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:

I'm extremely grateful I got the chance to work with Ryuji who's very professional and creative, able to cultivate a rewarding and seamless photoshoot from the genesis. Essentially during the day of my photoshoot I was able to locate the studio without difficulty, parking at the meters right outside. Entering I met Ryuji in the lobby of the 15 Channel Center St Building which was set in a modern day artist haven. Riding the elevator up to Ryuji's studio together, he asked me what I wanted the pictures for and we went through the different outfits I had brought with me and ideas of how to shoot, suggesting styles, frames, backgrounds, and combinations, going over all of the many different options. I had chosen the package 2 for Corporate Headshot as I was looking to possibly switch industries and just wanted to have something to reference for a corporate setting in my portfolio as well as another style that was more laidback and informal; I was extremely pleased with the outcome! During the shooting I suggested to Ryuji that we play music throughout from the speaker/bluetooth system that was hooked up. Ryuji's collection of work was hanging on the walls engaging the studio overlooking the city horizon, really helped provide for a more dynamic experience. For someone who never does photoshoots and has a lot of anxiety around having their picture taken, I was able to really calm down, ease into the shoot and feel relaxed about having my picture taken. With Ryuji's direction and experience we went through all of the picture together and picked the best ones, I was very pleased about the end result and would recommend to anyone that would desire to update their LinkedIn or Social Media Accounts!
– Max R.
Ryuji is an outstanding photographer! He is very patient, has an eye for detail, and displays a keen knowledge of aesthetics. I was impressed with his professional demeanor when I was scheduling the initial consultation and photo-shoot appointment. He answered all of my questions and concerns. He made my first photo-shoot experience fun and stress free; he provides guidance throughout the shoot and has a great sense of humor, which helped me to relax and have fun! During the shoot, he asked me questions about my preferences for the look and lighting. He also showed me the digital images he was taking and asked me for my feedback on them---I really like that he involves you in the process of narrowing the photos you want to keep. He also provides fast turnaround for your finalized photos without ever sacrificing quality. On top of it all, I also paid a very reasonable price for my shots, which are of extreme high quality. I could not be happier!
– Olu I.
8 Dec 2013, by email
Working with Ryuji was a real pleasure. I did not anticipate having this much fun taking a business headshot! From the start he was incredibly friendly. It was easy to schedule an appointment (I called and he had time the following day) and when I arrived at his studio (which has very easy parking nearby) he immediately made me feel comfortable and relaxed. He helped me pick out the outfit that would look best and then gave me tips on how much make-up to apply so that it showed up best in the photos. And then he made me laugh for the photos, which helped me relax and take more genuine shots. After we were done shooting he spent considerable time fine-tuning the photo (including taking out all the lines on my face and red spots). The experience was far more enjoyable than I ever would have expected. I really cannot say more positive things about him!
– Tiffany C.