Pissed off at professional portrait photographer

[CharlesAlexander]

Originally Posted by Phat Guido

- My corporate pic is of me brushing my teeth!

Pic?

 

[constant struggle]

Originally Posted by bmulford

At least they didn't remove the square. Although I can only imagine the internal dialog you were having with yourself when he said your jacket was too big, and you should have shirts made for you.

I would have been fuuming...

 

[GuidoWongolini]

Originally Posted by CharlesAlexander

Pic?

- It started as a joke as I am OCD about being clean & the amount of times I walk around with my TB past clients have been legendary.. So they thought why not
- I was never around when the photographer was around so I just sent them these - all taken in Ed's office..

 

[mdg137]

Originally Posted by mafoofan

First of all, the photographer forced me to flatten my tie and tie knot. He said that it looked too "three-dimensional" and that it would look best completely flush against my chest. He then complained that there was too much shadow behind my shirt collar and that I should look into getting shirts made for me that fit right. Now it looks like I'm wearing a goddamned clip-on.
Did you get a chance to see what the images looked like with the offending shadow? Obviously, that doesnt excuse the commentary by the photographer, but the shadow may be a legitimate concern. When I was in law school, because I am a photographer, I was often conscripted to take portraits for various reasons-- once for a colleague who was running for congress. It has been my experience that subjects rarely take into account the two dimensional aspect of viewing a photo vs. the three dimensional aspect of "in person". That being said, it sounds like this photographer tried to shoot something to present a uniform set of images for everyone... In a similar situation, I would have tried my best to work around the offending shadow, and position you properly. This is why, when you look at most of my work, my models rarely wear ties. Or much at all for that matter.

 

[CharlesAlexander]

^lol, nice shirt and tie combos, I actually think I am wearing the same shirt today that you were in the second pic.

 

[TheFoo]

^^^ He didn't like the way my collar wasn't more flat against my neck.

 

[TC (Houston)]

Hahaha, that's pretty bad but nothing too unusual. Our photographer actually photoshopped my hair to "clean it up". Clients and friends always get a big kick out of my pic on the website, it's not very representative of what I look like in person.

Officemates? Yikes, that's rough!

 

[bmulford]

Originally Posted by mafoofan

^^^ He didn't like the way my collar wasn't more flat against my neck.

maybe ask him to join SF. Sounds like he'd enjoy bringing his brand of snark to the WAYW threads.

 

[Orsini]

Originally Posted by mafoofan

This morning we had to take professional photos to put up on the firm website. I wore a dark suit, a blue spread collar shirt, a tie in a four-in-hand knot, and a pocket square. First of all, the photographer forced me to flatten my tie and tie knot. He said that it looked too "three-dimensional" and that it would look best completely flush against my chest. He then complained that there was too much shadow behind my shirt collar and that I should look into getting shirts made for me that fit right. Now it looks like I'm wearing a goddamned clip-on. Second, he complained that my jacket was too large and forced me to sit so that the fabric spread out instead of "wrinkling." Third, he insisted on getting me to smile a big goofy one so that I would look "more professional." The result: I look like a really junior member of a high school Young Republicans Club.
Should have doused him with boiling grits... Seriously, you have to stand up to these guys. Somethng like "Bleep you, bleepbleep!" at the top of your lungs might do it.

 

[dirk diggler]

Originally Posted by mafoofan

This morning we had to take professional photos to put up on the firm website. I wore a dark suit, a blue spread collar shirt, a tie in a four-in-hand knot, and a pocket square.

First of all, the photographer forced me to flatten my tie and tie knot. He said that it looked too "three-dimensional" and that it would look best completely flush against my chest. He then complained that there was too much shadow behind my shirt collar and that I should look into getting shirts made for me that fit right. Now it looks like I'm wearing a goddamned clip-on.

Second, he complained that my jacket was too large and forced me to sit so that the fabric spread out instead of "wrinkling."

Third, he insisted on getting me to smile a big goofy one so that I would look "more professional."

The result: I look like a really junior member of a high school Young Republicans Club.

Sorry to hear that. I got lucky when I took my new company photo - the photographer remarked he was glad I wore a square

 

[Orsini]

Originally Posted by bmulford

...when he said...you should have shirts made for you.
He said that? Send out the hunter-killer teams! Goddamn, these guys are a pain!

 

[voxsartoria]

If it makes you feel any better, here are some of my goofy work shots from about four years ago that get used in our publications and online. Our guy is fond of the tilt.

I'm apparently due for a reshoot in the next month or so.

- B

 

[overdog]

Originally Posted by mafoofan

This morning we had to take professional photos to put up on the firm website.
Consider yourself lucky to work for a NY firm that lets you have a profile page with an actual photo. At some firms I have seen, you only get a photo on the website when you make partner.

 

[MiltonStone]

I suppose this is what you looked like before the photographer got his hands on you: http://mfanblog.blogspot.com/2008/10/snapshot-3.html

 

[bluemagic]

One more reason to make partner.