Barry Braunstein Photography

Barry Braunstein Photography Headshot and portrait photography that amplify's your business and personal brand First impressions are important.

I've been in love with photography ever since elementary school when I picked up my dad's Kodak Retina IIa camera. I find great joy in the process of creating and capturing memorable moments and drawing viewers into my photographs through storytelling. So, after a career in high tech sales and marketing, I decided to pursue my passion for photography, utilizing all that I've learned about working

with people, establishing relationships and trust, and telling stories that leave an impression. I work with my clients to create great photographs that deliver the look and message they want to communicate. As the subject of a portrait, a person's expression, body language, and "look" are all factors that affect how people react to an image. I work with each client to find authentic looks and gestures that will resonate with viewers and convey the appropriate message and emotion for that client's intended use of the photo. For example, headshots for a client whose company has a social or environmental focus will look very different from those for a client whose company sells military gear, and both will likely be driven by a different overall aesthetic than headshots for an aspiring artist.

Are you disqualifying yourself when applying for a job?I had an interesting discussion yesterday with a CEO of a startup...
07/22/2026

Are you disqualifying yourself when applying for a job?

I had an interesting discussion yesterday with a CEO of a startup who was looking to hire someone for a technical position. She received over 700 responses to the job posting and yet half of them immediately disqualified themselves by not following simple directions or basic protocol.

The job market is tough these days, particularly in certain markets, with more people looking for jobs than jobs available. And while it’s a bit of a numbers game, there are some basic things you should be doing to enhance your chances of landing that job you applied for.

First, be sure you’re LinkedIn profile is current, and clearly outlines what you’re looking for, what you’ve accomplished, and the value you bring/have brought. For white collar jobs in particular, LinkedIn is one of the major sources for candidates as well as jobs. Your LinkedIn profile is your online resume, and more. It is used by recruiters, HR, and hiring managers to find and initially screen applicants. People who take the time and effort to create a professional, well written LinkedIn profile generally demonstrates they’re serious about their career. And while AI can assist with this, be sure it’s your own voice and style. The AI tools can spot when content is generated by AI (and not you) and that’s not a good look.

Speaking of not a good look, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that means getting your headshot professionally done – yes, I’m biased, but your LinkedIn profile image is the first thing they will see when visiting your profile, so you want to look confident, professional, and approachable. A professionally done headshot amplifies the notion that you’re serious about your career and understand the importance of your image. And, despite what all the hype says, don’t use AI to take that photo of you at your cousins wedding and transform it into something better for $39 – first, that image likely looks an AI generated image and the person viewing it will likely sense that at some level – and then decide you go in the “no” pile. Moreover, it’s not really you – it’s what an algorithm computed to create an image that has no idea of who you really. That money you think you’ve saved now will cost you a lot more in lost income if you wind up in the “no” pile because the recruiter’s gut felt uncomfortable. To be clear, AI is great (I use it often as part of the editing process in Photoshop), but for very specific things. Look at the images below, all different looks with different first impressions – but they’re all real and you can feel it. A professional headshot photographer can help you create the right look that will give you a better chance of winding up in the “yes” pile.

Next, when applying for the job be sure to include whatever information they may have requested – in the case of the CEO, she asked for a cover letter, transcript, and resume. Over half the respondents didn’t provide all the information, or sent a generic cover letter – those immediately went into the “no” pile. Not exactly showing professionalism when applicants don’t follow directions or don’t take the time to at least customize the cover letter to highlight the value they bring to the specific position that is relevant to the stated requirements.

Finally, if you’re lucky enough to have been selected for an interview, be sure to be prepared with questions you have about the company, position, etc. that shows you did your homework. It’s also fair to ask what the next steps are, along with something like “when would be a good time for me to follow up with you”? In all likelihood the interviewer will say they’ll be in touch – but indicating you’d like to follow up emphasizes your interest in the position and at least tries to put the ball in your court.

When people visit websites when researching a company, the second most visited page is often the About page – they want ...
07/01/2026

When people visit websites when researching a company, the second most visited page is often the About page – they want to learn about the company and its leadership/employees.
And when someone checks you out on LinkedIn, the first thing they see when visiting your profile is your profile image. A strong LinkedIn headshot significantly boosts your professional credibility, making you up to 21 times more likely to be viewed and 9 times more likely to receive connection requests. It creates a crucial, positive first impression in as little as 80ms – that impression should include trustworthiness, confidence, and professionalism whether it be for potential clients, partners, or recruiters if you’re looking for a job.

