A Conversation About Headshot Photography in English and Arabic
I had the chance to sit down with Alhan Rahimi, an Arabic and Persian translator and interpreter, and children's author, for a conversation that brought together two very different worlds.
We were talking about headshot photography, but the conversation was also about language, interpretation, and how ideas can be carried from one person to another.
The format was simple. Alhan would ask me a question about professional headshots in English. I would answer, and then she would interpret both the question and my response into Arabic.
What started as a teaching tool for translators quickly became something a little more interesting. It became a conversation about communication itself.
Talking About Professional Headshots
For a lot of people, having a professional headshot taken is unfamiliar territory.
There are often questions about what to wear, how to stand, whether to smile, what to do with your hands, or what actually happens once you step in front of the camera.
Those are the kinds of conversations I enjoy.
A good headshot is rarely just about taking a photograph. Much of the work happens before I press the shutter. It is about helping someone settle in, giving clear direction, making small adjustments, and creating enough comfort that the person in front of the camera can stop thinking quite so much about being photographed.
That was part of what Alhan and I talked about. At the same time, I was able to watch her interpret the conversation into Arabic, something that gave me a new appreciation for what is involved in carrying meaning from one language into another.
Watch the English to Arabic Headshot Photography Conversation
Check out our discussion in this video.
Watching Alhan work was fascinating.
Interpretation is not simply about replacing one word with another. The meaning, tone, context, and intention behind what someone is saying also have to come through.
As I listened to her work, I started to think about the similarities between interpretation and portrait photography.
A photographer is not simply recording what someone looks like. We are also trying to communicate something about that person. Confidence. Warmth. Approachability. Personality. Professionalism.
In both cases, the challenge is not just to capture information. It is to carry meaning.
Meet Alhan Rahimi
Alhan Rahimi works as an Arabic and Persian translator and interpreter, but that is only part of her story.
She is also a children's author and has written numerous books for young readers.
Her background made her a natural person to have this conversation with. She brought years of experience in language and interpretation, and I brought a subject I know well, photographing people.
It was an easy exchange, and one that reminded me how much of photography has very little to do with cameras.
Headshot Photography and Communication
One of the things I have learned from photographing people is that communication is one of the most important parts of a successful session.
Most of the people who come into my studio are not professional models, and I never expect them to know what to do in front of a camera.
That is my job.
Sometimes the direction is very small. Move your shoulders slightly. Bring your chin forward. Turn your head a little. Soften your expression.
Other times, the most useful thing I can do is simply keep the conversation going until the person stops thinking about the camera.
The goal is not to create a version of someone that feels manufactured. It is to create a professional photograph that still feels like them.
That is what made this conversation with Alhan so enjoyable. We were talking about headshots, but underneath it all, we were really talking about how people communicate and how meaning is carried from one person to another.
And in this case, we were able to share that conversation with Arabic speaking viewers as well.
Learn More About Alhan Rahimi
If you would like to learn more about Alhan, her translation work, or her children's books, you can find more information through her website and social media channels.
Check out Alhan's books here.
Where to find Alhan:
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