Capturing Moments of Influence: Insights from the US India Business Council - US Chamber of Commerce Meetings in St. Louis

#eventphotography #chamberofcommerce #stlouisbusiness #businessleadership

I had the honor of being part of a prestigious event that brought together some of the most influential figures in business and politics in St. Louis this past week. The US India Business Council meetings were a gathering of minds that aimed to strengthen relationships and create new opportunities for collaboration between the two countries.

One of the highlights was the luncheon at the Ritz Carlton, where the US Chamber of Commerce convened with business leaders from St. Louis. This gathering served as a platform for insightful discussions on Missouri governance and politics, strategic collaborations among Missouri business leaders, and the forging of new partnerships.

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft's presence added gravitas to the event, highlighting the importance of international business relations and India-US relations.

Missouri Secretary of State John R. (Jay) Ashcroft addresses the concerns of business leaders in St. Louis

Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge, Director of St. Louis Lambert International Airport, was also in attendance, bringing her wealth of experience in aviation management to the discussions. She has been at the helm of STL since January 2010, overseeing its role as the primary air carrier facility for the St. Louis region, serving more than 14.7 million passengers annually.

My goal as a corporate event photographer was to not only document the event but to also capture the emotions and interactions that were unfolding before me. More than just taking pictures, my role was about telling a story and immortalizing important moments. Challenges were inevitable, as the event was fast-paced and dynamic. I had to be quick on my feet, constantly adjusting my settings to ensure that each shot was perfect. However, these challenges only fueled my passion for photography, pushing me to strive for excellence.

As the day turned to evening and the guests moved to The Four Seasons for dinner, I knew that I had a unique opportunity to capture the magic of the event in a different light. The ambiance was elegant and sophisticated, with candles flickering and glasses clinking as toasts were made.

The evening continued with a dinner at The Four Seasons, where conversations delved deeper into economic opportunities, global partnerships, and the future of commerce between the US and India. Ambassador Atul Keshap led engaging discussions that explored avenues for growth and cooperation, emphasizing the role of diplomacy in fostering business ties.

Vivek Malek, State Treasurer of Missouri and a prominent figure in Missouri politics and business, sharing his inspiring vision and immigrant experience.

Looking back on the experience, I am filled with gratitude for being able to be a part of such a significant event. The connections made, the conversations had, and the moments captured will stay with me for a lifetime. Corporate event photography has a way of bringing people together, forging alliances, and creating lasting impressions. I am honored to have played a small role in this grand scheme of things, and I look forward to the next opportunity to capture moments that matter.

First Impressions and the Importance of a Great Headshot

"First impressions are lasting" understates the actual case. The first impression, with startling frequency, is also the final decision.

-You, Inc.: The Art of Selling Yourself, by Harry Beckwith and Christine K. Clifford

A 2006 study by Janine Willis and Alexander Todorov showed that people make a judgement about a person's likeability, trustworthiness, and competence, in one-tenth of a second. Furthermore, their research confirms that this first impression does not change with time.

In 2016, Vivian Zayas, professor of psychology at Cornell University, and her colleagues found that first impressions were formed simply from looking at a photograph predicted how people felt and thought about the person after a live interaction that took place one month to six months later.

This is an incredibly powerful argument for making sure your headshots are the best they can possibly be.

Headshot Impression Test on Photofeeler.com

I recently discovered Photofeeler.com and I think it’s a fun way to test out what kind of impression your headshot is making. Photofeeler crowdsources votes from real people who will score the photo on metrics like competency, likeability, and influence. Disclaimer: I’m not in any way associated with this service, but I do think it’s a useful tool.

Written by Henry David, St. Louis Headshot and Portrait Photographer

Studio Lighting and Mood

Small changes in studio lighting can dramatically change the mood of a portrait.

I recently had the pleasure of working with author Dr. Tahir Rahman, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Washington University in St. Louis.

Clamshell Lighting for Commercial Portraiture

Oxford University Press needed an approachable, commercial looking headshot to promote Dr. Rahman’s newest book.

We used a clamshell setup with a soft key light source above the subject’s face (the top part of the “clamshell”), and a broadly curved reflector for the lower part of the shell.

The key light above provides flattering wrap-around light, while the bottom fills in the shadows and smooths out the skin. I often find that adding a hair light opposite the key light adds depth and provides subtle background separation:

Commercial Portrait with Clamshell Lighting (Angler 48 inch BoomBox + Westcott Eyelighter + Gridded Hair Light)

Single Light Dramatic Portrait

By removing the reflector and hair light, we are left with just the key light. Moving the key light to one side of the subject’s face creates a classic Rembrandt lighting setup with deep shadows cast on the other side of the face. Removing a few light modifiers and changing the placement of our key light creates a profoundly different mood:

Single Light Dramatic Portrait (Angler 48 Octobox, feathered)

Post-Production

Lighting is paramount to controlling the mood of a portrait, but we can go one step further with editing and retouching in Photoshop. Black and White conversion, exposure reduction, contrast rebalancing, and detail enhancing all work together to add a sense of mystery and deepen the drama of the portrait:

Black and White Edit, Adobe Photoshop