How It Works - Interactive
A guided process from your first inquiry to a final image that’s ready to use.
How Professional Headshots Come Together
A guided process from your first inquiry to a final image that’s ready to use.
Rachel Alves is a Seattle-based professional photographer with over 27 years of experience behind the lens, specializing in headshots, personal branding and portraits.
Session Details & Policies
Session Types
Choose from One Great Headshot or the Signature sessions depending on your needs.
One Great Headshot: Standard retouching included.
Signature Headshot: Collaborative retouching, you choose the finish.
Payment & Booking
Payment in full is required to secure your booking. 50% of session fee is non-refundable if you cancel.
Turnaround
Final retouched images are delivered the same day as your shoot, ready to use immediately.
1. How does the process start?
Start with the inquiry form so I can learn what you need your images for and the type of session you're considering. I'll follow up with a short questionnaire to pin down the details One Great Headshot , more variety, personal branding images, or help choosing the right fit.
2. How do I choose and book a session?
We confirm the right session, and a quick discovery call if it helps and then pencil in your date.
To secure it, you pay in full at booking; if you cancel 7 days or earlier you can reschedule, 50% is non-refundable. That holds your spot and lets us begin preparing.
3. What do I need to do to prepare?
Once you're booked, I'll send a simple prep guide - what to wear, colors that photograph well, grooming notes, and what to bring so you arrive relaxed and camera-ready.
4. Can I see retouching options before we shoot?
Most of us have something we'd rather not see in a photo - a double chin, under-eye circles, a blemish,
a crooked smile. Whatever it is, you tell me and I'll show you a quick before-and-after of how we can soften or remove it. Once you know it can be softened naturally, you can let it go and move through the session with more ease.
5. What happens during the shoot?
We start with wardrobe by reviewing the looks you brought and narrow them to the strongest two or three, then photograph each so we can see what photographs best. From there we settle into the shoot: dialing in the light, finding the angle that feels most like you, and noticing the small things that make an image work. Through easy conversation, subtle adjustments, and real-time review, we create your final image together; no oversized gallery, no guesswork, no second-guessing later.
6. When do I get my final images?
Once the image is selected, we finish it together. You choose how much or how little retouching feels right, so the final headshot still looks like you just refined. Delivered the same day.