Boston photographer for hero portraits and creative portraits

Hero Shots

Editorial-style portraits rich in details telling your story in the environment. Usually on location. Requires extra planning.


When you are featured on a magazine article, or if you have a website featuring your professional solo-practice, the editorial portrait is most likely putting yourself as the centerpiece. Your portrait may have much to do with your professional life, but it is primarily about you, your world view, and your attitude toward your role. Hero shots are contrary to typical corporate photography because the latter reduces your story to a generic image of your role or position in the company hierarchy (headshots) or visual cliché of what might happen in a company. Imagine a young woman operating a pipette in a biomedical company, or a young man sitting at a trading desk, or a few lawyers sitting at a conference table in front of a big bookcase. Those are not a very good hero shot unless there’s a unique story about it.

Hero shots are photographed in a way that maximally relates to the editorial story. So, it is usually photographed on site, or location, in a place that relates to the story. If it’s about your career, you might photograph at where you started it, where you are, or perhaps where you want to be at the end. It is rather uncommon to shoot it in the studio or unrelated location unless you want a very clean-cut, simple image.

In this age, many high-level professionals perform the majority of their work on computers, mobile devices, meeting rooms, and most generic or uninteresting situations. How often did you see a photograph of MacBook next to a mug cup of coffee in a cute office desk? Boring! Hero shots should not look like a stock photo. No one said that, but that’s an obvious point. You need to organize your thoughts and provide an abridged version of your story so that we can think through this process together.

Typically, hero portraits are used as an editorial material or a design base on which text and other graphics may be laid. Therefore, these images are often composed with about one-half of the space unoccupied by the main subject. If the picture is meant to fill a magazine spread, the photo is usually taken horizontally, avoiding the face around the midline, and with an empty space in one side. If the picture is used in one full page or 1/4 page, it’s usually vertical.

If you are using the pictures on your website, it’s best to do the rough design first to identify the spaces and sizes you have for photos. Then think about what kind of pictures would work well for each of those spaces.

Service & Pricing

Don’t expect this shoot to be the same as standard corporate headshot work. This is for people who really know themselves and communicate about it.

Please inquire about pricing, etc. There are many variables.

Talk to the photographer and book your session now.

Editorial portraits can be arranged by an individual professional, an editor, or an agency. The price varies depending on the location, logistics, the scope of the work, any additional components like retouching work and professional makeup artist. The cost typically increases with the complexity of the work, so it is helpful if you send adequate information when inquiring. Booking a shoot requires advance payment.

If your work requires copyright buyout or work for hire contract, we are willing to consider that requirement, but the price will be adjusted accordingly. Please be upfront about it at the time of inquiry.

RETOUCHING: for all headshot packages, natural look retouching is charged per image, depending on the work needed. You can decide the retouching option after reviewing the pictures.

MAKEUP: professional makeup is available. The makeup artist will provide custom natural look makeup and light, finishing hair styling. If you need elaborate hair styling, we recommend you go to your regular hair stylist first; if the hair gets messed during your travel, the makeup artist can finish the hair. If the session takes longer, you have an option to pay for the extra time or release the makeup artist.


Talk to the photographer and book your session now.

Sample Work Gallery

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Add-on options

Magazine-quality retouching is very common for a publicity photo, as it can significantly improve your impression. It removes temporary skin blemishes, lightening under eye circles and wrinkles. The price starts at 60/image. We usually perform retouching while you watch, a very detailed work that you won’t get bored watching. Since BEAUPIX does a lot of demanding fashion and beauty photography with in-house retouching, we have the level of skills that very few headshot photographers have. If you are particularly conscious about your facial features, a heavier retouching, such as facial contour correction (e.g., slimming face or fixing double chin) is also available.

For female professionals, good natural look makeup is essential. If you are comfortable doing makeup yourself, it is usually sufficient, but otherwise, the studio can arrange an experienced makeup artist for your session at an additional cost, starting at 200.

It is possible to take your headshot in the studio, and swap the backdrop with another picture, for example, a scenic image. There are pros and cons of this approach, so if you think this is your route, please make sure to discuss this option with the photographer in advance.

Retouching to Perfection

Retouching to Perfection

Magazine-like retouching makes your headshot flawless, while maintaining natural skin and realistic finish.

Read More →
Professional Makeup in Studio

Professional Makeup in Studio

A professional makeup artist enhances your experience & the photographic outcome. The difference will show for years.

Read More →

Testimonials

We received so many reviews from former clients; please visit a separate testimonials page for full list. Here’re some:

Ryuji is a fantastic photographer and did a wonderful artistic job - I say this speaking as a professional musician. He is very easy and fun to work with and knows exactly how to capture the personality and emotion of the person he's working with. Strongest recommendation.
– John S.
I went to Beaupix for an actor headshot, and also for a couple of photos I could use for my music website (I am also a singer). I chose to have my pictures done with Ryuji because he seemed to have it all figured out. First of all, the photos on his website spoke for themselves... but the reviews were also very good and pointed to a few other key things I was looking for: not only a skilled photographer, but also someone who was down to earth, could accomodate me quickly, had a makeup artist, and would take my project seriously. All of these things were true and it made a big difference. The makeup artist was also very nice and talented. In addition, Ryuji's studio is conveniently located next to "Shag" hair salon which is top-notch (and very reasonably priced). Going through all of the photos at the end of the session was also extremely helpful for me and I don't think I could ever have done that on my own! I am very happy with how my photos came out!
– C. F.
Framingham, MA on yelp.com

3/3/2011
I had never gotten headshots before, but Ryuji put me at ease and did an excellent job. I am very happy with the results. Not only does he have an expert eye when it comes to lighting, setting, posture, etc., he was able to coach me along the way to help bring out my most natural and photogenic self.

At one point, when he noticed me stiffening up and feeling nervous, he gave me the control and empowered me to look into the camera and take the shots, myself. This evolved into us playfully doing simple movement exercises prior to each photograph being taken. As a dancer, I totally appreciated this and noticed that it subtly informed each photo, so that there was a quiet sense of excitement and personality.

During the process of sifting through the proofs and making choices, I trusted his eye, and ended up with photographs that I am very happy with. I would highly recommend Ryuji without hesitation.
– K F.