st louis photographer

Cost-Efficient ERAS Residency Headshots and Video Clips

The Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) demands strict adherence to visual standards. Simultaneously, the rise of virtual interviews and digital program marketing has made high-quality video clips an absolute necessity.

Achieving production excellence doesn’t have to drain your annual budget. By understanding how to streamline the production process, institutions can secure pristine ERAS headshots and compelling video assets cost-effectively.
The Strategic Value of Standardized ERAS Visuals

Medical marketing and GME decision-makers often face a dual challenge: ensuring applicants look professional while simultaneously marketing their own residency programs to top-tier medical talent.

For the Applicants: A non-compliant or poorly lit headshot can inadvertently signal a lack of professionalism. ERAS has rigid technical specifications regarding dimensions, aspect ratios, and file sizes.

For the Programs: High-quality video clips—such as “day-in-the-life” snippets, faculty introductions, or virtual department tours—are the most effective tools for attracting elite residents in a digital-first recruitment era.

Investing in these assets independently can lead to fractured branding and inflated costs. The key to cost-efficiency lies in production convergence.
3 Strategies for Cost-Efficient Photo and Video Production
1. The Hybrid Session Model (Batch Processing)

The most significant expense in commercial media production is often the setup and breakdown of equipment. By utilizing a hybrid studio setup, a professional media team can capture high-resolution ERAS headshots and record high-definition video clips during the exact same session.

While the subject is positioned under professional portrait lighting, transitioning to a brief video interview or a quick “meet the resident” clip takes only moments. This slashes per-capita production costs significantly.
2. Repurposing Media Assets

Do not view an ERAS shoot as a single-use project. High-quality photography and video branding captured during these sessions can be repurposed across multiple platforms:

Hospital internal directories and intranet systems.

Graduate Medical Education website updates.

Social media spotlight campaigns.

Brochures and recruitment presentations.

3. Streamlined Post-Production via Advanced Workflows

Post-production can quickly become a bottleneck. By partnering with a production team that leverages the latest in Artificial Intelligence (AI) for automated color grading, background standardization, and audio cleaning, turnaround times are drastically reduced, saving hours of costly labor.
Technical Specifications: ERAS vs. Digital Video Clips

To maintain efficiency, your production partner must be well-versed in the precise file types and styles required by modern medical media platforms. Here is how to approach each format for maximum efficiency:
ERAS Headshots

The Standards: Requires a 2.5 x 3.5-inch image with a light gray or white background, strictly framed from the shoulders up.

Best Practice for Efficiency: Capture these on a high-resolution digital format. This allows for flexible cropping during post-production so the exact same image can be utilized for both official ERAS submission and standard hospital badges.

Program Video Clips

The Standards: Requires clean 1080p or 4K resolution with clear audio and a properly balanced ambient soundscape.

Best Practice for Efficiency: Record in a highly controlled acoustic environment. Managing background noise during the shoot eliminates the need for time-consuming and expensive audio fixes in post-production.

Social Snippets and Shorts

The Standards: Requires a vertical 9:16 format with concise messaging kept under 60 seconds.

Best Practice for Efficiency: Shoot horizontally in 4K resolution. This provides the editing team with enough pixel density to crop the video into a vertical format without any loss in visual quality.

Pro-Tip for GME Directors: When scheduling your photo and video day, create a strict block schedule. Providing applicants and faculty with clear wardrobe guidelines (such as wearing solid colors and pressed white coats, while avoiding fine patterns) minimizes on-set delays and ensures visual consistency across your entire department.

Partner with the Experts: The St Louis Locations Advantage

Navigating the logistics of medical media production requires a partner who brings both deep creative expertise and technical precision to the table. St Louis Locations is a full-service professional commercial photography and video production company equipped with the right tools and an experienced creative crew to guarantee successful image acquisition every time.

Since 1982, St Louis Locations has collaborated with numerous businesses, marketing firms, and creative agencies in the St. Louis area, delivering top-tier marketing photography and video solutions. We offer full-service studio and location video and photography, alongside comprehensive editing and post-production workflows.
Why Choose St Louis Locations for Your Institution?

Advanced Private Studio: Our private studio features specialized lighting and visual setups perfect for small productions and intimate interview scenes. The studio space is large enough to incorporate props to round out your set, making it highly adaptable.

Cutting-Edge Technology: We are well-versed in all file types, media styles, and accompanying software. To ensure maximum cost-efficiency and rapid delivery, we integrate the latest in Artificial Intelligence across all our media services.

End-to-End Production Support: We support every aspect of your production—from setting up a private, custom interview studio to supplying professional sound and camera operators. We handle everything to ensure your next video production is seamless and successful.

Specialized Drone Services: As licensed drone operators, we can fly specialized FPV drones indoors to capture breathtaking facility fly-throughs. Our advanced aerial capabilities also include infrared thermal imaging, orthomosaics, and LiDAR for broader institutional operations.

