Client Stories: Strategic Consulting Agency Founder Edward West

Can you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about what you do? 

I’m Edward West. I started my career as a mechanical engineer and product designer, working in biomedical robotics. I then moved into entrepreneurship, as a founder of an electric motorcycle company (Mission Motors), and, some years later, a software company (Hylo) and a coworking space and community center (Oakland Impact Hub). More recently, I've created a venture studio and strategic consulting agency called Applied Alchemy. We work with companies and not-for-profit foundations to help them design, prototype, and launch new initiatives designed to help create a more connected, abundant, and ecologically regenerative world.

What motivated you to get a new headshot? How old was your previous headshot?

With a few more high-profile projects at Applied Alchemy that are bringing a bit more attention, I decided it was time for a new headshot.

How did you feel about your old headshot, and what were you looking for in your new one? 

After a decade or so in faithful service, my last headshot, as nice as it was, just didn't look like me anymore!

How important do you think a professional headshot is for someone in your field? 

For me, as a consultant, having had a lot of diverse professional and life experiences is helpful. Part of the challenge for me in having such an old headshot from when I was much younger is that I didn't look like someone that had much experience! So this new headshot feels like a more accurate representation of me for potential clients and collaborators.

Were you nervous or uncomfortable with the idea of having your photos taken and if so how was the experience in the end? 

The shoot was fairly painless, and over in about 15 minutes.

How did you prepare for your headshot session, and do you have any tips for others on how to get ready for theirs?

Preparation for me was simple — I got a haircut, brought a couple of my favorite shirts and Jeff did the rest.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your experience or the impact of your new headshot?

At first during the session, I wasn't sure if I was going to like the shots, but as I reviewed the hundreds of images at home, I found a dozen or more that I really liked and it became hard to choose which one.

How was your experience working with S72 for your headshot session?

I'm happy with the image. It feels like a much more accurate representation of how I look and who I am at this point in my career. When I was comparing portfolios of photographers, I realized that Jeff at S72 had done the iconic Yves Béhar headshot, so that made my decision for me.