knoxville headshot

Knoxville Professional Headshot and Business Portrait Photographer

Name: Colby's Photos & Videos
Price range: $$$

Colby McLemore focuses strictly on professional in-studio headshots as well as onsite editorial-style business portraits. You won’t find any weddings, pets, or families here.

My clients desire natural-looking and flattering executive headshots and portraits that stand out from the crowd. My portraits are designed to tell a story that attracts your perfect customer with a strictly commercial style. Also, they are not looking for genres that focus on beautiful but fantastic, disingenuous, and unrealistic imagery. This kind of imagery is often created through unnatural poses, lots of makeup, and too much retouching. If you want professional headshots in Knoxville, Colby crafts business portraits in his downtown Knoxville studio as well as editorial portrait photography on location. He is a well-known portrait studio photographer throughout the region.

“We were simply stunned by the images he captured.” –Kendall Luelf

Professional headshots in Knoxville and onsite portraits from a personable and experienced photographer who also puts you at ease. Colby is a top-notch portrait photographer, known for his easy-going as well as fun attitude while remaining professional. As a portrait studio photographer, he also has enough experience that he doesn’t have to focus on the camera–he focuses on you. Also, Colby feels that when you choose him, you get more than just a portrait studio photographer. He hopes to leave you as a friend.

“He doesn’t have to tell you to smile, he just has a way of making it fun.” –Pat Postma

As a portrait photographer, Colby creates flattering as well as professional headshots in Knoxville. These headshots are also well crafted. Colby also has the experience to use light to sculpt your portrait, drawing attention to your beauty while hiding your imperfections. His skillful posing obscures what you don’t want to show and highlights what you do. Only after creating a beautiful and realistic portrait will he use his extensive retouching skills to apply a final polish. The end result must be balanced so that it looks authentic, realistic, as well as striking. Indeed, only an experienced editorial portrait photographer knows how to achieve this.

“Everyone compliments me on my photograph.”–Jo Caruso

Portraits that tell a story. Some professions require strength and poise. However, other professions require an easy-going manner and also likability. Also, various clients require a creative twist while others require a conservative and competent feel. These messages are conveyed within milliseconds through the background choice and lighting style, but most importantly through body language. Colby studied this throughout his career as a portrait photographer. He also teaches professional classes on it. Just one more reason why you could benefit from an experienced portrait studio photographer.

“Editorial portrait photographer, Colby McLemore, took the time to learn who I am, what I stand for, and the persona that I want to embody. He also engineered that into one of the best headshots.”–John McCulley

If you want to put your best foot forward with a professional business headshot in the studio or a more editorial portrait on location, you will need an experienced portrait photographer. Call today to learn more.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – PROFESSIONAL HEADSHOTS IN KNOXVILLE, TN

Can you do Corporate headshots of my entire company on location or in the studio?

Yes, I specialize in on-location corporate portrait photography at your convention, annual meeting, or office whether an attorney’s, CPA, real estate or realtor company. I have a fully mobile studio to ensure the highest quality, quick delivery, and no hassles. I will not only make the portraits look good, but I’ll also make sure everyone else is happy with your choice of a photographer. View details here.

How much do you charge for your commercial headshots?

I have a wide range of clients with various individual needs. They range from national ad campaigns and billboards to LinkedIn profile headshots. The price depends on the scope of the project. Give me a call, and in a few minutes I can give you a price you can rely on.

Can you work around my busy schedule?

I am a full-time professional headshot photographer. If you’re in a rush, I’ll bend backward to make it work for you. Typically, I can fit clients in within a few days. It might take a week or so to schedule if you have very limited availability. If you are on a serious time crunch, I can often accommodate you on the same day for an additional fee.

What is your turnaround time for your finished business portraits?

For most clients I email their photos to them within an hour of the session if they are done in my downtown portrait studio. However, it may take a little longer if we are doing an editorial photography approach, or depending on the number of images and the complexity of the editing. I can usually give you an idea on your initial call.

Do you retouch your headshots?

Yes, every good headshot should include a polish. My typical client wants a headshot that looks like them but as if they had just come from a wonderful day at the spa. I do not do the unauthentic and unrealistic retouching typical of many dating, wedding, and family portrait photographers. If you want this style with radical weight reduction, extensive age reduction, and/or facial reconstruction, we can also provide that but would warn against it. We will discuss every individual’s retouching desires after the session. If you have your business portrait done in the studio, you might even get it done right then!

Do you have makeup services?