Location and B-Roll Specialists: Whether you need on-site location scouting or a dedicated team to capture dynamic b-roll of your medical facilities, we customize your productions to meet diverse media requirements.

Let us help you maximize your marketing and recruitment budget. Contact St Louis Locations today to customize a cost-efficient photo and video package tailored to your organization’s precise needs.

stlouislocations@gmail.com
Cell 314-913-5626

What to Wear for Your Headshot Photography Session

Choose the Right Outfit

Selecting the ideal outfit for a headshot session can be hard. Wrong choices can ruin the outcome. A great way to make sure you get the best result is to choose something that shows your personality and fits the photoshoot.

Here are the top tips for selecting an outfit for a headshot session:

Consider colors and patterns

When picking an outfit for your headshot photoshoot, there are certain things to consider. Opt for solid colors. Bright blues, greens, pinks or yellows should be avoided as they can make the background too busy and can clash with skin tones. Darker colors like black, navy, gray and brown are better. Textured fabrics can add depth, but don’t go overboard. Stripes or plaids should be avoided. If you have a patterned shirt, make sure it doesn’t stand out too much.

When it comes to accessories, keep it simple. Don’t let their colors overwhelm the photo.

Choose clothing that fits you well

Choose clothing that fits you properly for your headshot photography session. Too large and shape is undefined. Too tight and uncomfortable, unflattering. Good fit should enhance shape and not pinch.

Bring various clothes for different headshots. Neutrals like blue, earth tones, grey are good, but bright colours bring life. Avoid bold stripes, distracting patterns. Stick to solids and simple designs so focus is on your face.

For a more professional look, dress like an interview day. Formal wear like suits or cocktail dresses.

Clothing should be clean, crisp, pressed. Fabric freshener beforehand. Steam just before each shot to avoid wrinkles and ensure attention on your face. Fitted pieces (including jackets) stop clothing from moving around.

Avoid logos and busy patterns

When choosing clothing for a headshot photography session, make sure it is clean, neat and professional-looking. You don’t need to be in a suit or formal attire but still consider what is appropriate for the setting. Solid colors bring attention to your face better.

Take into account skin and hair tones. Certain shades may blend too much. If the photography requires a specific look, pay attention to any required accessories such as ties and jewelry. Avoid logos and busy patterns. These can be distracting in photos.

Accessorize

Headshots are not just about your clothes. Accessories matter too! They can make your look stand out. Here’s the scoop on accessorizing.

Choose the right one for your headshot photoshoot. It’s important!

Choose jewelry and accessories that complement your outfit

Jewelry and accessories are great for enhancing your look. Select pieces that suit your outfit and face shape. When creating a pro headshot, timeless style is better than trendy. To achieve an effortless, polished look, choose accessories suitable for the occasion.

With a blouse with puffed sleeves, a simple pearl necklace or small stud earrings can balance the design. The best jewelry advice for a headshot is to pick pieces that reflect your style but are still classic. Bold statement pieces are best limited to one item, eg. a drop earring or statement necklace. Avoid large dangling earrings, chokers, excessive bracelets or rings.

To ensure the focus is on you, opt for plain metals like sterling silver or 14k gold instead of costume items like cloth or plastic beads.

Consider adding a scarf or hat for a more dramatic look

A scarf or hat in your headshot session can give a dramatic look and show off your personality! Pick one of medium scale, so it doesn’t take over the photo. Look for textures and patterns, with classic fabrics and colors that match your outfit. Scarves are ideal, because they add visual interest and movement. Any size or style – neutral long-style, bright-colored shawl, or vintage necktie – will work.

Hats can add character, but be aware they can cast shadows. If you choose more than one accessory, bring extras in case they clash with tops. That way all looks are cohesive and aesthetically pleasing.

Hair and Makeup

A professional headshot is all about showing the best version of you. Hair and makeup styling is essential. Pick the right hairstyle, and the right makeup. Create a smart, stylish look that is all yours.

Here are some tips to help you nail your headshot session.

Choose a hairstyle that fits your face shape

Choose a hairstyle that fits your face shape and complements your look. Start by determining your face shape: round, oval, rectangular, or triangular?

Round Faces: Go for layers or tousled waves with movement. Avoid blunt cuts and center parts.

Oval Faces: Soft layers and volume at the crown look good.

Rectangular Faces: Choose styles with lots of volume to soften the sharpness. Waves also help add width.

Triangular Faces: Try asymmetrical styles and sweeping bangs. Blunt cuts can make faces too severe.

Texture matters too! Find styles that work best with your hair type & length. Keep it simple, professional, and approachable. Avoid wild colors/patterns.

Consider a professional makeup artist

Getting a pro makeup artist for your headshot? A great idea! They have the skill and tools to make you look your best. Plus, they can suggest the right makeup for your face shape and wardrobe colors. And, they can hide any shadows, blemishes or discolorations.