So what makes a great headshot and why should you care?
Successful businesses and individuals understand the concept of branding, and the role it plays in marketing – it helps you be memorable, creates the best impression, and positions them against their competitors.
For branding to be effective, it needs to be consistent, of high quality, memorable. For a website, it needs to be clean, clear, direct, and easy to navigate. The messaging and overall look should speak to the target audience and leave a lasting, positive first impression – that the business is real, experienced, and understands their customer’s challenges.

And despite the advances in AI, businesses are still comprised of people – people make up the company culture, and what the company is. This is especially true for services oriented businesses where people are the “product”.
It’s also true for individuals – whether you’re a solopreneur someone looking for a job, or are serious about your career and want to be better known, you are the face of your business. So it’s important that you look the part – professional, approachable, competent in the headshots for your business and LinkedIn profiles.

Great professionally done headshots can influence how people perceive you or your business:
• Increased Visibility & Engagement on LinkedIn: LinkedIn Profiles with photos receive 21x more views and 36x more messages – you’ll be more visible.
• You Look Like a Professional (The "Halo Effect"): A high-quality headshot helps viewers perceive you as more competent, reliable, and intelligent. You look like you’re serious about your work/career
• Start to Build Trust: A professional headshot helps your profile seem more legitimate, which encourages connections and boosts credibility.
• You Become More Memorable – in a Good Way! That positive first impression will stick with the viewer

Expert headshot photographers can help you create the best image for your brand with expert lighting, posing and facial expression direction, clothing recommendations, backgrounds, and more.
Most importantly, they can help you relax and look your best - and look genuine, the latter of which an AI generated headshot has no concept of.

To illustrate the point, look at the images below – a before and after for each – which ones give you the better first impression? Now think about how many people may be visiting your profile page on LinkedIn or your website – which image would you want them to see if the images were of you or your team?

When it comes to marketing yourself or your business, you want to put your best foot forward – shortcuts or “it’s good enough” isn’t enough in a highly competitive world.

"You've Been Pooping All Wrong"That was what the caller said when I asked what the title of the book was she was writing...
06/10/2026

"You've Been Pooping All Wrong"

That was what the caller said when I asked what the title of the book was she was writing.

At first I thought it was a prank from a friend, but it wasn’t. And it’s something people don’t talk about yet is something many people deal with every day.

More importantly, it’s about the connection between the mind and the gut – have you ever noticed how your stomach (or other parts of your digestive system) behaves when you are about to have an important meeting, or talk? Or does your digestive system routine change when you travel?

I’ve long been curious about the connection between the mind and the gut (and how the body works in general), and Dr. Pasricha is an expert in this field. She’s a physician-scientist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. She’s also a columnist for The Washington Post, has been on CNN, as well as many podcasts, news programs, and more. Quite an impressive resume!

It’s a fascinating read – particularly where she dispels many of the myths and misconceptions people have about their habits, what’s normal, etc.. Dr. Pasricha blends humor and science together in a very readable, understandable way that anyone can understand.

She wanted to create some images for her website, as well as for the book jacket – she was a joy to work with, and we created a number of looks that emphasize different aspects of her brand – knowledgeable, experienced, caring, personable – she comes across as someone you would want to have a cup of coffee with, yet at the same time someone who “knows what she’s doing”.

Not sure I’m ready to follow all the advice she gives in the book (and won’t discuss specifically which one I’m resisting), but I definitely learned a lot and appreciate her passion. If you’ve every been curious about your digestive system, get this book!

I recently had the pleasure and honor of working with Shevchik, who is in the process of transitioning to being a civil...
06/03/2026

I recently had the pleasure and honor of working with Shevchik, who is in the process of transitioning to being a civilian and came to my studio via the for Patriots program – PfP is a non-profit nationwide organization of volunteer headshot photographers providing complementary headshots to transitioning military service members, their spouses and Gold Star families. Founded in 2019, we have provided well over $2M in portfolio images to our American patriots.

After graduating West Point with an Bachelors in Engineering degree, Joseph became a physician, serving with Army as an attending Physician, Medical Director, and most recently as a clinical research physician studying how people react to environmental extremes.

His LinkedIn profile says: “I am passionate about bridging science, performance, and prevention to help people live better, longer, and with purpose.” An important mission for sure, and after briefly working with him, I have no doubt he will continue to succeed – thank you for your service Joseph and best of success in your new mission!

