I took a week of vacation at my day job and put it to good use around the house and with some photography. I have 9 more headshots under my belt and in my portfolio! Now, of course, 7 of those people I know very well, but I’m not holding that against them. LOL.

The other 2 were cold calls from people I didn’t know at all. They contacted me through my last blog post, which was shared on Facebook, and a couple of days later, they contacted me. Those 2 shoots went very well, and they are happy with the resulting headshots. That’s the goal.

The following photos are in my portfolio, but I wanted to share them here in a post. The last 2 are the cold call contacts. They are great people. I liked creating headshots for them and hope to do more work for them in the future.

I hope I can keep up the pace and get things rolling. But I’m going to take a week to continue around the house and maybe go camping soon. Just to get away from town for a while. That trip has some portraits planned for it as well. It’s going to line up with a project I have planned for the summer.

It feels good to get out there and do what I love. Photography is something I’ve been building up for a while, and every new shoot gives me a little more confidence and experience. That’s the biggest thing I’m taking away from this past week. Every time I pick up the camera, I learn something new, whether it’s a trick for better lighting, an easier way to get a genuine smile, or just how to stay relaxed and go with the flow.

I’ve been thinking a lot about how to keep this momentum going. Headshots have been a great way to get my name out there, but I know I need to be more proactive in reaching potential clients. It’s one thing to wait for people to find me, but I’d love to make more connections intentionally.

One idea I’ve been considering is reaching out directly to small businesses in the area. A lot of people don’t realize they need updated headshots until they see a side-by-side comparison. If I can get in front of business owners and show them how much a professional headshot can elevate their brand, I think it could turn into more bookings. Maybe I’ll put together a short email with examples of my work and send it to a handful of local businesses, offering a small discount for team headshots.

Networking events are another option. I don’t always love walking into a room full of strangers, but I do love talking about photography. If I can find some local business meet-ups, that could be a great way to introduce myself without feeling like I’m cold-calling. Just talking to people, getting to know what they do, and casually mentioning that I do headshots—no pressure, no hard sell, just conversation.

And then, of course, social media. That Facebook post that led to two new clients was a great reminder that people are watching, even if they don’t comment or like a post. I’ve been telling myself to post more consistently, even if it’s just a behind-the-scenes shot or a quick thought about a recent shoot. The more I show up, the more likely people are to think of me when they need a photographer.

Another approach I might try is teaming up with other professionals—maybe a hairstylist or a makeup artist. A “mini session” day where people can book a quick headshot with professional styling could be a great way to attract clients who want to look their best for LinkedIn or company websites. Plus, it’s a good excuse to collaborate and meet more people in the industry.

So that’s where my head’s at. The past week has been a solid step forward, and I’m feeling pretty good about where things are going. I still have a long way to go, but as long as I keep shooting, learning, and putting myself out there, I think this could turn into something really great.

For now, I’m going to enjoy the little break I’ve given myself. Finish up some house projects, take a breather, and hopefully squeeze in that camping trip. If all goes well, I’ll come back refreshed and ready to keep pushing forward.

Chris.