Client Stories: Interior Designer Tina Montemayor

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

I’m Tina Montemayor, Director of Creative Talent Acquisition and Equity Manager for a local SF ad agency and Principal Designer and Founder of my own interior design company. The common thread in my work is that I’m passionate about finding, fostering and supporting creative talent and creating spaces where they can thrive. When I’m not working, I’m wrangling my 2 daughters and 3 rescue dogs or enjoying the newest restaurant hotspot with my husband.

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

I was upgrading my website and wanted a new headshot to match my brand to attract my ideal client.

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

My old one was fine but wasn’t representative of my brand and where I am today. It also showed that I didn’t have a sense of who my audience was or what my unique POV is.

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

I’m a creative recruiter and interior designer. I’ve gotten more traffic to my Linkedin profile and it’s helped me gain confidence in a first correspondence, best foot forward type of manner. I’ve also gotten more media inquiries/PR opportunities and traffic to my Youtube channel.

Have you received any feedback on your new headshot?

I’ve gotten unsolicited compliments like ‘badass new picture btw’ or ‘boss’ lol ‘amazing new head shot’ ‘it’s so you’.

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

Very important when you’re the face and representative for the brands.

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

Be yourself and let that shine through. Investing in yourself and a headshot will pay itself back tenfold.

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

A little bit because it's been quite the production in the past and has taken more than an hour before.

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

I’ve been nominated for an ad industry award for one of the biggest publications and I feel excited about having a new head shot to submit. It’s also given me an outlet of representing myself in a way that’s authentic and proud – not necessarily worrying about what key stakeholders or owners think.

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

My experience was wonderful. I even took some pointers on how to create a seamless process – one that predicts and answers any concerns in a proactive manner - from your playbook. Loved that I could feel at ease off the bat and got to preview the shots right away in a comfortable manner. Didn’t feel pressured to add anything from the a la carte menu or nervous about asking for what I wanted. The end result speaks for itself and I’ve gotten so many compliments and traffic to my pages, and the photos compliment my new branding and website beautifully.