Fair or not, you’re often judged in the blink of an eye.When people see an image of your staff or your executive team on...
05/20/2026

Fair or not, you’re often judged in the blink of an eye.

When people see an image of your staff or your executive team on your website, they decide whether you’re trustworthy, competent, and someone they may want to work with in as little as 80ms.

That initial impression then serves as a sort of filter through which the visitor explores more – if that impression is negative, they may not go further, or they may come away with a less than positive felling.

Having a solid first impression is important for any business, but particularly for services businesses, where people are the product.

Think about the last time you were searching for an attorney, CPA, physician, or marketing agency – chances are you went to the About Us or People page to see and learn about the principals, team, etc..

Now imagine your company was facing significant issues that were public in nature – you’d want to work with a firm that specializes in communications, crises management, strategy and reputation management, and global public affairs. One such company is FGS Global, whom I recently had the pleasure of working with.

They understand the value of reputation, image, and “walk the walk” – and wanted to update the headshots of the team in their Boston office. The branding of these images should show both confidence and approachability, which is in harmony with the work they do. They also are very engaged when working with their clients, so the energy they demonstrate in their headshots should reflect that. And we had a blast shooting!

The images from the sessions at their Boston office are shown below – the look is consistent with their branding, and their expressions amplify it. If you visited their website and saw these images of their staff, wouldn’t you want to engage in a dialog?

Imagine you’re enrolled in a clinical trial as a patient for a potentially life saving drug and the company runs out of ...
04/29/2026

Imagine you’re enrolled in a clinical trial as a patient for a potentially life saving drug and the company runs out of money and shuts down before the efficacy of the drug is determined. Biotech companies succeed or fail for many reasons (not unlike many companies), sometimes not related to the viability of the technology, but for other reasons.

Typical symptoms include consistently missed deadlines, cost overruns, frequent changes in strategy, and so on. Companies burn thru cash, try to recoup by accelerating already aggressive timelines
Often the root cause of these symptoms is more operational vs. science – how information flows, how work flows and is interconnected, and how decisions are made. Drug development is incredibly complex and requires the team to work together like a well rehearsed symphony orchestra.

Sigma Lab Consulting is a Boston area consultancy that helps companies perform like that orchestra, connecting people, processes, and technology so decisions come faster and progress flows naturally. Oscar Gonzalez and Lawrence Wong, principals, have developed a framework to help biotech companies to simplify how work gets done and decisions get made.

Boston Business Mentors (BBM) is a volunteer organization that provides free mentoring to small businesses, and has been working with Sigma Lab Consulting to help them grow their business. BBM will be running an ad campaign on Boston’s MBTA trains, and wanted images of Oscar and Lawrence for the campaign.

We wanted to show them as competent, knowledgeable, yet approachable – as an industry, biotech’s “vibe” is much like high tech; business casual, confident – but not “corporate”. The lighting we used was designed to have a slight level of drama/contrast as the work they do is serious. For their expressions, we decided on a slight smile along with a look that shows their confidence and experience. The dark background was chosen to direct the eye towards their faces/expression (the human eye is immediately drawn to lighter areas of a photograph).

Below is the final image for the poster in both B&W and color (the latter will be used on the poster) – what first impression do you get when you look at this image? Can’t wait to see this as a poster on the T!

How is your decision making, your personality change when you’re under stress? Are you better at what you do when you’re...
04/22/2026

How is your decision making, your personality change when you’re under stress? Are you better at what you do when you’re under stress? Are you more or less open to alternative solutions to problems? And how does your organization fare when under stress?

Some people handle difficult situations better than others – understanding this and providing an environment where people are more effective, proficient, and the organization functions better is an important aspect of how some organizations are better equipped to handle crises vs. others. This is particularly important when it comes to handling health related crises on a large scale.

Fortunately there are people like Dr. Sellers, who worked with geographically dispersed teams, coordinating high-volume clinical and operational services, and delivering mission-critical readiness outcomes under complex and resource-constrained conditions. Having served in the military in this capacity for his career to date, he’s in the process of transitioning to civilian life and needed to update his headshot. Dr. Sellers came to my studio via the Portraits for Patriots program, a nationwide non-profit organization of volunteer headshot photographers providing complementary headshots for transitioning military service members.

Dr. Sellers image reflects his confidence, experience, and dedication to his important work – Thank you for your service Dr. Sellers, and best of success in your future endeavors!

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