Jackson Carmody runs Carmody Electrical, has been doing it for a decade, and is still in his twenties. When I found that out I did a quiet mental audit of where I was at his age and came up embarrassingly short.
When I met Jackson for the shoot (it was early, he had customers to get too), the first thing I noticed was the sparkling van and the team in pressed branded shirts. I was already getting a pretty clear sense of what his business stands for. Over 100 Google reviews will tell you the same thing.
In our initial phone call I asked him why he wanted professional photos, when most tradies produce their own content. He was direct about it: he’d already spent a lot of money getting clear on the brand, the positioning and building the website. The photos needed to match that. Phone shots on site have their place, volume content, before-and-afters, quick videos, but they don’t anchor a website or a Google Business profile the way a consistent, professional image does. Jackson understood the difference, which I think is one reason why his business is growing the way it is.
Now I should mention I’m not a neutral party here. Six months after this shoot I lost power at home on a Sunday of a long weekend because I’d accidentally hosed a deck power point. I texted Jackson. He called back immediately and diagnosed it in about thirty seconds. The point being: when most people need an electrician, they’re already stressed and searching blind through Facebook recommendations. A professional photo on a website lets you at least eyeball who’s coming to your house. Jackson’s profile photo used to be a lightbulb. Now it’s him, smiling looking friendly and professional. That matters more than it sounds.
The team and the van
Jackson and his team photographed well together, relaxed, friendly, clearly comfortable with each other. There was some quality banter. That comfort reads in the images. He invests in the people around him, including the younger apprentices coming through, and you can see that dynamic even in a straightforward group shot. The branded van clean, the shirts sharp. He’d made sure of it.
Jackson’s headshots
We then did the solo portraits on a suburban Melbourne street, work uniform, a combination of natural and artificial light to make the team stand out that little bit more. Nothing complicated but showing the kind of locations Jackson and his team spend their time. The images provided a sense of place. Jackson told me he’d learned a lot about customer service and running a business from watching his grandfather as a kid. That kind of grounding tends to show up in a person, even in a headshot. There’s a steadiness there that you don’t manufacture in post-production.
I love photographing tradies who genuinely care about their craft and their customers. The work is tangible, you build something, fix something, leave a house better than you found it. Jackson has built a business the same way: methodically, with his reputation at the centre of every decision. These images give Carmody Electrical a face that matches the standard they hold themselves to on site. That’s a reasonable thing to want from a photo.
If you’re interested in branding / headshots photography, reach out. We’d love to hear from you.
Our collaborative partners:
- Other: Carmody Electrical · @carmodyelectrical · carmodyelectrical.com.au