Yes, we can provide that. Professional business headshots usually portray a genuine yet polished version of you. However, if the final images don’t look like you, it confuses your customers. Therefore, it is critical that your makeup artist is used to working with business portraits instead of dating, glamour, or wedding portraits. Most clients find that with their makeup and my retouching, they don’t need to invest in the additional cost of a markup artist.

How long do your portrait sessions take?

My Knoxville headshot studio portraits typically take around 30 to 45 minutes but we set aside an hour to make sure we get a portrait you love. Also, your time is important and I make sure that we keep things moving along. I also help you prepare before you arrive and I have the expertise to successfully do the job. You will not be stuck at the studio for hours in hopes of stumbling across a good portrait. For editorial portraits on location, the situation changes according to the complexity of the location and setup time so times vary in these situations.

What if I don’t like my professional portrait?

You get to choose your image right after the portrait session. If you’re not a hundred percent happy, we’ll re-photograph you until we get it perfect. I also retouch them with your input to ensure I don’t do too much or too little. At the end of the day, you get the perfect portraits with the perfect retouching. You won’t leave without loving it. If at a later date you change your mind and would like another session, that would require an additional investment.

What should I wear and how should I prepare for the corporate headshot?

There is no one single answer to this question. It depends on what aspects of your personality are most important to highlight for your customers. I will send a general preparation list. I will also give you a call to discuss your specific job and what is desired from someone in your field. Here is a list of things to consider though.

Can you match backgrounds with other business headshots or digitally drop-in backgrounds?

Yes, make sure that you bring this up early when discussing your professional headshot so that everything can be prepared beforehand. I can do it after the fact but that can be more difficult.

Can you match my headshot with my company's other professional headshots or are you used to working with style guidelines from my company?

Yes, I regularly reverse engineer the style and lighting of companies’ existing portraits to allow seamless inclusion of your past headshots. I am very used to working with your company’s marketing guidelines to deliver the exact style and look your company requires.

How quickly will i be able to select my headshot?

Immediately after the portrait session in my studio, you will review your images. We will also discuss whatever retouching you’d like. If you are not happy with your executive portrait, we work together to discuss what you didn’t like and re-shoot it immediately. This assures that you don’t have to do a re-shoot another day or that you will be getting a bad portrait. You will get exactly what you want. Editorial portraits on location are done the same way.

Can I have digital files of My business headshot?

Yes, and with no additional charge. I cater to business professionals who use their portraits for their marketing. My clients need the flexibility of digital files.

Do you do studio portraits or on location portraits?

Yes, I do both and they each have their advantages and disadvantages. Some of my clients travel from other counties to come to my Knoxville portrait studio. I have also driven up to eight hours to make one single editorial portrait. Give me a call and we can discuss what works for your particular needs.

Where is your professional photography studio?

My portrait studio is right off I-40 with easy access to validated parking in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee. My professional headshots attract clients from throughout the state and beyond.

Do you take headshots outside of Knoxville as well?

Absolutely, I do them on site throughout the Eastern Tennessee region, including Nashville, Maryville, Oak Ridge, and the tri-cities region (Kingsport, Johnson City, and Bristol). Call me today for the best professional headshots not only in Knoxville but also in the surrounding areas.

What if I need something more complex than a LinkedIn business headshot for my marketing needs?

Advertising and branding photography is my specialty. Whether you are interested in only a LinkedIn headshot or a full national ad campaign, I can handle your needs.

Are you used to working with creative teams and marketing departments?

Yes, I love the support and collaboration that this type of project entails. Although this is true, I am also very used to handling the whole load myself.

Who will be taking my Studio or editorial headshots?

Typically me, Colby McLemore. I have a Master’s Degree and Craftsman Degree in photography from the Professional Photographers of America. There may also be times that another highly qualified business headshot photographer on my staff will be taking your portrait, but you would know this way beforehand if it were necessary. This typically happens whenever we are using multiple bays to photograph large groups quickly.

Can I bring a friend along?

Yes, you can bring anyone you’d like to your headshot shoot. Anyone who will have a strong voice in choosing your image could be helpful. However, other people can be distracting and slow down the process.

How long do you keep my corporate headshots and do you keep all of the business headshots taken?

After delivering the final images, I back up and archive all client-purchased images. Also, my goal is to keep multiple backups of all final selections. However, technology does fail at times and I cannot guarantee that I will be able to recover images forever. I strongly suggest that you keep copies of your images in a safe place and back them up as well.

How do you bill?

I invoice you, and you can pay by check or credit card.

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