Let your artist come early on shoot day. They need time to get foundation, powder, eyeshadow, liner, lipstick or gloss just right. Give them enough time, and bring photos of looks you like. With a pro, you’ll always look polished, even on short notice!

Shoes

Choosing shoes for your headshot photography session can be tough. You need to pick the perfect shoes to make your photos stand out. Neutral, plain and timeless shoes usually work best.

Let’s take a look at what shoes you could wear for your session.

Choose shoes that match your outfit

When picking your shoes for your headshot session, it’s crucial to pick wisely! You want shoes that don’t just match your outfit, but also look amazing and appropriate. Here are some tips:

• Think about how they’ll look in photos. Avoid bright or neon colors, and instead opt for neutral tones like black or beige, or even metallics like silver or gold.

• Match the color of your shoes with your outfit. If you’re wearing dark colors, pick dark shoe tones; for lighter colors, choose light shoe tones.

• Comfort is key! If the shoes aren’t comfortable, there’s no point in wearing them. Opt for straps and break in any new shoes.

• Keep them professional. Avoid anything too flashy like sequined stilettos or flashy sneakers. Stick with a classic style that adds elegance without being too showy.

By following these tips, you can make sure your headshots will perfectly capture who you are and what you do!

Consider wearing heels to elongate your legs

Women may want to wear heels to give a height boost. Low profile heels are best, like a nude heel or kitten heel. Heels should be under 3 inches.

Men should opt for dress shoes or boots. Open-toed sandals are not good for business photos. Choose lighter colors like beige, brown or black for the best effect. Avoid clunky shoes.

Final Touches

Headshot photography sessions need the perfect finishing touches. Clothing is essential, from the colors to the textures. Knowing what to wear is key for a professional image that shows off your personality. So, what should you wear for your headshot photography session?

Let us explore!

Bring a few different outfits to the session

Photographers and clients understand that having a variety of wardrobe choices is key for a great headshot session. Bring two to three outfits that represent the roles you want to be considered for. For example, if you’re an actor, one should be typical of your on-stage character preferences – such as business attire or dressy evening wear. Another should be more down-to-earth, and maybe one in between.

Choose neutral colors – like black, navy blue, dark gray or brown. No logos or bold patterns. Bright colors can work, if kept to a minimum. For men, jacket and tie combos with a plain white shirt variant for each look. Avoid short sleeves. Women can opt for clothing that flatters their shape with several necklines – v-necks, boatnecks, round necks. Accessories can help bring out each look – statement jewelry pieces – but don’t overdo it! Hair and makeup should be natural looking. Use cosmetics subtly – lighten/even skin, slight touches to eyebrows/eyes/cheeks/lips. Don’t forget clean, well polished shoes! Professional headshots need thorough preparation!

Bring a few props to add more interest to your photos

For headshot photography, dress for the job you want. Choose outfits that are appropriate for your profession. Add props like books, awards, sports equipment or even a pet to personalize the session. Don’t let the props take away from you as the focus of the photo.

Men should bring items like briefcases, sunglasses or hats. Women may bring bags or jewelry. If you have questions, talk to the photographer ahead of time.

When posing, keep both hands free and visible. Listen to the photographer’s direction and poses. Place the items strategically in each shot to create great images!

Mike Haller

mikeh@hallerconcepts.com
4501 Mattis Road
St. Louis, MO 63128
Studio 314-892-1233
Cell 314-913-5626

Commercial Photographers & Location Scouts for St. Louis, Missouri

Creating your brand for your product is important.  Your goal is to build better awareness among your consumers and achieve success. Professional photography is one of the best ways to establish a brand.

It is visually appealing, engaging and can be thought provoking. Photos appeal to consumers of any age.

The images you use to promote and market your brand should have a visual style that’s unique but easy to identify. This style should be consistent across all the marketing platforms you use, and from the very first day you start the branding campaign.

Our professional photographers will help you launch your visual branding campaign. It is the most creative and practical way to achieve the look and feel of the better brand you are building.

Haller Concepts, Inc.
Mike Haller
4501 Mattis Road
St. Louis, MO 63128
Studio 314-892-1233
Cell 314-913-5626

St Louis Photographers and Video Production Company

 

St Louis Locations is an established team of experienced and professional photographers in St Louis Missouri. All team members have specifically profound experiences in photojournalism, the amazing ability to externalize the significant moments for our customers.  We develop interactive and constructive relationships with our clients leading by fulfilling their expectations through fast turnaround times and eye-catching imagery.

st louis photographers and video production crews.

In addition to the superior quality of our work, we are proud to be competitive. Hourly and day rates as well as total event packages are offered to fit any budget.  Our team members with years of experience in product photography, event photography, portrait photography plus commercial & corporate video, believe that the comfort and demands of our clients are always at paramount.  Our goal is to create a relaxing environment where our client’s true personality can shine.

Mike Haller
314-892-1233
stlouislocations@gmail.com
9910 Claywood Court
St. Louis, MO 63126