I picked Portraits by Spencer because of his aesthetic. I particularly appreciate how he captures his female subjects with a sense of warmth, approachability with a flare of their own personality peeking through. Henry had a tall order to fill. I am a hobbyist photographer, who prefers to be behind the camera. I know how to pose my subjects to make them look good but cannot apply those same techniques to myself. I'm awkward. :-) From the first point of contact, Henry was very prompt and professional. He asked poignant questions to identify my needs and goals for my headshots. We were able to expedite an appointment time at his studio very quickly and he was very accommodating to my busy schedule. When I arrived, his studio is located in a beautiful old converted historic home with modern furnishings. His setup was nice, clean and welcoming. We chatted for a bit, I appreciated that he does this to dilute the awkwardness of having a complete stranger take photos of you. He's engaging, professional and very easy to talk to. I admit I've always been overly critical of photos of myself. He got a shot that I was completely happy with within the first 10min. Talk about PRO! Then we spent the rest of my time, having some fun with less business-y photos. The result was, I walked away with a few additional photos that I was more than happy to pay extra for. He was such a delight to work with and I implore you to use him. YES - I know Iphones have portrait mode but guess what, it still looks like you took the picture with an iphone. I wanted to invest in myself bc in order for my future employers to take me seriously, I want to communicate that I take myself seriously. After much research, I found Portraits by Spencer fees to be on par and I thought his fees were very reasonable for the level of service and quality of photos I got. Take away from this: I will recommend him to any of my friends and encourage you to do the same. I have every intentions to use him when I need to update my headshots. Folks, there's no better investment than the investment in yourself. 5 well-deserved stars to Henry! read more

After searching online for nearby photographers in Alexandria, I was drawn to Henry's work more than any others. I was hoping to get a headshot that was professional without being cookie-cutter and stuffy. Henry fulfilled my goal to get the best headshot I've ever had! I've had many of bland, blah blah, also ran corporate headshots in the past. By contrast, Henry's sample work showed his ability to draw out the personality of the individual. Most professional photographers have a good eye, expert experience and pro equipment but Henry's unique and caring personality translates through the photos that he captures. It was quick and easy to schedule online. I was happy that he reached out to me directly to learn more about my specific needs and expectations. I appreciate that he asked for my initial thoughts and concerns. Henry was very flexible when I had to reschedule last minute due to a sudden red eye infection -- go figure! Henry's studio in Old Town is wonderful -- nicely appointed and welcoming. During the photo shoot, Henry was very patient. He recognizes that it is a somewhat awkward process and worked to make me feel relaxed, not rushed. He offered great suggestions based on his years of experience but also accommodated my suggestions. I love that I was able to review the results, make selections at the end of the shoot for delivery the next morning. I am rarely fond of photos of myself, so I was thrilled that I had a hard time choosing from the great photos that Henry took! read more

My fiance used Henry to do his head shot for work. They were together all of 15 minutes. That was plenty enough time for Henry to show his talent. My fiance's head shot was breath-taking. And it was just a head shot! It was a no-brainer to go to Henry again when my fiance was looking for someone to capture our special moment as he proposed to me in front of the Washington Monument at the Lincoln Memorial. The whole situation was a complete surprise to me, and the moments that Henry captured are invaluable. Once I knew that he had been there the whole time, I immediately became nervous that I wasn't "posed" well for the pictures. That didn't matter. Henry snapped the best pictures and took the entire time he was hired for to make sure that he optimized all views and lighting. This was my first time ever having professional pictures taken, and Henry definitely made sure that we were comfortable. We will be using him again! read more

I recently had the pleasure of working with Portraits by Spencer for professional headshots for work and personal brand reasons and I have nothing but positive things to say about the experience. From start to finish, the team at Portraits by Spencer was amazing. They were responsive and easy to communicate with during the scheduling process, and they made me feel comfortable and at ease during the actual photoshoot. The final headshots were nothing short of excellent. They captured the professional look I was going for, and I looked great in the photos. The quality of the photos was also impressive, with sharp detail and great lighting. Overall, I would highly recommend Portraits by Spencer to anyone looking for high-quality, professional headshots. Their team was amazing to work with, and the results speak for themselves. I will definitely be using their services again in the future. read more

It was an absolute pleasure working with Henry! This was my first professional headshot experience, and it didn't disappoint. Henry coached me through different angles, and helped me capture a natural yet professional look. He was fun to work with! His studio is absolutely adorable - decor is super chic and the historical building is beautiful. One of the best aspects of his process is that you can review your photos in real time. Overall, the process was quick, online scheduling and payment was simple, and my final headshots were delivered electronically the next day. I highly recommend using Portraits by Spencer for your photography needs! read more

