Light direction
• Clear goals
• Flexibility

Build in 10–15 minutes of buffer time for:

• Wardrobe changes
• Fixing flyaway hairs
• Makeup touch-ups
• Moving equipment
• Setting up the next scene

When you’ve done the work to prepare, the rest becomes easy.

10. The Most Important Step: Hire a Photographer Who Thinks Strategically

Pretty photos are not enough.
You want someone who understands:

• Brand messaging
• Website structure
• Marketing funnels
• Orientation needs
• Color harmony
• Human psychology
• How images support sales + trust

This is the foundation of every brand session I create.

You’re not just getting photographs — you’re getting a visual strategy that supports your business for the next 12–18 months.

Ready to Get the Most Value Out of Your Next Brand Photoshoot?

If you’re ready to plan a session that’s efficient, intentional, and optimized to get the most value out of your investment, I’d love to help you map out the perfect strategy.

Contact KHP: https://www.kellyheckphotography.com/contact/

Let’s create photos that work harder!

The post How to Plan a Photo Session That Actually Saves You Money appeared first on Kelly Heck Photography.

And if I’m being honest… it’s not my natural place. I’m much more comfortable being the one behind the scenes, guiding, observing, adjusting, making other people feel like their best selves.

But I said yes to this one.

I was recently featured by VoyageBaltimore, and the conversation ended up being a really honest look at my work, how I approach photography, and what’s changed for me over the years — both professionally and personally — since my first interview with VoyageBaltimore in 2021.

We talked about:

• what actually makes a photo work (hint: it’s not just lighting or gear)
• why I care so much about the experience, not just the final image
• how my approach has shifted from doing everything… to doing the right things
• and the real, human side of running a business while raising young kids

It’s not overly polished or “perfect.” It’s just… me.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to work together, or how I think about what I do, this is probably the most complete picture I’ve shared in one place.

Read the full interview here

And if you do read it, I’d love to know what resonates with you most.

The post A Little Peek Behind the Camera appeared first on Kelly Heck Photography.