Stopped Down Studio

Bay Area Headshot Photographer

Headshots
that turn heads

For creatives with a point of view

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Love how you look in your profile photo

You deliver original, thoughtful, craft-infused creative. Your decks sing, your copy’s clever, your presentations would make Don Draper flush. But remembering all that in front of the camera is hard. I coach you back to yourself, so you can start every conversation online with confidence.

Designed for busy professionals

Book

Schedule in less than three minutes.

Shoot

Laugh for an hour in my studio in North Oakland. Pick your final images before you leave.

Post

Get your images a few days later. Feel great. Project confidence everywhere online.

What decision-makers see

Recruiters and hiring managers assess everything about you to guess how you’ll fit—from your competence to how well you’ll work with the team. Get them excited to say yes.

Why we avoid updating headshots

In most cases, you’ll be done—finals ready for retouching—in an hour. If you have 10 minutes, we’ll level you up in 10 minutes.

The camera doesn’t know what you look like, but I do. I correct color first thing, with you in front of me, when I’m finding your angles and tuning the lights for you.

I start every session by finding the angles that flatter you.

We review the pictures as we go, so we’re always on the same page.

That’s because you’re a human! Cameras are weird. Even models had to learn how to turn it on.

I’m very good at drawing people out. The pictures are really just a record of us connecting, person to person—that’s what makes them a powerful networking tool. When someone looks at your profile picture, they’ll feel the same thing I felt: This person is awesome, and I can’t wait to get to know them.

It’s my job to mentor you. I have over a decade of training, study, and experience. If you can play Simon Says, you’re already at varsity level.

It helps to think of the shoot as a work activity. A great picture is a powerful tool to help you connect with others to advance your career.

I get it. School photos and DMV mugshots are about as personal as an assembly line. (You should see my old MA driver’s license.) The good news is it wasn’t you. It was your photographer!

I’ve put a lot of thought into making it easy, efficient, and fun.

Aging happens. Besides basic skincare and session prep, I’ll deemphasize wrinkles and help your personality outshine your age.

Besides, I think those lines show character. If you want to be de-aged, I’m not your photographer.

A great headshot sets the stage for you everywhere, from LinkedIn and social profiles to email and camera-off meetings.

I post my pricing clearly so you can make an informed decision. And I never charge extra for tweaks—it’s even in our contract.

Sure. But just like a $20 logo, you don’t get:

  • techniques to use in every picture you’re ever in
  • high quality original files
  • changes
  • accurate color (because they can’t reference how you look IRL)
  • a legal contract with usage rights for the final image

If you get paid to create, you’re ramping up, or you do it for the love, you’re my people.

Trusted by creatives everywhere

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