The Blog

Photography Tips & Stories

243+ articles written by Chris McCarthy — practical, field-tested guidance from 500+ real sessions across Boston and the South Shore. Headshot prep, wardrobe, location guides, retouching, and the actor casting market.

500+ sessions shot · 243+ articles published · 81 ★ five-star Google reviews · Rockland, MA — serving Boston & the South Shore · Updated November 2, 2026

About the Author

Chris McCarthy

Professional photographer based in Rockland, MA, specializing in headshots, boudoir, senior portraits, and model portfolios for clients across Boston and the South Shore. About Chris →

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Featured Reads

Four recent pieces covering senior portraits, headshots, boudoir, and modeling — representative of what the rest of the archive is like.

Senior Portraits

10 Glamorous Themes for Senior Portrait Sessions

Ten senior portrait themes—vintage, bohemian, urban, athletic, and more—with location and wardrobe advice for South Shore sessions by Photography Shark.

September 2023

Headshots

The Morning-Of Checklist Before Your Headshot Session

A concrete do-this-not-that checklist for the morning of your headshot session — wardrobe, grooming, food, and timing for Boston professionals.

April 2026

Boudoir Photography

How Much Does a Boudoir Session Cost in Boston?

A transparent breakdown of boudoir session pricing in Boston — session fees, what's included, album and print costs, and what drives the total investment.

February 2026

Photography Tips

Model Mayhem & Submission Platforms: What Actually Works in 2026

What's working for Boston models in 2026 — which submission platforms land bookings, which are dead, and how to submit effectively.

April 2026

Browse by Topic

All Posts Headshots Senior Portraits Boudoir Photography South Shore Locations Actor Headshots Dating Photography Photography Tips

Photography Tips

What Agencies Want to See From a New Model: The Polaroids, Shot by Shot

The nine polaroids modeling agencies ask new models for, shown one frame at a time: what to wear, how to stand, and what the agent is checking in each shot.

October 2026

Dating Photography

Why Your Dating Photos Look Fake (and the Easy Fix)

Dating photos look fake when they're made for the wrong job. A Boston photographer explains the fix: real settings, real smiles, and a six-photo lineup that shows more than one side of you.

October 2026

Headshots

Band Press Photos: How to Stage a Group So It Reads as One Identity

How band press photos are staged so five people read as one act — spacing, height, wardrobe palette, who anchors the frame — plus what a Boston band should book and bring to get group frames and individual portraits in one session.

September 2026

Headshots

Cheer and Gymnastics Headshots: Tryouts, Recruiting, and Team Rosters

What a cheer or gymnastics headshot is actually for — college recruiting profiles, all-star tryout packets, and team rosters — plus what to wear, what crops to ask for, and how it differs from a senior portrait.

September 2026

Headshots

EPK Photos: What Bookers and Press Actually Need From You

What images belong in a musician's electronic press kit, why resolution and crop variety matter more than one perfect hero shot, and how to package a press folder a venue or journalist can use without emailing you back.

September 2026

Headshots

Hockey Recruiting Photos: What Goes in the Profile Besides the Video

What photo a hockey recruiting profile actually needs, how it differs from rink action shots and senior pictures, what to wear, and when to book it around the Massachusetts season.

September 2026

Headshots

The MBA Application Photo: What Committees See and What Trips People Up

What an MBA application photo is for, the specifications programmes publish, the mistakes that show up most often, and how to time the session around Round 1 and Round 2 deadlines.

September 2026

Headshots

Ballet Headshots: What Classical Companies and Schools Expect

Ballet headshot conventions for company auditions, summer intensives, and school applications — hair, neckline, the accompanying photos, and how classical expectations differ from commercial dance.

August 2026

Headshots

Commercial Dance Headshots: What Agents and Casting Want

Commercial and contemporary dance headshots — how they differ from classical, what dance agencies submit, wardrobe and expression, and the type question that decides the whole image.

August 2026

Headshots

Dance Headshot Examples: Four Frames Broken Down

Four annotated dance headshot examples, analyzed element by element, plus the failure patterns that make an otherwise good photo unusable at an audition.

August 2026

Boudoir Photography

Boudoir Photography Payment Plans: How They Work

How boudoir payment plans work — deposit, monthly split, what each package costs, and the pricing model that hides most of the cost until later.

August 2026

Dating Photography

Bumble Photographer in Boston: Photos That Get Replies

Working with a Bumble photographer in Boston — the six-slot lineup, Opening Moves, the match window, what to wear, and what a studio session costs.

August 2026

Photography Tips

The Model's Bill of Rights: Safety Standards Every Ethical Photographer Should Follow

A clear, shareable set of standards every model is entitled to and every ethical photographer should follow — covering consent, safety, boundaries, image rights, and fair treatment on any shoot.

June 2026

Photography Tips

Free Model Release Form Template (Plus How to Read One Before You Sign)

A free, copy-and-paste model release form template, plus a plain-English, clause-by-clause breakdown of what every line means — so models and photographers both know exactly what they're signing.

June 2026

Photography Tips

The Model Safety Checklist: 25 Things to Do Before, During & After a Shoot

A practical, model-tested safety checklist for photoshoots — what to do before, during, and after a session to protect yourself, whether you're shooting with an agency, a freelancer, or a TFP collaborator.

June 2026

Actor Headshots

Actor Headshots and Your Resume: Sizing, Formatting, and What Casting Expects

How actor headshots and resumes pair together: the 8x10 standard, how to print headshots, attaching the resume, and submitting on Actors Access.

June 2026

Photography Tips

Bad Headshots: 12 Things That Make a Headshot Look Unprofessional (and How to Fix Them)

The 12 most common reasons a headshot reads as amateur — bad lighting, cluttered backgrounds, wrong crop, phone distortion, over-retouching — and the specific fix for each, from a Boston-area headshot studio.

June 2026

Photography Tips

The Boston Student's Guide to Job & Internship Headshots

A definitive, school-by-school guide to professional job and internship headshots for Boston college students — what makes a good one, what to wear by industry, common mistakes, and budget reality from a Boston-area studio.

June 2026

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What topics does the Photography Shark blog cover?

The Photography Shark blog covers headshot photography, senior portraits, boudoir, actor headshots, photography tips, and South Shore Massachusetts location guides. Articles are written by Chris McCarthy, a professional photographer based in Rockland, MA.

How often does Photography Shark publish new blog content?

Photography Shark regularly publishes new photography tips, session guides, and location articles covering Boston and the South Shore of Massachusetts.

How do I book a photography session after reading the blog?

Visit photographyshark.com/contact-me/ or call (781) 312-8824. The studio is at 83 E Water Street, Rockland, MA 02370. Studio headshots from $395, senior portrait packages from $495, boudoir sessions from $1,295.