TL;DR
Natural outdoor headshots let shy professionals get authentic, polished photos without stiff poses or studio setups. In this case study, Laura captured Gerry King on a relaxed walk along Newcastle Quayside. Making use of natural light and a conversational approach. The result was warm, approachable images that reflect his true personality. Outdoor sessions like this make updating your website or LinkedIn easy and stress-free.
Natural Outdoor Headshots
When you think about getting headshots, what comes to mind?
For many professionals – especially those who are more introverted or camera-shy – the idea of posing in front of a camera can feel awkward, uncomfortable, or even downright intimidating.
That’s exactly how Gerry King felt
In this case study, I’ll walk you through how we approached Gerry’s professional headshots photography session. We decided to capture natural outdoor headshots using a relaxed winter shoot by the Newcastle Quayside, designed to feel natural and pressure-free. If you’re someone who hates having your photo taken but knows it’s time to update your online presence, this is for you.
About this Case Study with Gerry
Meet Gerry: Calm, Kind (and Camera-Shy)
Gerry King is a small business owner with a calm and kind personality. He had created an online platform to help other small business owners DIY their own WordPress websites. His approach made things simpler and less stressful for people who often find tech overwhelming.
At the time of our shoot, Gerry wanted to elevate his online presence gently. He wasn’t rebranding or launching something flashy.
Instead, he simply needed updated images. They needed to feel authentic and professional. For his website, LinkedIn, and other platforms where he showed up.
However, like many professionals, he was nervous about being photographed. He wanted to avoid anything that felt stiff or overly staged. That’s where I came in.
The Goal: Headshots That Don’t Feel Forced
The brief was simple: create natural, approachable headshots that looked polished, but not posed.
This kind of session suits shy professionals perfectly. I recommended my 30-minute outdoor Professional Headshots offering. It’s designed to be short, relaxed, and conversational. There’s no studio, no intense lighting setup, and no big production.
Just you, me, and a chill walk with a camera.
The Setting: Newcastle Quayside in January
We met up on a typical January day in Newcastle. It was cold and a little wet, but still fairly bright. That’s actually a great mix for natural light photography.
Gerry wore a smart casual suit that suited both his personality and his personal brand. We began with a gentle walk along the Quayside and Swing Bridge area, pausing occasionally to capture moments that felt right. The cityscape offered texture and familiarity without being distracting. This allowed us to capture natural outdoor headshots without it feeling too forced.
Instead of jumping straight into the photography, we talked as we walked. This helped Gerry settle into the rhythm of the shoot and avoid that “on the spot” feeling many people dread.
What the Newcastle Quayside Shoot Was Like
This was booked as a 30-minute session. We allowed it to unfold a little longer. With our walking and chatting included, the whole experience took about an hour, and all of it was useful.
Because the session felt more like a casual walk than a formal shoot, Gerry was able to relax. That ease comes through clearly in the natural outdoor headshot results.
The Alan Sugar Moment
One highlight of the session came when I took a more dramatic close-up of Gerry. I couldn’t help but laugh. The joke was that it looked like one of those Alan Sugar opening shots from The Apprentice.
Instead of the London skyline, this one had the River Tyne in the background.
I even made some ridiculous “wooshing camera” sound effects to add to the drama. It broke the tension and gave us both a good laugh. A perfect reminder that photo sessions don’t have to be serious to be professional.
The Results: Real, Warm, and Professional
The final natural outdoor headshots captured Gerry exactly as he is. Calm, capable, and approachable.
They weren’t flashy or over-edited. They didn’t rely on props or dramatic settings. Instead, they showed what clients could genuinely expect when working with him. That kind of honesty is rare in business photography, and it’s incredibly valuable.
