Seshu Badrinath / Avon, Connecticut

© Seshu Badrinath

“I've long maintained that headshot portraits are like bridges, for their ability to connect people to people.“ —Seshu Badrinath

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Dwayne Brown:
Hi Seshu, We’re very grateful to have you as a part of Headshots Matter! Thanks for taking some time to answer a few questions to shed some light on your headshot work and your kind business philosophy.

Your headshot studio is based in Avon, Connecticut. Have you always lived and ran your photography business there? Also, can you share some of the journey that has led you to focus your photography on corporate headshots?

Seshu:
Dwayne, thank you for inviting me to be a part of this interview series. I'm both humbled and honored to be listed among such great headshot portrait photographers.

Yes, Avon, Connecticut, is where I call home, and my headshot portraits are most often created in my home studio. While I do sometimes go on location, for some of my corporate clients, most choose to come to me. It makes for a much better experience, as my clients appreciate the privacy and the greater amount of time afforded to them for their session.

I began my headshot portrait business in 2009 on a total whim. I didn't know much about off-camera lighting and had just returned from a workshop called One Light Workshop (thank you, Zack Arias). I needed to practice my new skills on people, and I put the word out that I was open to offering complimentary headshots for the first 20 people to respond to my Twitter post. Thankfully, 18 people I had never met before responded, and I was soon curious to see if this could be made into a business. When I registered my domain name ConnecticutHeadshots.com I had no idea how important it would be to have two very important keywords working for me. Google apparently liked what I was doing and has sent me a lot of traffic because of the website and the content within it.

db
You’re quite active on LinkedIn. Is it your favourite social media platform, and how is it helpful for your photography business? 

sb
I use LinkedIn quite a bit—I could definitely finesse my profile to be a lot more inviting and engaging. It's all a work in progress. I also post to Facebook and Instagram. I feel LinkedIn has helped me to a certain extent. When you share a recent session and a testimonial and tag your clients (with their permission, of course), all of their friends see it and are open to engaging with you. So, I would definitely suggest looking into optimizing your account and be consistent when you post to any of the social media platforms.

db
We talked recently about the value of kindness in business and headshot photography. Can you share why kindness is so important to you as a headshot photographer?

sb
I had to think a lot about how I should answer this question. Brené Brown speaks of the courage required to be vulnerable. And Maya Angelou said it quite succinctly: "It takes courage to be kind." We have multiple factors at play during a portrait session. Clients typically have never experienced a session like the one they are about to get into. As a photographer, I've never photographed them before (again, the exception is if they are repeat clients). We both need to meet in the middle and quickly, but I always feel it is my job to put them at ease and not the other way around. I lead with clear and concise directions on the entire process before we begin, giving them an opportunity to ask questions or raise any concerns. The email I send them well in advance of their session usually covers all bases, but there is nothing like actually being on set and seeing all the lights and camera gear and getting even more nervous. But I walk them through the whole experience, giving them enough space to find a moment to drop their guard down and relax. When that happens, the work really begins. And when I start to see kindness in their expressions and can associate that with their humanness, I know we have arrived. More importantly, they start to see that this doesn't need to be a painful or frustrating experience.

db
Your work has a delicate attention to detail. How do you balance that focus to detail while keeping your clients still looking energized and in the moment?

sb
When a client walks through the door, I typically don't rush to start working with them. I break the ice, chatting with them about everything other than their session. I'm a very curious person, and my background in journalism helps me as I ask them a lot of questions. I dive into the kind of information that, simply makes my clients relax because they feel heard. And as they are speaking, I'm looking for hints of their normal habits. For example, as they are talking, do they tend to lean to one side or another or do they reflexively put their hands in their pockets? Those cues will come in handy when we start working, but it’s those details that define who they are. Before we get started, though, I check that their hair is where and how they want it, their clothes are free of lint or other debris, and their face is as clean as possible. This is done quickly and without a whole lot of fuss. I make it seem like it is something we should do (and we should) before we get going. The other thing I would say helps is getting my clients involved in their sessions. I usually start by creating a set of 10-15 portraits and then have my client come around to my laptop to see their images. As I click through each one, they are looking at their images, but I'm looking for those elements in the frame that could easily distract. When I find them, I usually invite my client to see if they can fix it, and if they struggle to, I jump in (with their permission) to help them out. They appreciate "the fuss" because that level of meticulousness tells them that the final results will be amazing.

