Chris Gillett knows firsthand the damage a bad headshot can do. Over a decade ago, as a successful trial lawyer, he sat for a professional portrait and the result was terrible. That moment sparked an obsession: figuring out how to capture portraits that radiate confidence, likability, and authenticity. Thereafter he left behind a 19-year legal career and his role as an adjunct law professor, and reinvented himself as one of Houston’s most sought-after headshot photographers and facial expression coaches. Today, he works with attorneys, executives, entrepreneurs and industry leaders helping them project leadership, trust and approachability in a single frame.
Company: Chris Gillett Studios
We are thrilled to have you join us today, welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview! Let’s start off with a little introduction. Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your company.
Chris Gillett: I am a Houston guy . I’ve lived here all of my life and raised three children here. I am a headshot photographer. I coach and direct successful professional people to the best headshot they’ve ever had, one that communicates authenticity, confidence, and likability in a ratio that sends the message their personal brand requires.
How does your company integrate purpose and impact into its overall business strategy?
Chris Gillett: Most of my new clients come from word-of-mouth. That works because I try to be the best at what I do and I have a great love and passion for it. I’m very clear with potential clients about who I am, what I do, who I do it for, and why I do it. That strong sense of purpose marks me as an expert, as somebody they can trust and let them know exactly what they are going to get if they work with me.
My business is built on the idea that a headshot is more than just a picture. It’s someone’s first impression, their ‘visual handshake.’ That purpose drives everything I do. The impact comes from helping people look both confident and likable, which directly affects their careers, opportunities, and even their self-perception.
Strategically, I integrate that purpose by focusing on quality over volume. Instead of racing through sessions, I’ve built a process that draws out genuine expressions and gives clients tools they can use beyond the photo shoot like coaching them on presence and authenticity. This makes the business more than transactional; it becomes transformational.
At the same time, I see impact as ripple effects. For example, when I work with a law firm, improving the team’s headshots doesn’t just make their website look better. It helps clients trust them more quickly. That ripple effect of trust, opportunity, and professionalism is baked into the strategy of how I market, price, and deliver my services.
Can you share an example of how your business has successfully balanced profitability with social responsibility or sustainability?
Chris Gillett: I am a small business and I don’t produce anything, so there isn’t really a sustainability angle. I certainly do pro bono work for people and causes that I like. My favorite is to work with military people who are transitioning back into the civilian workforce. I used to be a trial lawyer and worked with a couple of former marines, so a lot of our pro bono work at the firm was for military families. I’ve continued that into my current business because they’re great people to work with and really seem to appreciate the help. Ultimately, profitability and responsibility aren’t competing goals. The more efficiently and ethically I run the studio, the more sustainable the business becomes, and that allows me to keep serving clients long-term while doing my part to give back.
What role does philanthropy or community involvement play in your company’s mission, and why is it important to you as a leader?
Chris Gillett: I’m sure it’s not what you mean but there’s a basic philanthropy to what I do. One facet of it is finding good in people. Finding things that I like and want to celebrate and emphasizing those things. I got an email from a client one time that said something like “I’ve never considered myself beautiful, but I love how I look in the headshots.” things like that make me feel like I’m doing something pretty important.
Community involvement plays a big role in how I think about my business. Headshots are about opportunity, how people present themselves when they’re stepping into a new job, launching a business, or representing an organization. That’s why I’ve made it part of my mission to occasionally donate sessions or provide discounted work for nonprofits, job seekers, and community groups. It’s a simple way to lower the barrier for people who are working hard to move forward but may not have the resources for high-end photography.
Philanthropy doesn’t always have to mean writing a big check. For me, it’s about using my skill set to make a difference. When I can help someone look confident in a headshot that might land them an interview or attract new clients, that’s a direct, personal impact.
As a leader, it matters because it keeps me grounded. Running a business can get very numbers-driven, but giving back reminds me that the real purpose behind all of this is people, their stories, their progress, and the doors they’re trying to open.
How do you ensure that purpose-driven initiatives resonate with both your employees and your customers?
Chris Gillett: I’ve found that purpose-driven initiatives only work if they feel authentic and consistent. For me, the purpose is helping people look confident and likable in their headshots, because that impacts careers, opportunities, and first impressions. That’s not just a marketing line, it’s what clients experience in the studio.
With my team, whether it’s makeup artists, assistants, or second shooters, I make sure they understand that our work isn’t just about a flattering photo, it’s about giving someone an edge of confidence they can carry into an interview, a courtroom, or a meeting. When they buy into that bigger purpose, the client feels it.
On the customer side, the resonance comes from results. People don’t just walk away with pictures; they walk away saying things like, ‘I finally look like myself at my best.’ That reaction is proof that the purpose is landing. I don’t have to sell the idea because clients experience it firsthand, and that reinforces both the mission and the business.
What advice would you give to other leaders looking to embed purpose and impact into their organizations?
Chris Gillett: My advice is to keep it simple and authentic. A lot of leaders overcomplicate purpose by turning it into a slogan, when in reality it has to show up in everyday decisions. Ask yourself: what’s the real impact your work has on people’s lives, and how can you amplify that?
In my case, the purpose is helping people look confident and likable so they can unlock opportunities. Once I got clear on that, it became the filter for how I price, how I market, even how I interact with clients in the studio. Purpose isn’t something separate from the business model. It is the business model if you do it right.
So my advice is: don’t chase a grand mission statement. Find the authentic core of why your work matters, make sure your team believes in it, and let that guide both your strategy and your day-to-day actions. That’s when impact stops being a buzzword and actually becomes part of the culture.
