Every couple of years, when the priests of the Diocese of Knoxville are having a quarterly meeting everyone is coming to town (our diocese is quite widespread in geography, extending from Virginia to the north, North Carolina to the east, Georgie/Alabama to the south and into Middle Tennessee to the west, such that two of our parishes are in the Central Time Zone while the rest are in the Eastern Time Zone). It is a good time, then, to stop each priest as they enter the meeting and direct them to sit for a new headshot. Priests’ looks change with time and new priests get added, so it must be done.

But this is at a meeting, as I said. So the process has to be fast and not inconvenience them. I set up an on-the-go studio in the lobby of the parish hall where they would be meeting, really in a tiny space - but it was enough to get the job done. And done quickly.

I should add, most of the priests know me and I get a lot of teasing when they see this. “Oh, it’s picture day!” or “Gosh, had I known I would have gotten my hair done!” But a lot also remark, “Boy, that was painless - thanks!” Just as with groomsmen and a lot of other males, truth is they are not thrilled to get their picture done but recognize they have no choice. Always, always leave them happy.

OUTTAKES:

Things to Remember with Grab-n-Go Headshots (That I Wish I Enforced)

1. Warn them ahead of time that it will be picture day so wear your jacket.

2. Empty all pockets - no pens, no cell phones peeking out.

3. Those wearing transitional lenses wait 15 minutes before getting in line to have your lenses adjust to indoors.

4. Clowning permitted . . . for the first few seconds.

Sixty-three headshots with little fuss or bother. Some headshot clients require more time, especially when there may be clothing changes or different looks needed, e.g., a “corporate” look versus one for fundraising or conference speaking.

But sometimes it is a case where, “Hey, my employees are spread all over this earth but everyone is coming together for this meeting and we need to have everyone’s headshot updated - can you make it easy?

Yes. Yes, I can.