About Charlie Abrahams

Headshot specialist. Expression coach. Lighting obsessed.

Hi, I’m Charlie. I’m a Boston-based headshot and portrait photographer who specializes in unforgettable headshots that people can’t stop saying “wow” to. As I tell my clients: you better get used to the compliments.

Unlike others, I’m not simply a professional photographer. I’m a headshot specialist that directs you every step of the way. Whether you don’t believe you’re photogenic (trust me, you are) or feel awkward getting pictures taken —I create an exciting experience that makes you feel like a celebrity.

Because once you step into my studio, you are.

As someone who mentored directly under one of the nation’s most renowned photographers, Peter Hurley, I’m proud to be part of a select group that he’s approved of.

Best of all, you’ll never feel rushed during the process. My shoots come with unlimited wardrobe changes, zero time limits and constant feedback. Just show up. And I’ll make sure to do the rest.

How did I get here?

Henley Royal Regatta Vs. Harvard — “You can look in the past but just don’t stare.”
Wise words from my former Mother-in-Law. After being told I was built to row, I walked-on to Boston University’s crew team. On the right, we’re racing against Harvard at the Henley Royal Regatta in England —one of the most elusive races in the world. My four years of rowing varsity crew taught me lessons of hard work and persistence. In turn, that sparked a lifelong passion as an endurance athlete and taught me that there is no finish line. Life is a set of never-ending goals and challenges. That’s when you learn about yourself.

Club Med Shot — Stay open to possibilities
22 years old. I took a 6-month “work vacation” after college teaching sailing at Club Med in Port Saint Lucie, Florida. Near the end of my stay, a group of models came to the club to shoot images for a European catalog. I got to know them and one of their stylists, Anne Marie Nilson, asked me if I’d shoot some test images. It just so happened that a model on the trip was married to a woman whose family owned one a top modeling agency in Paris—Glamour Models. This image was sent back to the agency. They loved it so much that they asked me to do additional work in NYC. After, I was flown to Paris and set up in an apartment in the heart of the city. As my luck would have it, my roommates were top models who were focused on growing their careers and guided me on how to navigate the world of modeling.

charlie paris comp shot — Right place. Right time. Right people.
After 6 months working and pounding the streets of Paris, I moved to Milan. As luck would have it I ended up with one of the top agencies called Fashion Model Management. After a month in Milan I moved to Zurich and then to Munich before heading back to work in NYC at a top agency—Zoli Model Management. I mention the names of these agencies as each seemed like a lucky chance after the next. I met the right people in all the right places across Europe. I credit my photographic passion to this time in my life working in front of the camera amongst Europe’s iconic backdrops.

Mother and Me — The real world is calling
After years working in the fashion industry, it was time to enter the “real world”. This image represents two of the most important things in my life. After my time in Europe, I moved to San Francisco where I would spend the next nine years of my life. To date, it’s one of my favorite cities in the world. My Mother, sitting beside me above the Golden Gate Bridge with the city in the distance, moved out to San Francisco a few years after I had arrived, moving from the home we grew up in, in Hastings-on-Hudson, outside of New York City. Her passing in June ‘21 was one of the hardest things I had ever experienced. I’ll always be grateful I made an effort to bring my camera and capture a special moment that combined two pivotal aspects of my life.

Ironman Grid — Becoming an Ironman
After 10 years of living on the West Coast in San Francisco and Seattle, I moved back East to Boston. I realized I’d missed the structure of my intense rowing training. It was then that I jumped into the burgeoning sport of triathlon. A decade later, I got involved in Ironmans. When I crossed the finish line to my first Ironman, I wanted more. I had reignited the feeling from my crew days that comes with setting goals, learning new things and the beauty that comes when we push —*and exceed* —beyond our limits.

IMLP 2016 — Passion sparks passion
From racing in Ironmans, to shooting them. I fell in love with the art of photography as I captured inspiring images of endurance athletes at all stages of a race. Since I was well versed in the sport of triathlon after 20+ years, I knew exactly where to be during a race to capture the right expressions and tell stories through images. The exhilarating feeling I would have the days after an event looking at the finished images is the same feeling I have today as I deliver the final images to my clients.

Peter Hurly Laughing — Meeting a mentor
In 2016 I met Peter Hurley. I’d watched his YouTube videos and decided to explore the world of headshots, signing up for his 3-day workshop. The rest is history. Peter became the ultimate mentor but also a dear friend. On the third night of the workshop in NYC, Peter and I had dinner together —and instantly bonded. With similar experiences in our lives, it’s like we’d already known each other for years. He’d graduated from Boston University, had sailed there (the sailing boat house is 100 yards away across the river from the crew boathouse), he modeled and he became the best headshot photographer in the world. For someone like me who has always been goal oriented, how could this last point not totally inspire me?

Me and Jane — Behind every great man is a greater woman
The saying is true. I wouldn’t have been able to get to where I am today without the undying support and understanding of my wife. She is my rock and a complete super star in her own right and am thankful and grateful everyday that we met.

Direction

You’re the star of the show. I’ll direct you to reveal your most natural, authentic and confident self. Trust me, you’re photogenic.

Live review

During our session, we’ll take breaks to get instant feedback on what’s working as you get the celebrity treatment.

Online gallery

Your favorites will be uploaded into an online gallery where you’ll be able to review on your own time and make final selection(s).

Retouching & Delivery

Your retouched and ready-to-share headshot will be delivered within 3-5 business days. Get used to the compliments.

I'm different. Because you are.

From unlimited wardrobe changes and time,
I don’t stop until you’re beyond thrilled.

Take a 3D virtual tour of my studio 👇

Colin Boylan

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Very fun and professional experience! Lot of little details in the process of taking a headshot that I did not even know existed. Charlie is the best!”