About us

Headshot photography has become an unexpected passion that he didn't realize could be so rewarding and creative!  Rob Sandberg is a professional headshot photographer in California. He's best known for the genuine expressions he captures for his corporate, actor, and other professional headshots.  He will take you from the typical anxiety of taking your photo, to realizing you just took the best headshot or portrait of your life.  He prides himself on creating an environment that quickly puts his clients at ease and having a great time before they realize it's even happening!

What can I expect?

A welcoming environment, period. Absolutely no pressure. There is no time limit. I book a maximum of two sessions a day, so there is no rush. We have lots of time to try different outfits, backgrounds, and lighting. It’s not unusual for me to shoot 150-200 frames in a session, reviewing images as we go, to make sure we’re capturing exactly what you want. At the end of the session, we review the shots one more time and keep only the best that meets both your approval and mine, usually 120-150 frames. From there, you pick your favorites for retouching. It’s that easy.

The Basics

Get a good night’s sleep, drink plenty of water, eat healthy, breathe deep. Maybe do a few sun salutations. Arrive early with the expectation of having a good time. You will do great. We are a team and I have your back.

What to wear

It’s your story so bring what you love. Our focus is shoulders and up, so bring a variety of tops. Solid bold colors with simple necklines work best. Add a mixture of professional and casual, funky and cool, layers and textures. Try to avoid loud patterns, lumpy, baggy, or loose clothing, and anything wrinkled - unless, of course, this your vibe. If you’re going for a business look, I suggest you bring at least 2 jackets, 3-4 shirts, and a few ties (if you still wear them). Well-tailored and slim-fit jackets are ideal. Solid colors for dress shirts work best if worn with a jacket, otherwise, textures and patterns work great.

Pro tip:  I can't shoot it if you don't bring it.

Hair/Makeup-I always recommend hiring a professional hair/makeup artist-I can make recommendations if you need help finding someone

Makeup

It’s best to arrive with your makeup ready to go. Less is more, here. A fresh natural look is always a great choice, as we can add more drama as the shoot progresses. Here are some awesome tips for a great headshot: 

· liquid foundation is better than powder

· keep the lip color close to your natural lip color or one shade darker and glossy

· go easy on the blush

· eyes should look defined, but natural, with soft blended eyeliner

· neutral color eyeshadow is usually best

· blend, blend, blend ... then blend some more

Things to avoid!

· visible hard-edge lip liner

· hard-edge liquid eyeliner or 'cat eyes'

· harsh lines or heavy smoked-out eyeshadow

· false eyelashes or clumpy mascara

· penciling in eyebrows with a harsh line

· too much blush or dramatic lip color

· tonality differences between areas with and without makeup

· glitter

If you don't normally wear any makeup, that's cool too! I do recommend a facial moisturizer of some kind so we don't have any dry skin issues.

Lips

Lips are so important they get their own section. Please moisturize your lips (guys, especially you!) - in fact, start moisturizing a few days before your photo session. Dry, chapped lips do not retouch well. You’ve been warned.

Hair

Clean, dry hair done the way you normally wear it (on a good hair day) works best. Hairstyles are extremely personal and only you know how you like to wear them best. If you need a haircut or color touch-up, please be sure to get this done at least two or three days before your session. If you have long hair, we will likely shoot some with you in a ponytail, so bring what you need. For those shaving, make sure you shave well the morning of your session. If you want a little scruff or have a full beard, that's cool too - make sure your edges are nice and clean! If you would like to get some shots with and without facial hair, feel free to bring your grooming products and you can shave part-way through your session to get some different looks. 

And be sure to pluck or trim any pesky chin, nose, and ear hairs. 

Accessories

***If you wear glasses, bring every pair. Some coatings do better under the lights than others***

Done right they give tons of personality. They can also be distracting. Best to bring a range of options to tell your story.