We recently connected with Paige Newton` and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Paige, thanks for joining us today. Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?

Whenever I get put in front of the camera, I immediately freeze up. I don’t know what to do with my hands and I get… blotchy? I had to get a headshot taken for something and I decided I’d have a little adult beverage beforehand to lower my inhibitions. Suddenly, it dawned on me- this might help other people as well. So I invited a group of friends around to my studio for a little happy hour and offered them free headshots while we hung out. They loved it. They got to enjoy some time with friends while taking care of business. Thus, Head Shot Happy Hour was born. I start hosting public Happy Hours with colorful backdrops in my South Austin studio and people requested private ones for their own group of friends or with their coworkers. I applied for trademark in 2017 and was award the trademark in 2019. I expanded to a second city with my best friend Bri Costello in Houston and I was dreaming up ways to possibly expand to new cities. Cue the pandemic and expansion has certainly stalled out but here’s hoping that maybe one day I’ll get back to that.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’ve been a full time photographer since 2008. I’ve gone through many iterations of my business and non-traditional headshots were just part of the natural evolution for me. I primarily serve women in their 30s and 40s who are business owners or who are looking for a more modern headshot. Most of us aren’t naturally comfortable in front of the camera and I pride myself on making people feel at ease. “I’m so awkward” or “I’m terrible in front of the camera” are the phrases I hear most and I love being able to show people that together we can create an image they love.

Besides headshots, I also provide lifestyle and commercial photography which lets me be even more creative. I’ve also begun dabbling more with stop motion which is so much fun. But at the end of the day, I love helping people confidence in themselves.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Happy hours weren’t exactly COVID friendly there for a minute so the pandemic definitely threw me off there for a minute. After being shut down for awhile, I pivoted by providing mini session style, time slotted headshot sessions with the same affordable Happy Hour pricing. So not as much Happy Hour but it is what it is and people were taking the time to freshen up their headshots so 2020 didn’t end up being an absolute bust, thankfully. I still haven’t hosted public Happy Hours like I was before the pandemic but I frequently do private ones for groups of friends or for coworkers. My plan pre-pandemic was to expand to other cities and bring on more associate photographers. I haven’t quite circled back to that but it’s certainly not off the table.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Definitely word of mouth- so thankful for old clients sending their network in my direction whenever someone likes their headshot. I wish I had something more exciting to say than that but, to me, no ad, post, or reel has more valuable than someone telling their friends and coworkers about their positive experience.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://theheadshothappyhour.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theheadshothappyhour/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paigenewtonphotographer/
• Other: I feel so boring, haha!

Image Credits
Paige Newton, The Head Shot Happy Hour