THE ACADEMIC HEADSHOT

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Nai Kalema found me on Twitter - which is surprising because I rarely use that platform. And when she reached out, she had a very clear idea of what she wanted for her Academic headshot photograph. Nai’s PhD research looks at the intersection of race and technology, and she had been to lots of academic conferences (increasingly online since 2020) where the other speakers had good headshots attached to their talk abstracts. Nai needed something to stand out!

It really excites me when someone comes to me with a brief like this, not only was she unhappy with the headshot she was previously using, but she wanted to have an outstanding headshot photo that really caught people’s attention. As you can see from these shots, we had a great time playing with ideas and backgrounds. This bright yellow background really stood out and made the flowers in her hair pop!

A couple of weeks after the shoot, Nai sent me a message that brought tears to my eyes, she said “Tom, I have to thank you again! Never in my life have I received so many likes and positive comments for a photo!! A huge thanks to you again!”

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Dwayne Brown


Dwayne Brown has dedicated his adult life to professional photography. Throughout this extensive career he has had the opportunity to photograph a diverse array of people in many places, contributing to his personal and professional growth. His continued curiosity and desire to craft excellent imagery fuel his passion for headshot photography.