Client Stories: Oclef CEO Julian Toha

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

My name is Julian Toha and I’m the Co-Founder and CEO of Oclef. We are an education technology company with a focus on piano. We build continuous learning environments in our software, schools and music to help people grow.

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

I’ve shifted through multiple career paths and businesses. My current business merges previous pursuits and the headshots I had were out of date. I needed a set of new ones to be current with what I look like.

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

Previous headshots and media were absolutely fine, just not current. For my new ones I was looking for a professional and bold look to communicate warmth within an executive position.

In what ways do you think your new headshot has impacted your business, visibility or job search? 

 It’s hard to know for sure, but I can imagine that it communicates daily prior to the meetings I am scheduled for or in my communication through various channels.

Have you received any feedback on your new headshot?

Employees have definitely complimented them - but that’s the extent to my knowledge on commentary.

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

As a founder and executive I believe the front-facing aspect of professionalism is very important. Although we aren’t a publicly traded company, I meet with many customers, employees, and others each month. A headshot is valuable in all forms of communication (e.g. media, email, social)

What advice would you give to someone considering getting a new headshot? 

Apart from - go with Jeff at S72 - know what you’re going to wear ahead of time. Keep it simple.

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

Not at all. At this point, media and the camera feels familiar. And in working with Jeff, he clearly does this often and was comfortable on his end.

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

Wear an outfit that represents yourself, smart looking without being too formal.

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

I really liked that the session was efficient. The total time was about 15-20 minutes. And the shots came out great. It was very helpful to get in and out without it being too long.

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

Jeff is an outstanding Photographer. His session was efficient and the results were outstanding. The result was solid and experience was worry-free. This is exactly what I was looking for in a photographer for headshots. In a photoshoot, since you do it once, you don’t want average results and you definitely don't want to have to do it again. Jeff made the entire process almost effortless for me and I appreciate him for that.