Karen L Richard Photography

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of business development at a general contracting company. We handle different projects like roofing, siding, painting, and more. Anything dealing with exteriors, we handle.

What challenge were you trying to address with Karen L Richard Photography?

We wanted to bring cohesiveness to our brand by having images of our employees and our team as part of our marketing efforts.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We told Karen (Owner) that we wanted headshots of each employee for our social media accounts and our email pictures. Karen pretty much ran the project from there; she took it upon herself to do industry research to see what other competitors in our area were doing and advise us on best practices. Then, she took photos of the team.

She gave a bunch of good suggestions on things that we could do moving forward, like how we can maximize branding through her services. She also provided photos of the entire team together in different formats, so we were able to use them for things like Christmas cards.

We made an arrangement so if we have new employees that we add to the team, we're going to send them to her and she's going to photograph them with consistent headshot formatting.

What is the team composition?

We worked directly with Karen.

How did you come to work with Karen L Richard Photography?

I found Karen on the Nextdoor application. I was looking for somebody who did corporate branding photography, and her name came up. I reached out to her and we had an initial meeting. From there, we were able to set up a time for the whole team to go to her studio. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested somewhere around $1,600 for the headshots. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working in September 2020, and it’s ongoing. We also discussed maybe doing some environmental shots with clients and other services in the future. 

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We work in an industry where it's really hard to put faces to the service we provide, and we wanted to bring that human component to our brand. We’re a small business, and thanks to the work of Karen, we have the right presence on social media for each of our team members. It has been huge for us to have it. Our employees go to people's homes, and we want the clients to feel good about who they're working with. From that standpoint, it's been very valuable.

How did Karen L Richard Photography perform from a project management standpoint?

Karen has been very easy to reach. We can text, email, or call her. She's always accessible and very responsive. I can expect to get a response from her the same day. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Her studio is beautiful. It's really cool and unique. She has an area where we could rest, and she offers coffee, water, and drinks.  She's very inviting and a very good person to work with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Not that I can think of. Since we started working together, I’ve seen her ramp up her efforts on platforms like LinkedIn, where she really showcases what she's good at.  She’s grown that tremendously since we started working together, and she does a phenomenal job with that site.

Any advice for potential customers?

You're going to have a really good experience working with her. She’s seasoned so she knows she knows what her job entails. She's great at doing research on her clients and adapts really well to her clients’ needs.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Technology Marketing Toolkit is a Sales & Marketing Company for IT Firms and at the time we booked Karen for our Team Headshots I was in the position of Operations Assistant but have since promoted to Database Administrator.

For what projects/services did your company hire Karen L Richard Photography?

Our client facing Sales Reps primarily needed uniform, updated headshots for email signatures and client correspondence.

What were your goals for this project?

We were aiming to have professional headshots for everyone on the team who communicates frequently with clients.

How did you select Karen L Richard Photography?

We were seeking a local photographer with good reviews and chose Karen based on that criteria.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Karen was good at communicating ahead of time to sort out scheduling details and location requirements. She also communicated effectively while shooting everyone and had a friendly attitude that made people feel more comfortable while still keeping professionalism and efficiency at top of mind.

What was the team composition?

Karen single-handedly managed all equipment and set up on-site at our office.

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We have noticed feedback from prospects and clients showing their confidence and trust in our services and our company as a whole. I believe the uniform headshots help give this impression to them.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Karen was punctual and handled all touch-up requests quickly and those who needed touch ups were satisfied with the edits she made.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was impressed with how Karen kept everyone on schedule even while working around our staff having to switch spots due to calls/meetings coming up.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We were satisfied with her work and recommend her to teams in need of good-looking headshots.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Media Director of a PR firm, also leading external marketing and branding efforts.

For what projects/services did your company hire Karen L Richard Photography, and what were your goals?

Headshots for multiple new employees, matching style and lighting of previous employee headshots taken by another photographer.

How did you select this vendor?

LinkedIn!

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

1-2 hour headshot session, photo editing and final deliverables within 3 business days.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

1, Owner

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Photographs match perfectly in style and lighting with previous headshots. Karen always gave us a blank background to use in case we need to mock up headshots quickly.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Karen was very flexible and controlled the whole process.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The flexibility of a last-minute appointment and the way she communicated her processes and was able to engage our employees during headshots.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Nope!

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Director of Business Development for a large international accounting and advisory firm located in Nashville, TN.

For what projects/services did your company hire Karen L Richard Photography, and what were your goals?

I wanted to update my professional bio and headshot.

How did you select this vendor?

She was referred to me by someone I know and trust on LinkedIn.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

She provided me with guidance on my bio as well as multiple headshots to use.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

It was just Karen and myself.

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

I received a lot of positive feedback from contacts and co-workers.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Karen's was completely professional and easy to work with. Their communication skills were great, and they delivered the product on time.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Karen is a complete professional at what she does.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Nothing.

Please describe your company and your position there.

CEO & Principal Consultant of a business consulting firm

For what projects/services did your company hire Karen L Richard Photography?

Individual Headshots & Team Pictures

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted a series of headshots to use on both hard copy and web materials.

How did you select Karen L Richard Photography?

Karen was highly recommended by individuals in our network.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

See above - individual and team photography.

What was the team composition?

We worked with Karen directly.

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Each of us had a series of individual headshots to choose from. Karen superimposed those shots to form multiple team photos.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The dynamic between Karen and our team was fantastic! They had a talent for capturing folks' authentic selves from behind the camera.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Karen was the most impressive part of the company. Her expertise exceeded master photographer into branding, promotion, and SEO. BUT her studio and the facilities she works in were quite impressive, as well. Complete with makeup / changing area, multiple backgrounds, waiting / viewing area.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No. Due to my own choices in makeup / hair, I was not satisfied with my pictures. Karen worked with me to ensure I had the perfect picture before parting ways with our team.