The Heart Behind the Headshots: Why Seeing People Fully Matters

In every headshot I take, I’m trying to do something more than capture a professional image. I’m trying to see someone—their confidence, their character, their essence—and help them see it too.

That belief in the power of being seen didn’t come from a textbook or a photography course. It began at an early age, I was shy and I didn’t have much to say, but I did notice everything. I learned to look beyond the surface and see people for who they are. That gift has guided me ever since.

That early awareness, the ability to truly see someone, has guided me not only as a photographer, but also as a person. It’s what led me to co-found a nonprofit called the Education and Safety Alliance for Girls (ESAG).

Through ESAG, we support children in India, mostly girls, who have experienced abandonment, trauma, and neglect. By providing education, meals, emotional care, and a stable home environment, we help them reclaim a sense of safety, dignity, and hope.

When I visit the children at the Happy Home Trust orphanage, I bring my camera. Not to document their pain—but to reflect their strength, their joy, and their wholeness. I photograph them the same way I photograph my headshot clients: with intention, with care, and with the belief that every human deserves to be seen in their best light.

These two worlds, my photography business and my nonprofit work, may seem different. But they are deeply connected. They remind me every day that a headshot is more than a photo. It’s a chance to say, “This is who I am. I belong here.”

You can learn more about ESAG at esagusa.org. Thank you for letting me bring all of who I am into what I do. ~ Jen