Simple gets confused sometimes with plain. But the two words convey different meanings. Plain implies boring. Simple connotes fresh, clean, and authentic–without extraneous elements or need for explanation. For Annie, simplicity reflects the purity of her beautiful face and her sweet, friendly disposition. She’s a gorgeous girl with a smile for miles and freckles that add to her charm. Though she is a blossoming sophisticated young woman, her natural expressions convey her youthful way of being.

Annie needed professional head shots for a school application. And head shots speak for the person whose photographs must give a meaningful impression to those who view them. Planning for a head shot session begins with knowing what the client wants her photos to say. Annie wanted to show her look, her character, and some range of mood and emotion. In order to achieve a polished feel without being either too basic or, on the other hand, overstated, everything in this shoot was kept simple. Wardrobe, makeup, jewelry, lighting, and background worked to keep the focus on Annie, the applicant. She needed to stand out, but not appear to be showy.

Annie’s head shots were meant to be an introduction to her personality. They promote her upbeat and easygoing temperament as well as her academic potential and attention to details. And while a lot of thought was put into them ahead of time, they’re really pretty simple.