Knoxville Professional Headshot and Business Portrait Photographer
Colby focuses strictly on professional headshots in his downtown Knoxville studio as well as editorial-style business portraits onsite. You won’t find any weddings, pets, or families here. Whether you are looking for a full branding campaign for yourself or just a LinkedIn headshot, he’s got you covered. He even does onsite corporate headshots for your entire company.
You’ll get flattering corporate headshots that stand out from the crowd. Colby creates business portraits with a commercial polish designed to tell a story that attracts your perfect customer. He is an advertising portrait photographer, not a wedding or family portrait photographer who create fantasies through unnatural posing, lots of makeup, and noticeable retouching. The corporate portraits he creates look like you after a wonderful week at a spa.
“We were simply stunned by the images.”–Kendall Luelf
Colby makes scheduling as well as every step of the process as easy as possible. His clients are busy business people who don’t want to go back and forth on scheduling or pricing, with lots of interviews and hours of photography. Colby is flexible with scheduling, direct with communication, efficient with shooting, and deadline oriented. He often even returns portraits within an hour of the session. All this while taking all the time necessary to get the exceptional corporate headshot your desire.
“Easy, painless, and fast.”–Brian Carmichael
He puts clients at ease, so the process doesn’t feel scary and the image doesn’t look unnatural. This is one of the common themes that you will read in his testimonials. They comment about his easygoing attitude and his fun personality while remaining professional. As an experienced business headshot photographer, 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 studio portrait 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.
Colby delivers portraits that tell a story. Some professions require strength and poise. However, other jobs require an easygoing manner and also likability. Also, various clients require a creative twist, while others require a conservative and competent feel. His portraits convey these messages within milliseconds through background choice, lighting style, and body language. Colby believes that this is when a photo transcends being just flattering to making money, which is the true definition of a professional headshot.
“He 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 corporate headshots.”–John McCulley.
If you want to put your best foot forward with a Knoxville headshot in the studio or a more editorial portrait on location, you will need an experienced portrait photographer.
Can you do corporate headshots of my entire company onsite?
Yes, I specialize in on-location corporate portrait photography at your convention, annual meeting, office, or anywhere else. I have a fully mobile business portrait 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 the shots. View details here.
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 headshots?
I email most clients their photos within an hour of the session if they are done in my headshot studio. However, it may take a little longer if we do an onsite portrait or depending on the number of images and the complexity of the editing. I can usually give you an idea on your initial call.
What should I wear and how should I prepare for my corporate headshot?
There is no 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 preparation list with lots of great suggestions. I will also give you a call to discuss your specific job and what is desired from someone in your field.
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.
How long do your portrait sessions take?
My headshot studio portraits typically take around 30 to 45 minutes, but we typically set aside fifty minutes to ensure we get a portrait you love. Also, your time is important, and I make sure that we keep things moving. I also help you prepare before you arrive, and I have the expertise to shoot both effectively and efficiently. You will not be stuck at the studio for hours in hopes of stumbling across a good portrait. These timelines can change depending on the number of images and wether or not your are prepared. For onsite editorial portraits, the situation changes according to the complexity of the location and setup time, so times vary in these situations. I can give you a good idea of what timeline you can expect on the initial call.
How quickly will I be able to select my corporate headshot?
You will review your images immediately after the portrait session. We will also discuss whatever retouching you’d like. If you are unhappy with your portrait, we work together to discuss what you didn’t like and re-shoot it immediately. This assures that you don’t get a bad portrait or have to do a re-shoot on another day. You will get exactly what you want.
Can you make me look like I'm in the city, woods, or even on the Sunsphere?
Yes. Be sure that you bring this up early when discussing your professional headshot so I can prepare everything 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.
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 would be helpful. However, other people can be distracting and slow down the process.
Do you have makeup services for my Knoxville headshot?
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.
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 week at the spa. I typically do not do the inauthentic and unrealistic retouching typical of many wedding and family portrait photographers. If you want this style with radical weight reduction, extensive age reduction, or facial reconstruction, I can also provide that, but I would warn against it. I discuss every individual’s retouching desires after the session. If you have your business portrait done in the studio, you might even get then retouching done right then!
Will my business portrait look like me?
Yes, this is what makes me different. My clients want genuine, authentic business portraits that are flattering polish-look. I’m an advertising portrait photographer, and my clients don’t want the fantastic look created with heavy makeup, awkward poses, and extensive retouching, which family and wedding photographers specialize in.
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, I’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.
How much do you charge for your corporate headshots?
My clients have a wide range of needs, from complex national ad campaigns to LinkedIn headshots. The price depends on the number of images, editing, use, and scope of the project. Give me a call, and in a few minutes, I can give you a price you can rely on.
Do you have a retail space or are your portraits done in your home?
My Knoxville headshot studio is a retail space. You don’t have to worry about having a weird home studio experience.
Where is your professional photography studio?
My business 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 do studio portraits or on-location portraits?
Yes, I do both, and they each have their advantages and disadvantages. Some clients travel from other counties to visit my Knoxville headshot 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.
Do you do Knoxville headshots only or do you also work out of the area?
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 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 onsite business 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.
How long do you keep my corporate headshots and do you keep all of the business headshots you take?
After delivering the final images, I back up and archive all the images purchased. 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 you keep copies of your images in a safe place and back them up.
How do you bill?
I invoice you, and you can pay by check or credit card.