db
What advice would you give your younger self creatively or in business?

sb
On the creative side, I would suggest to my younger self to pursue every genre of photography that appeals to me but begin eliminating or distilling it to what stirs my heart the most. I would ask that young fella be more cognizant of how the work he creates impacts people's lives and has the potential to bring meaning to them. I would say to him, be more mindful of why you are approaching the work–is it mostly for just the money, or is it something else? On the business side, I would say get a bookkeeper you can trust will help you save for the future and make you understand where you are spending way too much with little to no return.

db
You’re very grateful and kind with your words on social media. How has gratitude helped your photography business?

sb
Social media is a bit of a beast, isn't it? You can feed it "outrage," or "jokes," or "memes," and you are likely to receive all that back to you. I remember a time when I wasn't so careful with my words, and I suspect I have hurt a few people along the way. But all that negativity takes a clean toll on oneself. It's a form of energy that is rather toxic, isn't it? And really, when you are trying to run a creative business, that type of energy can be draining. So, I made a choice, really, to NOT post anything negative or even snarky. Trust me there have been lots of opportunities where I could have slipped. I have actually started to write something–a knee jerk response to someone–and I have stopped myself and deleted it because that kind of banter really doesn't serve anyone at all. I prefer now to focus on the positive stories I come across. That may not get a whole lot of engagement, but I am ok with it.

You've heard it said that one's "Attitude determines one's altitude". So much of the "attitude" is about one's confidence, or level of happiness. Well, I think gratitude is a part of that attitude, too. Too often, we think we individually managed to pull something off. And my parents taught me a long time ago that's simply not true. We are connected beings in one way or another. I define gratitude as one's ability to be truly thankful to those who have played a part in one's creative or business success or existence. Sure, I run my business, but I have a lot of people to thank for making it all possible. To conduct oneself otherwise would be arrogant.

db
How do you kindle your creativity, and where do you find inspiration for your photography?

sb
I watch at least one movie or a series every week. I watch for the story and characters, but as a photographer, I am breaking down scenes and lighting scenarios. If I vocalized all that was running through my brain, I am sure my kids would switch the TV off! But inspiration also comes from books, podcasts, photo conferences, museums, blog posts, speaking and collaborating with friends.

db
How critical is the mindset when preparing for a photo shoot, and is there anything you do specifically to prepare yourself? 

sb
I do have a "pre-flight" check on my gear and computer connections. If one of my sons is home, they stand in so that I know my lights are all behaving. I then make sure the walkway towards my front door and the bathroom inside are clean. I have my client's bookings on my screen so that I know their name and even know the kind of music they prefer.

But before all that, I center myself. It's not a long meditation, but a couple of minutes of quiet as I play out and visualize the positive experience I'm about to offer my client. There is still a small but useful form of nervousness (or is it excitement?) that I am going to be helping someone new (if it isn't a repeat client) to make an impact in their audience's life.


db
Lastly, in your opinion, why do headshots matter?

sb
I've long maintained that headshot portraits are like bridges for their ability to connect people to people. They matter a great deal, especially in a fast-paced world where we are all experiencing a great number of images–still & video. Headshots, when done right, have a way of distilling a person's likeness to the very best version of themselves. If, in a split second, a portrait can invite a connection – a phone call, an email, or even a text message, then, yes, headshots matter a great deal. When those connections blossom into working relationships that impact many more lives, shouldn't that alone be what matters the most?

db
Thanks so much, Seshu. Your words and insights are so inspiring. Your clients are very fortunate to have such a kind and talented photographer!

To learn more about Seshu Badrinath and his studio in Avon, please take a peek at his website: www.connecticutheadshots.com

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© Seshu Badrinath