AJC Photography

Pro — brilliant photography, great photo-​shoot coach
Con — weak follow-​through on retouching requests, missed multiple delivery dates
AJ Coots is brilliant as an artist, but still emerging as a business owner. She has a genius for evoking light in the eyes. Also truly gifted at bringing out the personality or as she says a «storyteller». However if deadlines are pressing or the project involves multiple photo-​scenes that require retouching, there may be some concerns about delivery of the final product.
AJ was enthusiastic and super-​focused during the shoot. My shoot took several hours including make-​up, with multiple scenes and varieties of light. At first I was overwhelmed with the beauty of the photos. They were gorgeous!
However, as another reviewer noted, once the check is received she tends to be forgetful. After several promised delivery dates came and went, my finals arrived over a month late. Also my retouching requests were not completed.
During our mutual review of all the proofs, retouching promises included a bloodshot inner eye and several stray crinkly-​hairs near the hair-​part. «Sure, that will be easy!» But the final-​editions were delivered with eye still red and hairs still sticking out. In fact, I saw no change from original to «retouched» except that all of the final headshots were washed with a single layer of rosy pink. Ironically, my skin in the various natural-​light originals looked much better than the «retouched» version.
IMO this business needs an admin assistant to allow AJ to focus on her art and let someone else manage the follow-​through.
In my case, the unretouched photos were so lovely that they are useful for everything except large-​scale high-​def powerpoint projections. Caveat emptor if you’re on a tight deadline for high-​definition retouching (as I was). But if you can be persistent with follow-​up on oversights and flexible with turnaround times, I’d say do consider AJ Coots. She is likely the best headshot photographer in Portland. (But she REALLY needs a business manager.)

An updated review: I really felt that as soon as AJ had the check, all client relations went away. I had to ask a couple of times over six weeks for my additional photos, and her own deadlines came and went without sending them to me.
Here’s the original review:
This is your person for an amazing headshot.
I hate taking pictures, and I hate the way I look in them. But AJ made the process fun. She was patient beyond belief. And my headshots turned out unbelievably well. Literally — I can’t believe I look that good.
She took the time to get to know me and create a look that matched the brand I was trying to create. She’s stellar; couldn’t recommend her highly enough.

AJ gets Fs!
Fantastic.
Fabulous.
Focused.
Fanatical photographer.
The work she did was so significantly different than the other professional head shots I’ve had take in the past. Her work looks both professional and personable — a nice mix in the world of speaking professionals. She’s fanatical about lighting and mood — and the ease of her communications made me feel so comfortable.
I will ALWAYS use AJ Coots for my any of photography needs.

Now that I have received the final head shots from AJ, I wanted to update my review. I am thoroughly pleased with how the headshots came out, and I have received numerous compliments on them. The headshots have been a great refreshing change on my website, as well as Linked in, Facebook, and every other website I use that requires a headshot.
Thank you AJ for doing such a professional job!

If you need a business head shot that rocks, put yourself in the capable hands of AJC Photography. I’ve used their services twice and am beyond amazed at the results. AJ (the photographer) does a great job of making you feel comfortable and that’s a biggee. These photos represent my business and it was really important that they convey the intelligence, creativity and friendliness clients can expect from FAB Marketing Group. AJC Photography totally nailed it!

Everything about this studio speaks professionality, creativity and expertise. From the time you get in, AJ welcomes you in her studio in the Pearl which has a beautiful light. She assists in choosing outfits, colors and jewelry, and has a great eye for what works or does not work in a picture. She took time to get me comfortable and she took various shots with both natural light and artificial light.
I was wondering whether I had to get ready for the headshot but AJ provided also a make-​up artist who did fabulous touch-​ups to both make-​up and hair. A true artist!
I always find the hardest part is choosing the pictures in the end. In this case AJ helped me select the pictures and focused on what message each picture communicated, and what message I wanted to get across.
This studio greatly exceeded my expectations also in comparison with other photographers. You are really in great hands here!
The final images are simply fantastic! Now I really look the part… as in a real CEO.

Before A.J.‘s brilliant work, I was a faceless question mark in the world of Unilocal and a blank «About Me» page on my website, not to mention LinkedIn and a multitude of other sites. But NOW. Wow. I’m finally getting calls off Unilocal for my business (which never happened when I was Captain Mystery Pic) and couldn’t be more stoked.
Before and during my photo-​shoot, A.J. was quick to get to know my personality (for better or worse) and what I cared about in a picture. She took the time to create a comfortable situation and I can’t speak any more highly of her work. I had spoked with three other photographers before choosing to work with her and I am 100% satisfied.
After the shoot, she was tireless in helping me select the best photos for my business and personal use. You can’t go wrong with AJC!

Okay… let me start off by saying that getting my picture taken is akin to a visit to the dentist. The idea of a photo shoot? [shudder] Nothing short of my own personal hell.
A couple of weeks ago the inevitable happened. I HAD to have a professional head shot done for work. I was instantly transported to the fourth grade, and the experience of having my school picture taken by some poor schlub charged with taking the pictures of 500 little ingrates in 2 days.
I couldn’t find the answer on Unilocal,so I turned (gasp) to google. After a little sifting, I found AJC photography, and I was totally impressed with the portfolio. I called and got AJ, the photographer on the phone. I asked for a shoot, and I needed it NOW, naturally. Not only did AJ accommodate me, but she actually did it without making me feel like a dick, which I probably am.
The shoot took 3 hours, and we covered a wide swath of outdoor environs in the lower Pearl District. At times I was uncomfortable. I’d imagine I was probably even a little difficult, but the results are absolutely unbelievable. She made a workaday schmo like me look like I belong in the Wall Street Journal (I posted a pic as proof. Not because I’m vain, but because you wouldn’t believe that it’s me if you didn’t see it.)
AJ is a true pro, and she comes with my highest recommendation. She has a real passion for doing something that a lot of photographers view as revenue generating purgatory. Her work definitely reflects her passion to do right by her clients. She’s a real stand-​up individual, too, which makes the whole «three hours wandering the Pearl with a stranger» situation totally enjoyable.
If you need a head shot, you’d be a damn fool not to call AJ. If she can make me look good, you’re on easy street, pal.