This was the best portrait session I have ever had. I have had professional pictures taken many times for theater and personal branding reasons. Henry is by far the most personable and talented photographer I've worked with. Right from the start, he makes you feel comfortable, relaxed, and reassured that you're going to get the best pictures that reflect who you are - not some artificial version of yourself. All of the pictures Henry took were exquisite. He works with lighting and backgrounds to get the best photo of you and your unique style. If you are looking for the best photographer in Alexandria, look no further! read more

Portraits by Spencer provides AMAZING images. I met Henry at the Signature CEO conference & had the pleasure of him shooting some professional head shots for me. I have used this images in rebranding of my online presence, as well as my EPK & website. The impact was instant & the results of using Portraits by Spencer yielded instant results. My client base increased 20 -30% & I also got more hits on all of my social media sites. I would highly recommend Henry as a photographer for the luxury wedding industry & an entrepreneur's portfolio. I am looking forward to having some new images taken in 2018! read more

It was such a pleasure working with Henry Spencer of Portraits of Spencer. I was in serious need of professional branding photos for my business. Henry made me feel very relaxed and comfortable during the session. The quick turnaround time of the photos was INCREDIBLE! The finished product surpassed my expectations! All the photos, and I mean ALL the photos were AMAZING. Which made it so hard to make a selection. I would highly recommend Henry Spencer of Portraits of Spencer for social and professional photo sessions. read more

I contacted Portraits by Spencer Monday morning for a new business headshot. Easily made the reservation online for that afternoon. I worked with Henry. Henry made the whole process painless, easy and fast! His instructions were very clear. I am a person who usually ends up with closed eyes in photos. Henry took some great photos and I was able to identify one that works for me! Today, I received the high res file and project completed. Highly recommend this conveniently located studio in Old Town Alexandria. read more

Henry & Pam Spencer are so serious about what they do and in my case, that's coaching me before the photo shoot, putting me at ease and working out all of my kinks to get the best results .... Making me a very HAPPY client! I'm turning "50 & Fabulous" and I love that Portraits by Spencer photography provided me with several quality options that I was thrilled with. In the future my grand kids will be like, " Wow, that's YOU?!" ....mission was accomplished! read more

I was in need of some updated headshots for work and I found Portraits by Spencer. I am so glad I did. The entire experience from the session to images delivered was top notch. Henry is a true professional that really knows how to bring out the best in you. I am a photographer myself so I am very picky and Henry really hit the mark with his work. I wholeheartedly recommend Portraits by Spencer and will be using him again for future branding work. read more

I drove over 1hr to have my pictures taken at Portraits by Spencer. I wanted to make sure that it was done by someone that truly saw Photography as an art. After I saw Henry's pictures, I knew he was not just a photographer, but an Artist. His studio is beautiful and welcoming. I felt so at peace. The end results were more than I imagined. I LOVED them. Thank you Henry for making my trip well worth it. Definitely will happen again. read more

After retiring from the military, I needed a new set of professional photographs for my LinkedIn profile and job search. Henry was eager to help. We talked by phone a couple times before my appointment so Henry could learn more about me and my aspirations. I appreciated that personal touch. During my appointment, Henry was very personable and engaging. He coached me well and his work exceeded my expectations. I highly recommend him! read more

I have had the pleasure of working with Henry for our wedding as well as for recent headshots. On both occasions he was professional, timely and easy to work with. Henry is someone that I have receommended to others often and will continue to do so. You will be happy you made the call to Henry fro your photography needs...I should know I worked at Kodak in the professional photography division for seven years. read more

Henry Spencer did a great job creating my business portrait. I love the outcome. He was very dependable when scheduling the shoot, and was very patient getting the angle and light just right - hiding my flaws that show up in other portraits. The prints and digital images were delivered in quick time, prices are reasonable, and I am very pleased with the result. I highly recommend his services! read more

Henry is a PRO at headshot photography. He was all set up for me with studio lighting and knew how to get me to look my best and the type of photo I wanted. He gave me a great selection to choose from. First time I paid a pro myself. my employers have had some at business events in the past..but the personalized experience and equipment in studio was worth it. Henry is easy to work with. read more

Proficient and professional!!! We hired them to do our company 20th year anniversary event which is huge for our company and they have done an OUTSTANDING job! Showed up on time, stayed connected while they were on site and closed the event with us. We had the final gallery within 48 hours of the event, in friendly and tidy version. We are very happy with their service! read more

Henry is a fabulous photographer and a joy to work with! I had him take photos of my house --inside and out--and the gardens. They turned out superbly! He listened to my vision and made it happen. My husband and I are new to Alexandria and Portraits by Spencer will definitely be the company I go with for any future photography needs. Simply top rate!! read more

I am camera-phobic but needed a professional headshot to use for my LinkedIn profile. I chose Portraits by Spencer because I was impressed with the portfolio. Henry put me right at ease, and it only took a few shots to get "the one." He sent the edited version by the next morning. As I told him, it's the best picture of me anyone has ever taken. read more