At every mall in the late 80s/early 90s, there was a little place called Glamour Shots. For those of you who don’t know, hair and makeup artists were on staff to make you over and then a photographer would pose you, light you, producing glamorous prints to gift to your loved ones. And Real Estate agents were notoriously known for using them as their headshots - long before most people even needed a headshot.

Glamour Shots was the brunt of jokes back then, as it is comparable to what  today is an over-photoshopped image. The overuse of makeup, the taller-than-Reunion-Tower hair and the filters used were indeed beautiful, but certainly not realistic. The recipients of these gifts almost had to do a double-take, thinking the portrait received was the one which came in the frame.

The Glamour Shots of yesteryear are still a joke today, as a handful of Realtors are still using their images from the 90s. Oh yes, unfortunately you heard that right!  By the way, GS (though few in number) has come a long way. They’ve cut back on the blue eyeliner and horse-glue hairspray and are now delivering more genuine images. 

While scheduling and getting to a headshot appointment takes some effort, a genuine, up-to-date portrait is imperative to your business and/or personal brand. We at Photography by Misty offer hassle-free headshots, bringing the professional studio to you. That’s certainly a start.

There are a variety of Dallas-based photographers who will go on location. Just be leary if they ask if you have a white wall and/or a bank of windows. A clean wall is not a replacement for a professional backdrop. And no photographer should just trust that natural lighting will be in the right place at the right time. When it works out, great. However, a true professional will always have a back-up lighting source. Of course, beautiful office environments can also serve as a modernly professional background for your updated portrait as long as your photographer knows what they are doing.

And let’s go back to hair and makeup services. We highly recommend hiring professionals. Here are some of our recommended guidelines (whether or not you go with one of our professionals):

• Speak up. If your hair is too poofy, not poofy enough, too curly, too straight (you get the point) - speak up. No true professional is going to be offended. It’s your hair, it’s your picture.

• Same is true with makeup. Bright red lipstick isn’t for everyone.

• False eyelashes? Yes, please. Fanfare of feathers is not necessary, but lashes slightly longer than what you have now and a little more volume always look great. 

• Yes, Queens AND Kings. You, too, can benefit from a powdering of the nose.

Also, be sure to talk to your Dallas, Plano or Frisco based photographer about their philosophy on Photoshop (or what we at Photography by Misty call PhoTox).

• When my 26-(at the time)-old-assistant asked for a little PS love, I knew that everyone over the age of 20 would want a little behind-the-scenes lovin. It’s included in the price. We do not nickel and dime our clients. And you, as a consumer, should also not pay extra.

• Clients may ask to be 20 pounds lighter and 10 years younger in their final images, but is that really what they want?  Some photographers will take extreme creative liberties because software allows them to do so. Just ask. Your edited images should be adjusted for genuine results. Heck, otherwise you may as well just use that old Glamour Shot.

We believe at the culmination of a professional photography session, you should receive genuine images which reflect you on your very best day. Hope to see you soon at Photography by Misty