Best Psychotherapist Portrait Photos in the Universe
Having a quality, professional portrait photo of yourself is important for attracting quality clients. When you communicate that you are a professional, you will attract clients who value professionals and will be interested in paying for professional services.
And one major indication of professionalism is working with other professionals. But what should the results of a professional photoshoot look like? What should psychotherapists be aiming for when it comes to the look and feel of their professional portrait images?
In this post I’ll outline the traits of a good portrait photo and share some of the best psychotherapist portrait photos to inspire you.
Traits of a Good Portrait Photo
A good portrait photo helps your website visitor get to know you. Humans are fascinated by human faces.
What are the specific traits that make a video awesome? There are certainly some core features that the best portrait photos have in common that make them so great.
- Professional – A portrait photo that is poorly shot will reflect poorly on the therapist who appears in the photo. Good lighting, good location, sharpness, appropriate clothing, can all communicate about who you are as a professional therapist.
- Comfortable – The therapist in a good portrait photo looks calm, cool, and comfortable. Looking unsure or out of place can actually have the very opposite effect. A comfortable therapist makes a viewer of the portrait photo also feel a sense of comfort.
- Close, but not too close – The photo should be a comfortable distance away, close enough to get a sense of the therapist but not so close that we can examine how well groomed the therapists eyebrow hairs are.
- Personality – The personality of the therapist comes through in a good portrait photo. Viewers of the photo will be intrigued to know more about how that specific therapist can help them when they are open and showing up as themselves.
- Approachable – The best portrait photos for psychotherapists give the viewer a sense of approach-ability. Therapy is based on the relationship and for that relationship to start, the portrait photo should make the viewer feel as if they could reach out from the very first exposure (pun very intended).
The Best Therapist Portrait Photos I’ve Seen
After visiting many websites and looking at hundreds of therapist photos, I’ve found the best psychotherapist portrait photos there are in the entire universe to inspire your professional shoot.
Annie Schuessler
Photographer: Portraits to the People – San Francisco, CA, USA
Love: the colors. This is an amazing example of colors going right. Not only is Annie herself friendly and approachable but these soft blues and pinks are also communicating with the viewer of this image, they are communicating calm, welcoming, trustworthiness. Bonus: All of the portrait photos at the Bay Area Relationship Center are gorgeous examples of therapist portraits. They are winning at group practice photos.
John Harrison
Photographer: Kylie J. Wilkerson – Cincinnati, OH, USA
Love: the friendliness. Due to his casual style and pose and big smile, John looks completely approachable and friendly. I can’t imagine anyone seeing this picture and feeling as if they couldn’t reach out to him. A+
Natalia Amari
Love: the aura. Natalia is absolutely glowing in this image. It’s not the colors, it’s her. This is a great example of a portrait that is 3/4ths of the body but still close enough to get a sense of who she is.
Andy Smith
Photographer: Eden Frangipane – Nashville, TN, USA
Love: the integrity. In this photo, I love how Andy and his photographer incorporated a blackboard to demonstrate a bit about who he is and his solution: he works with creatives who don’t want to hold themselves back anymore. Consistency between what you communicate in your portrait photo and what you communicate in words is the key to integrity.
Michelle Horton
Love: the joyfulness. Michelle’s personality really comes through in this great photo. The subtle playfulness in her presence aligns with her message of finding joy and hope. It’s like a preview of what there is to be gained in doing therapy with her.
Melvin L. Escobar
Love: the warmth. Melvin’s photo is warming. He has a warm smile and expression but also there are warm tones throughout the photo and warmth in his scarf and sweater. A good example of expression, color, and clothing all working together to communicate in a positive way.
Linda Esposito
Love: the personality. This image really makes Linda stand out. The out-of-focus urban backdrop and unique crop all communicate to the viewer of the image that Linda is not like other therapists.
Angie Leek
Photographer: Jess Gallegos – Northwest Arkansas, USA
Love: the glow. Even though Angie is not making eye contact with the viewer of the photo, the warm natural light and her expression lead to glow that is warm and inviting. A great example of natural light used well in an indoor location and a therapist being relaxed and natural on camera.
Tell Me What You Think!
What do you think about these portrait photos? Did you have a favorite? Do you know of any I should add?
Do you have a professional portrait photo of yourself that you’re proud of or do you need to schedule a shoot? What do you need help with when it comes to getting portraits done? I would love to hear your thoughts via tweet or through a quick note via my contact page.
