Tom Hardin | Tipper X

Branding, Business Feature

August 15, 2025

A male international keynote speaker's branding photo of him in a suit walking on a train station platform.

Meet my client, Tom Hardin.

Tom, also known as “Tipper X”, is a former hedge fund analyst who became an informant to help the U.S. government build over 20 criminal cases related to insider trading. He is now a global keynote speaker, corporate trainer, and board advisor on behavioral ethics, compliance, and organizational conduct & culture risk.

Tom was looking for a personal branding photographer to capture some fresh headshots and lifestyle photos to use on his LinkedIn profile and newsletter. He scheduled a discovery call and shared his vision and goal for his photoshoot. He wanted mostly headshots and a few action, walking photos. He wants me to capture his pensive expressions. That’s what he likes best and aligns with the topic he speaks about.

A male international keynote speaker in a suit is posing with his hands on his sleeve for his branding photoshoot.

During our planning session, he liked the idea that we do his branding photoshoot in two locations. Outdoor branding session in Westwood. There was the train station, a park, and a downtown area. Then go to his home for the professional headshots.

During the first hour, I captured lifestyle photos of Tom walking at the train station and downtown street, sitting at a park bench, standing headshot, and more. Then we head back to his house, and I set up a a gray backdrop to capture his professional headshots, including some speaking photos. We had two outfits for each location, so he has a variety of photos to choose from.