Finding a photographer isn't simply about finding someone who knows how to use a camera. If the photographs are of you, being comfortable with the person behind the camera can be just as important as the equipment they're using.
That's particularly true when the images are going to represent you online.
A professional headshot might be the first thing a potential employer or client sees. Your dating profile photographs can influence whether someone stops to learn more about you. If you're building a personal brand, the images you use across your website and social media can quickly become part of how people recognise you.
Tommy McDevitt Photography provides professional photography in London for people who want strong, natural photographs without the experience feeling overly formal or staged.
Tommy McDevitt is a London photographer specialising in photographing people.
His work covers several areas of personal and professional photography, including business headshots, dating profile photography and images for social media.
What connects these different types of photography is the person in front of the camera.
Most people aren't professional models. They don't necessarily know how to pose, what to do with their hands or which angle works best. Some actively dislike having their photograph taken.
A good portrait session therefore isn't just about pressing the shutter at the right moment. It's also about creating an environment where someone can relax enough for the resulting photographs to feel natural.
The traditional corporate headshot has changed.
Businesses are increasingly visible online, while LinkedIn, company websites, speaker profiles, email signatures and other digital platforms mean professionals can need a recognisable image in far more places than they once did.
A good professional headshot needs to be polished, but that doesn't mean it needs to feel stiff or overly corporate.
Tommy provides professional headshots in London for people who need an up-to-date image for their professional presence.
Depending on the individual, that might mean something suitable for LinkedIn and a company website or a more relaxed portrait for somebody working within a creative industry.
The important thing is that the photograph fits the person and where the image will eventually be used.
Dating apps have made photographs a surprisingly important part of meeting someone new.
Unfortunately, finding six good photographs of yourself isn't always easy.
You might have hundreds of photographs on your phone but discover that most are group pictures, years out of date, badly lit or don't really show what you look like today.
Selfies aren't always the answer either.
Professional dating photography is intended to solve that problem without making a dating profile look like a corporate photo shoot.
Tommy's dating photos in London are aimed at creating a collection of images that can show more of the individual rather than relying on one formal portrait.
Different locations, compositions and expressions can give somebody several photographs to choose from while keeping the finished profile feeling natural.
The objective isn't to create a different version of you. It's to make sure poor or outdated photographs aren't creating the wrong first impression.
The rise of personal branding has also changed what people need from professional photography.
A single headshot can be perfect for a profile picture, but it isn't necessarily enough if you're regularly posting content.
Business owners, consultants, freelancers, creators and other professionals can need photographs for LinkedIn posts, Instagram, websites, blogs, newsletters, press coverage and marketing material.
That requires variety.
Tommy offers social media photography in London for people who want to build a useful collection of professional images rather than relying on the same portrait every time they publish something.
A wider image library can provide different crops, settings, expressions and compositions, making it easier to choose a photograph that actually fits the content being published.
One of the most important things to consider when choosing a portrait photographer is whether you actually like the way they photograph people.
Technical ability matters, but style matters too.
Some people want a highly polished studio aesthetic. Others want photographs that feel considerably more relaxed.
Tommy's photography is centred around people and creating images that feel natural rather than forcing every client into exactly the same pose or style.
That's particularly relevant for people who aren't naturally comfortable in front of a camera.
You shouldn't need to arrive knowing how to pose.
Part of the photographer's job is to provide direction, consider the light and surroundings, and help create situations where useful photographs can happen.
Professional photography isn't only for actors, models and senior executives.
There are now plenty of situations where having a strong collection of current photographs can be useful.
You might be:
The type of photography you need should ultimately be dictated by what you want the images to achieve.
Before booking a photographer, think about where the finished images are going to appear.
If the priority is LinkedIn, your company website or professional profiles, a dedicated headshot session may give you exactly what you need.
If you're updating a dating profile, you'll probably benefit more from a varied collection of photographs than several versions of the same head-and-shoulders portrait.
If you're regularly creating online content, a larger social media image library may provide better long-term value.
There's inevitably some crossover between these areas, but starting with the purpose of the photographs makes choosing the right type of shoot much easier.
A professional photograph should show somebody at their best.
It shouldn't necessarily make them look like somebody else.
Whether the image is being used to attract a new client, make a dating profile more representative or build a stronger presence on social media, authenticity still matters.
People may eventually meet the person in the photograph, whether that's a potential customer, employer, colleague or date.
The best images therefore need to balance professional quality with personality.
Good lighting, composition and direction can make an enormous difference, but the finished photograph should still feel recognisable as the person being photographed.
The right photographer will depend on the type of photographs you need, how you want to use them and the style you're looking for.
For people who prefer natural photography rather than images that feel overly posed, it's worth looking closely at a photographer's existing work and the types of clients they regularly photograph.
Tommy McDevitt Photography offers professional headshots, dating photography and social media photography in London, with a focus on creating natural photographs of real people.
Whether you're refreshing your professional profile, improving your dating profile or building a bank of images for your personal brand, starting with what you need the photographs to achieve can help you choose the right type of photography session.