Here’s what Gerry had to say after seeing his final gallery:
I’d like to thank Laura for the great photoshoot experience she delivered for me. It was relaxed and productive. I was always going to hire her to do my headshots, her professionalism and creativity are second to none. I thought I was going to be nervous on our shoot day but Laura has a great way of making you feel relaxed and at ease, which I think has translated very well into the final results. I have no hesitation in recommending her. Gerry King – Funeral Director WebsitesI thought I was going to be nervous
Why These Natural Outdoor Headshots Work for Shy Professionals
Many people assume that a branding shoot has to be bold, loud, or packed with personality. But for shy professionals like Gerry, that’s not always the right approach.
Understated, natural headshots can be just as powerful, if not more so.
By keeping things relaxed and letting the real personality come through, the images feel trustworthy. They create a true-to-life first impression. And in today’s digital world? That matters more than ever.
Authenticity is Crucial (and complicated)
I always err on the side of authenticity. Especially when working with personal brands.
If you'd like to explore more about why that matters, I've shared my thoughts on authenticity here.
If you're on the shy side, there is another way to do this.
More Inspiration
I know – seeing is believing. That’s why I’ve pulled together a curated selection of past client work to show you what’s truly possible when we collaborate on your professional headshots.
Over the last 14 years, I’ve worked with hundreds of professionals: virtual assistants, consultants, creatives, coaches, and corporate leaders. Helping them go far beyond the typical boring headshot. Together, we’ve crafted striking, personality-rich imagery that supports not just how they look, but how they lead.
Take a closer look at the range of photography services in my portfolio, and imagine what we could create for your personal brand.
Final Thoughts about Natural Outdoor Headshots
Gerry’s natural outdoor headshots session proves that headshots photography doesn’t have to feel uncomfortable or overly polished. With the right approach, even a short outdoor shoot can deliver photos that feel real and work hard for your brand.
If you're nervous about stepping in front of the camera, know this: you’re not alone. And you don’t need to fake anything to get great results.
The Art of Distraction
Another way to overcome nerves
I worked with Simon Raybould on a shoot I intentionally designed to get him past his nerves and fear of being photographed. You can see how this personal branding photography shoot went down here.
Do you feel ready to Feel Seen?
I specialise in natural headshots for small business owners and shy professionals. Let’s chat about how we can make the process easy, comfortable, and 100% you. This is a zero-pressure way to simply see if I’m the right fit for what you are looking to create.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are natural outdoor headshots?
Natural outdoor headshots are professional photos taken outside in real natural light. They're designed to look relaxed, authentic, and approachable without stiff poses or studio setups. From time to time I may choose to boost the natural light with a reflector.
Who should get natural outdoor headshots?
Shy professionals, introverts, or anyone who finds studio sessions intimidating can benefit. These sessions capture your true personality. While keeping the process stress-free.
This is a really trendy way to tell more of a story about you through carefully chosen surroundings.
It's also a great way to get past the "dazzle" of bright flash photography. This can put people off.
How long does an outdoor headshot session take?
A typical session lasts around 30 to 60 minutes, including walking, chatting, and taking photos, allowing you to relax and get natural, candid shots.
On more complex shoots we can be out and about in different locations for the whole day.
If a shoot requires a particular natural element such as around tides, sunrise or sunset, this obviously impacts shoot duration and timescales.
Where is a good location for outdoor headshots?
Public spaces with natural light and minimal distractions work best. In this blog, Newcastle Quayside was used for texture, cityscape, and soft winter light. Gerry is proud to be from the north east and wanted to show this by being nearby local landmarks.
I always look for a route plan where different aspects, textures and surroundings can be used. When you can find the right area you can plan a shoot with hugely different backgrounds (but really, just walk down one or two streets). In the business, this is referred to as location scouting.
How can I look confident in front of the camera?
Relax, walk and talk during the session, wear clothing that reflects your brand, and trust your photographer to guide you. Short, conversational sessions help you appear authentic and approachable.
I'm always the biggest goofball on a shoot. I do this to help detract attention away from the person being photographed. Especially in public. In most smiling shots you see in my portfolio its my clients laughing at me, naturally.
