Completing the Circle at TEDx Charleston 2026

This year’s TEDx Charleston was a first for me, not just behind the camera during the event, but also being part of the audience.

I’ve had the privilege of capturing headshots for TEDx Charleston speakers this year and last year. However, due to the event historically being held during the daytime, I’d always had to miss the talks due to work commitments. This year though, with the event moving to an evening format, I finally got the opportunity to stay and experience what these speakers had been preparing for.

And wow, what a difference being present makes.

So much of my work as a headshot and portrait photographer is spent capturing people before they step into their element. The prep, the nerves, the quiet confidence right before a big moment. Rarely do I get to see what happens after I put the camera down. 

That’s true not just for events like TEDx, but for most of the work I do. Whether I’m photographing professionals for LinkedIn headshots, capturing a company’s leadership team, or documenting speakers before a big presentation, my role is typically to help people put their best face forward, and then step aside.

Getting to watch this year’s speakers own the stage, to see the ideas I’d glimpsed during our brief session come to life in front of a room full of people, was something special. It completed a circle that’s usually left open.

Watching those talks reinforced something I think about a lot in my work: the image you put out into the world matters. Each of this year’s speakers had something genuinely compelling to say,  but before a single word left their mouth, the audience had already formed an impression. The way they carried themselves. The confidence in how they were introduced. The headshots on the banners, website and marketing material.

That’s the intersection where I live. Whether it’s a solo entrepreneur, a nonprofit leader, or an entire company’s team, a strong headshot isn’t vanity, it’s communication. It says I take this seriously. I’m ready. I’m here.

For organizations, consistency matters even more. A cohesive set of team headshots signals professionalism and trust, whether they’re on a website, a conference badge, or a speaker bio.

Congratulations to all of this year’s TEDx Charleston speakers and performers. It was an honor to document you, and an even greater one to be present and hear what you had to say and share.

And it would be remiss not to acknowledge that it takes a huge effort to bring an event like this to life. The organizers, hosts, mentors, performers and volunteers who made TEDx Charleston happen shouldn’t go unnoticed. They may not all appear on the stage, but it’s clear that it takes a village to help a few shine and share their ideas.