Women in Tech Portraits by Mariel Nelms: What to Expect
Hello, I’m Mariel. I’m a professional photographer, and I will be set up to capture elegant business portraits at the VYR Women in Tech Galentine’s event on Tuesday, February 24th!
My goal is to create a professional and timeless portrait for you that you love, which you can use wherever you like - whether that might be a new project proposal, your personal LinkedIn profile, or beyond!
What to Expect
The shoot itself will be short and sweet at 2 minutes long, and will be a casual, fun, and comfortable experience (I promise)! Having my own photo taken is not my favourite activity, so I’ve developed a method to create authentic images of people in a way that is a quick, painless, and feels as natural as possible.
Will there be time for every guest to be photographed?
Sadly, no. There just isn’t enough time in the event schedule to give everyone individual headshots.
But the good news if you don’t get a chance to work with me during the event? I’ve set up a special after-event offer just for attendees so you and your coworkers can book a professional headshot session together at a significant discount.
Think of it as a mini team experience: same photographer, same quality, way lower investment — because you’re booking as a group.
It’s an easy, affordable way to finally get that photo you’ve been meaning to update for years.
And yes — it’s only available to Women in Tech guests. Learn more here!
What to Wear
The most important thing is to wear something you feel comfortable and confident in. We all have that one outfit we feel our absolute best in - I suggest you wear that!
The style of these portraits is meant to convey authenticity, so staying true to yourself is key!
What do I need to bring to my shoot time?
Nothing! However, some of my subjects like to bring along a supportive friend, and if you feel like it you’re welcome to bring a small prop. Examples of props that can help create really natural and unique portraits are:
things you interact with in your job on a regular basis (like a phone, laptop, tablet, favourite notebook or mug, small specialty job equipment)
notebook and pen
frequently used accessories such as a favourite coffee mug/water bottle, bag, backpack, jacket etc.
How many photos will I receive?
During our short session, I will photograph you in a variety of poses which we will then review together quickly on the back of my camera. You can select your favourite image of the bunch for me to edit. This will allow you to have the final say on which photo you like best and feel amazing about (I know how personal we all are about how we think we look our best, which is why I like to provide everyone with the ability to choose their final portrait)! After the event, I will e-mail you your one retouched, edited, high resolution portrait.
What level of retouching do you provide?
I like to keep my portraits natural, and retouch features/blemishes that are temporary and can’t be changed in a week. For example, if you wake up on the morning of the event and discover a large pimple in the middle of your forehead, or if your cat (or toddler) scratched your chin the night before, I will take care of that for you in photoshop. Same goes for any hair flyaways/frizz that might result from an overly humid day!
A bit more about me:
If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me before your shoot at marielnelms@gmail.com.
Lastly, here are 5 quick facts about me to help you get to know me better before our shoot:
I have won both a pie baking contest and a pie EATING contest, and this is probably one of my greatest accomplishments in life.
I have 2 kids, Ruby (7) and Jude (4), and a 12 year Australian Cattle Dog named Mowdy.
I am a proud worm-mama. I started composting with red wiggler worms in the Spring of 2022 to create my own compost for my veggie garden, and quickly became obsessed with how incredible these little creatures are!
I have been a commercial and editorial photographer full time since 2016. Prior to this I was a woman in tech in YVR myself! I love photographing people and the challenge of capturing someone authentically never gets old for me. I work with businesses of all varieties, and have also had my editorial work published in Canadian Geographic, The Globe and Mail, and many industry specific publications!
I am a part of a small, grassroots environmental group in my community of South Surrey/White Rock where I create and host local events to encourage people to get involved in environmental stewardship. I’m especially passionate about inspiring the next generation of earth lovers!
Connect with me!
You can check out more of my work at www.marielnelms.com, and find me on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/marielnelms/