Chief Executive Officer Headshots at Lincoln Mill

Meeting Ryan at Lincoln Mill in Northeast Huntsville

Chief executive officer headshots at Lincoln Mill with business professional attire

While working on a brand session at Coin, a co-working space in Northeast Huntsville’s Lincoln Mill, I crossed paths with Ryan, the chief executive officer of The Acceleration Group. He was busy, but we connected quickly—his office is just a few doors down from where I was shooting. We started talking and promised to connect & gave him my business card, and before I got back to the office, I had already gotten an email requesting a headshot session. At Kia & Co., my approach to photography isn’t just about snapping photos. It’s about collaborating with business owners like Ryan to capture images that reflect their unique professional identity.

What The Acceleration Group Does

Ryan’s company, The Acceleration Group (TAG), is all about empowering small to mid-sized craft spirit companies. They offer lending solutions that cater to the unique needs of the craft spirit industry—providing capital, resources, and support to help these businesses thrive. Through tailored underwriting services and lending proposals, TAG is a crucial partner for craft spirit entrepreneurs aiming for growth. Capturing Ryan’s personality as a leader of a forward-thinking business required thoughtful planning, especially since his role demands both professionalism and approachability.

CEO headshot in business casual at Lincoln Mill

Adding Variety to Ryan’s Session at Lincoln Mill

To give Ryan’s headshots versatility, we utilized different areas of Lincoln Mill. The industrial yet modern aesthetic of the mill offered the perfect backdrop. We made sure to incorporate a mix of business professional and business casual looks—each outfit shift allowed us to present Ryan in different aspects of his role. Whether it’s connecting with clients in a formal setting or collaborating more casually, his headshots needed to reflect that range. At Kia & Co., we always think about how our clients will use their images, so we made sure these shots would resonate in multiple settings—from website bios to LinkedIn profiles.

meet Gari-Ann

Gari-Ann Kia is an accomplished Branding and Product Photographer with a passion for helping creatives and professionals elevate their brand by showcasing their product, promoting their services, or simply enhancing their brand image. Gari-Ann's expertise in branding and product photography will help you stand out from the crowd. With years of experience in the field, Gari-Ann has honed her skills and developed a unique approach to visual storytelling that resonates with her clients and their target audience to help them stand out from the crowd.

Gari-Ann currently lives in the Washington DC area with her husband and two children. She enjoys traveling with her family, some of their favorite destinations have been Santorini, Wanaka, Paris, & Aix en Provence. In her free time, Gari-Ann enjoys giving back to her community by supporting fellow military spouses & their families and mentoring other small business owners.

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