I was just chatting on the phone today with my new colleague (and increasingly pal) Maruxa Murphy.

During our chat she mentioned a photographer, Christina Morassi, who had a real gift for capturing people’s essence in her photographs and had some great before and after shots to prove it.

Now, I’ve written before about the importance of having a great headshot and given some before and after examples – but I don’t think you can have too many examples.

Somehow it feels like, in the ‘after’ photo, they let themselves dress more authentically. They wore clothes that expressed more deeply who they were. There’s something that feels a bit more real, warm and human – more authentic – about the setting chosen for the after photos.

When I look at the after photos I feel like I get a much better feel for ‘them’ and whether or not they’d be a fit for me. In some of the first photos there’s a sense of ‘trying’ to look good, professional, empowered but in the after photos – there’s more of a sense of them being relaxed, comfortable in their own skin and allowing who they are to show. The first ones seem ‘impressive’ but the afters feel beautiful.

What do you think about the difference?

Leave your comments below.