How do I find a photographer who is good at photographing “regular”/”normal” people?
This is one of the most common questions people have, along with: "How do I find a good portrait photographer if I'm not photogenic?"
I once heard someone answer this question by saying: "Find a high-volume corporate headshot photographer—they're used to photographing normal people all day."
On its face it seems pretty rational and reasonable, but I nearly did a spit-take when I heard it, here’s why…
Why This Answer Is Wrong
First, let me be clear: I'm not disparaging corporate headshot photographers or saying you can't be talented while shooting corporate work.
But the skills required for high-volume corporate photography are almost the complete opposite of the skills needed to make you look amazing in a photo.
What High-Volume Corporate Photographers Are Good At:
✓ Photographing large numbers of people efficiently
✓ Minimizing business disruption
✓ Producing technically acceptable results consistently
✓ Moving through 50+ people in a single day
What They're NOT Optimized For:
✗ Tailoring lighting to individual faces
✗ Taking time to find your best angles
✗ Customizing their approach for each person
✗ Making you look exceptional (just "not terrible")
The Set-and-Forget Problem
High-volume corporate photographers succeed by generalization, not customization.
Their approach:
Set up one lighting configuration
Photograph 50-100 employees with identical setup
Ensure no one looks terrible
Move efficiently through the queue
The result: Most people look... fine. Acceptable. Not awful, but not amazing either.
This makes perfect business sense for them. They can't spend 15 minutes adjusting lighting for each person when they're photographing an entire company in one day.
But "most people won't look terrible" is not the same as "you'll look your best."
Why They Keep Getting Hired
Here's the thing: corporate headshot photographers get repeat business not because they make people look amazing, but because:
Companies schedule them (employees don't choose)
"Good enough" satisfies corporate needs
Efficiency and minimal disruption matter most
No one complains loudly enough to change vendors
Success in that market doesn't require making individuals look exceptional—just avoiding disasters while staying on schedule.
What You Actually Need
If you're concerned about how you look in photos, you need the opposite of a high-volume approach.
You need a photographer who:
✓ Focuses on individuals, not volume - Takes time to understand your specific features
✓ Tailors lighting to your face - Adjusts setup for your unique bone structure and skin tone
✓ Prioritizes aesthetics over efficiency - Cares more about you looking amazing than moving quickly
✓ Works with you personally - Not just processing you through a standardized system
This is an aesthetically-focused photographer who understands that every face is different and requires individual attention.
The "I'm Not Photogenic" Myth
Here's a secret: Most people who think they're not photogenic have simply never been photographed well.
They've been:
Run through a high-volume photo studio or corporate headshot day
Photographed with one-size-fits-all lighting
Given no individual attention or customization
Left with "acceptable" results that don't flatter them specifically
Then they conclude they're not photogenic—when really, they just haven't had a photographer who took the time to light them properly.
When lighting is tailored to your specific facial structure, when angles are chosen for your features, when someone actually takes time to bring out your best qualities—presto! Suddenly you're a lot more "photogenic" than you thought.
What to Look For Instead
When searching for a photographer who can make you look great:
Ask these questions:
❓ "Do you adjust lighting for each individual, or use a standard setup?"
❓ "How much time do you spend with each client?"
❓ "Can you show me examples of how you've photographed people with similar features to mine?"
❓ "What's your approach when someone says they're not photogenic?"
Look for answers showing:
Individual customization, not standardized processing
Time investment in each person
Understanding that different faces need different approaches
Confidence in making anyone look good through proper technique
The Bottom Line
High-volume corporate headshot photography and individually-focused portrait photography are completely different skill sets.
One optimizes for efficiency and acceptable results across many people quickly. The other optimizes for making you look exceptional, regardless of time required.
If you're concerned about being photogenic, you don't want the photographer who's best at processing volume—you want the photographer who's best at bringing out what's beautiful in each individual face.
That requires customization, time, and aesthetic focus—exactly what high-volume operations can't provide.
Ready to See Yourself Photographed Well?
If you've always thought you weren't photogenic, let me show you what individually tailored lighting and proper attention can do.
I specialize in portrait and headshot photography where every setup is customized for your specific features—not processed through a one-size-fits-all formula.
Contact me for a consultation about your Los Angeles portrait or headshot needs.
Professional Los Angeles photography where individual attention and customized lighting reveal your best self—because "not terrible" isn't good enough.
