You never know what kind of call you’re going to get.
Some days I pull on a vest to photograph an oil rig deep in West Texas. Other days I shake hands with CEOs in boardrooms while creating executive portraits in Houston. I’ve passed through Homeland Security to reach cargo ships at the Port of Houston and hiked miles through windmill fields with gear on my back. The variety makes this work so rewarding because it’s never predictable.
A Rush Request
Recently, a former client reached out. He was being featured and needed his headshot right away. There was no time to schedule a new session. He just needed the image fast. The challenge? His session had taken place back in 2015, a full ten years ago. He wasn’t sure I’d still have it. But I did.
Why I Keep Every File
Every image I deliver receives a unique serial number. Next to my desk sits a Synology NAS that holds more than two decades of my client archive. Every session I’ve photographed in the past 21 years—whether for a multinational firm or an individual—lives in that system. Organized, secure, and ready when needed.
I was actually out shooting when his message came through. By the time I returned to the studio, I had already located the file. I uploaded it to a secure gallery and sent it off, free of charge. He had what he needed. Simple as that.
The Art of Retouching
While I was digging through the archive, I found something interesting: a second version of the same image. I had marked it up for retouching with red annotations, something I don’t usually do. Normally, I retouch based on instinct rather than written markup. I’m not sure if the client requested it, or if the referral source did. Either way, it was rare but useful.
I’ve included both versions here. You can scroll between them, side by side, and see the differences. The retouching wasn’t a preset. It was a series of judgments—knowing when to use a tool and when to stop. That’s the art behind creating professional headshots and executive portraits in Houston that reflect both skill and subtlety.
Building Client Relationships
Clients often move on to new firms or leadership roles. That creates opportunities for updated sessions: classic in-studio headshots for the whole team, environmental portraits of senior partners, or consistent imagery for onboarding new hires. That’s where executive portraits in Houston play an important role. They support branding, strengthen first impressions, and bring consistency to professional identity.
Every time I can help a client in a pinch, it strengthens the relationship. And in my experience, strong relationships often lead to the most rewarding projects.
Ready for Your Session?
Whether you’re looking for a bespoke photography experience from consultation to final image, or you just want to book your in-studio or on-location headshot quickly, Solaris Studios has you covered.
Click the “Book Now” button at the top of any page on https://solarisstudios.com.
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