Tips and ways to prepare are included in your photoshoot confirmation email; for ease of access, these same tips are pasted below!
1) What do I need to prepare?
Photos: We recommend organizing your office the way you’d like to present it in the photos. If you want to stage your office, please do so before we arrive.
Video: Please prepare for the video. It will make the videoshoot much more enjoyable! Many therapists have found typing or writing out the script helpful, as well as practicing to your phone camera or mirror. Please note you cannot read the script during the shoot as it is obvious in videos when someone is reading. While we record one section at a time and you will have a chance to read your script in between takes, we recommend memorizing as much as possible. Below are suggested preparation questions. Please keep it shorter than 1min 30sec.
Examples: Gena Gorlin, PhD, Laura Lee, CPC, LCSW, Eitan Levin, LMHC
Some pointers
- Highlight your niche: In order to make each video unique and help clients understand why they should select your practice over any other, you may want to consider what skillsets or experiences set you apart from other therapists. While it is helpful to list challenge such as anxiety and depression, consider areas that you enjoy working with or are uniquely qualified to see. In the examples given, therapists highlight their specialties in perfectionism, obsessive compulsive disorder, and creating a safe space for persons of color. What small piece of knowledge can you share with clients in this clip so they already feel they’ve learned something from you?
- Avoid jargon and credential listing: Most clients don’t know what the different types of therapies such as “CBT” or “psychodynamic” mean; try to avoid jargon, and talk as if you’re explaining your practice to a friend in need. You may want to consider what a session with you actually feels like for a client. What skills will they learn? How are sessions structured? We also recommend against listing everything on your resumé. Remember to make this about the client and empowering them to feel that they’ve gained something from this video.
Structure of the video
- A brief self-introduction (e.g. "Hi, my name is Jane Doe and I'm a therapist in Boston.")
- What are your expertise areas? (e.g. "My areas of expertise include college mental health, perfectionism, shame..." or "I enjoy working with young professionals navigating...")
- Can you explain one of your specialties? (e.g. “Many individuals I see struggle with perfectionism. Perfectionism can be helpful at first but debilitating…”)
- How do you treat this? (e.g. “Working with me involves changing behaviors… we work at your own pace...”)
- What’s a message you’d share with clients? (e.g. “My practice philosophy is driven by the belief that recovery is possible…”)
2) Tips for photos?
- SMILE! :)
- Wear professional, colorful clothes that stand out against the color of your wall.
- Please do not wear stripes or patterns as they do not photograph well.
- Conservative, professional outfits photograph well.
- Make sure your outfit is clean and pressed.
- The camera accentuates facial shine. If you wear makeup, enhancing your normal makeup routine will translate well on camera and adding powder can cut down on shine in the photos.
3) What is your rescheduling / cancellation policy?
Like therapists, our photographers rely on scheduled appointments, so we have a strict rescheduling and cancellation policy.
- Rescheduling within 3-7 days of the scheduled photoshoot will be subject to a $60 rescheduling fee.
- Rescheduling within 48 hours of the scheduled photoshoot will be subject to a $90 rescheduling fee.
- Cancelling within 7 days of the scheduled photoshoot will be subject to a $90 cancellation fee.
By confirming a photoshoot with us, you agree to this policy. Thank you for your understanding!
4) What is your reshoot policy?
To ensure you're satisfied with the photoshoot, please make sure to be critical of your photos when we show them to you on the camera preview screen.
If you would like a reshoot, you can request a 50min photo and/or video reshoot for $99. All usage policies apply to images and videos from this reshoot.
Please note, loud noises (e.g. construction, talking in other rooms) typically cannot be removed post-production. Please ensure a quiet filming environment. As these are outside the photographers’ control, any reshoots required for these will be an extra charge for a full reshoot.
5) What is your video editing policy?
When we edit your video, we will combine your video clips in the order we record them with a 1 second transition in between and remove background noises to the best extent technically possible. Please note that due to the nature of video editing, we will not be able to accommodate specific edit requests (e.g. removing 'ums' or changing the order of clips). We also do not accept homemade videos at this time to maintain the consistency of user experience and aesthetics of our site. Thank you for your understanding!
6) Can I use the photos for personal use?
Yes! Zencare member providers can use their photos on their website and for promotional materials. However, we ask that you not use them on competing sites such as therapist and medical professional directories, as our on-site photoshoots are one of the features that make us unique and that users most appreciate. You can download the images directly from your profile. Please see here for details.
7) Can I use the video for personal use?
Yes! You can embed your video to your practice website. Please contact the Zencare support team for the embed code!
We often offer clinicians additional exposure and marketing by highlighting them on our social media accounts, such as Facebook and Instagram. If you do not wish Zencare to use your photographs on such additional marketing channels, or our photographers to use your photos in their portfolio, please let us know by email.