Headshot Preparation: A Guide For Your Photo Session
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Introduction
So, you've booked your headshot session and want to make the best first impression with anyone who comes across your photos! Your mind may be racing about how to make the most of your professional session, especially since you've put money into it!
This headshot preparation guide was designed to help you make the most of your time leading up to and being in front of the camera.
Skincare & Hair Tips To Look Your Best!
First things first with headshot preparation - I can't overstate the importance of a good night's sleep ahead of your photoshoot!
It's also a good idea to drink plenty of water in the days leading up to your photo shoot so your body is hydrated and your energy levels and mood is at it's best.
If you already have a skin care routine, stick with it! If you're newer to this, an easy start is by using moisturizer daily to keep your skin well hydrated and healthy for the week leading up to your session.
If you want to get a haircut ahead of your session, make sure to work with a trusted barber or hair stylist! Don't leave it ‘last moment’ or roll the dice with a stylist that you aren’t confident will give you your best look!
Style your hair as you would on any day at work or if you were attending a friend's wedding. Choosing a style more similar to your everyday look will ensure people don't feel disconnected when they see your photo and meet you in real life.
Should I Wear My Hair Down Or My Hair Up?
If you’re like me and rock long hair, bring a few hair ties!
Sometimes having your hair in a ponytail can make your image more striking because it accentuates your jawline and your neck.
Try “hair down” first, especially if you’re having a great hair day, and then throw it into a ponytail!
(Examples from one of my corporate client shoots.)
Do I Need To Hire A Professional Makeup Artist Or Can I Do My Own Makeup?
The answer depends on your budget, however, if you decide to work with a makeup artist or not, this is the advice I give to all of my clients: Although it sounds counterintuitive, heavy makeup does not photograph well and results in an unnatural-looking final product.
Sparkly eyeshadow and large false eyelashes should be avoided.
A less is more approach will provide stunning results in your final image.
Go for a more ‘natural’ or ‘no-makeup’ style.
You want to still look like you! (Photo Source: 15+ Side By Side “No-Makeup” Examples!)
Whether doing makeup on yourself or working with a professional:
I recommend a lighter application of makeup that makes you feel comfortable in the studio, and we can always retouch any areas of concern during the photo editing stage.
Having said that, if you love lipstick and like to have fun with bold lipstick colours, feel free to bring those along with you, and we can shoot some images with those epic lip colours AFTER taking some more natural looking images to make your images really pop!
Clothing And Accessories: How To Select & Coordinate Your Most Striking Looks!
The best clothes for individual headshots are items you feel comfortable in and love - The more you love them, the more confident you'll feel, which will show in your final image!
I prefer solid colours, as they do not take a viewer’s attention away from your face.
Avoid colours that tend to be present in your skin tones. For example, some people have more red tones present in their face, so if that's you, avoid red clothing as it will make your skin look even more red than normal!
Stay away from branded clothing and logos (unless your employer requires it specifically for this headshot session).
Stick with items you'd wear to semi-formal events or for dinners out with friends.
If you wear suits, bring your favourite suit jackets - a headshot doesn't show anything below your elbows (or shoulders, if you prefer a more close-up style of headshot), so you don't even need to wear the complete suit on the ‘day of’ shooting.
If you wear earrings or necklaces, bring your favourites!
If you don't bring it with you, we can't experiment with items to see how they look when captured on camera.
Lastly, most professionals will have access to a private space where you can comfortably change your looks to ensure you get a variety of strong options in your professional photos. Always ask ahead of your headshot photography session if you will have access to a private space where you can change!
Should I Wear Glasses Or Contact Lenses For My Photo Session?
If you daily-wear glasses, I'd say "Bring every pair that you own!" Some glasses tend to photograph better than others, and some may just 'pop' and look extra glamourous when under studio lighting.
Swapping between pair of glasses is very easy to do, so bring 'em and let's have fun.
Some glasses look AMAZING under studio lighting and showcase so much personality! (Image source)
Will my glasses cause glare?
Rather than not wear your glasses, ask if your photographer can do anything with light positions to make sure glasses glare is reduced to a minimum!
Try tilting your glasses down your nose, and rest them slightly above your ears. It’s not how you normally wear glasses, and it will feel weird, but it will significantly reduce glasses glare in your final image.
Simple adjustment of your head and pose can remove all glasses glare! (Image source)
Can’t decide if glasses or contacts looks best for you?
You might find you prefer how you look without glasses during your headshot photography session, when the studio lights are on you.
Or you might just find that some photos look better in a LinkedIn profile compared to a Facebook photo or one used on a business website.
Bring ‘em both and talk with your photographer about trying different looks!
Glasses or contacts?
It's an endless debate on Reddit. Bring both so you can look good with either option!
What Should I Do With Facial Hair or Stubble?
This one can be tricky, as so often we are told to make sure we present ourselves pristine and clean in everything work-related, however, having different looks available for images used across your website or social media can really make a strong impact in how you convey yourself online.
Take a page out of what I tell all of my clients: "Do not shave your facial hair before your headshot session! Bring your razor or beard trimmer with you to my studio!"
It's an effective way to get some more rugged-looking photos (I'm looking at you, Brad Pitt, with your effortlessly cool looks), and if you need some clean-shaven photos as a job requirement, you can shave AFTER we take some really cool pictures of you with your facial hair present.
Some people just ooze confidence with facial hair and stubble.
To me, facial hair just looks more badass!
Best case scenario: shoot some images with your facial hair first! You can easily shave during your session, if needed!
What about red bumps or irritated skin that result from shaving?
If you're like me and your skin can get red or bumpy-looking after you shave, or if you nick your skin, don't worry, as most professional photographers can easily take care of that during the image editing process, and any areas of concern will not be present in your final image!
Pick up a styptic pencil as it can stop any bleeding if you cut yourself.
Communicating Your Goals For Your Final Image: Sharing Style And Branding Preferences With Your Photographer.
A great photographer will ask you a lot of questions about your goals, your brand or company that you work for, how you wish to be perceived in your marketplace, and so forth. If this doesn’t come up in conversation with your photographer, make sure you mention things that are important to convey in your images.
If there are reference images of people you love the look of, forward them to your photographer for reference.
If you’re starting a job with a company that has asked you to get a headshot that already has an established look, send a link to their website so your photographer can know exactly what to replicate!
Showing examples is the easiest approach, as many people outside the photography world are not the most technical in how we communicate what we like.
Your Final Photo: Things To Consider When It Comes To Image Retouching.
Headshot retouching is so much more than ‘just slap an Instagram filter on it!
It can feel weird having someone look at every part of your face in a very high resolution image, however most of us love running an entirely judgement-free photography studio! Life happens, and sometimes we're not feeling our best, or we might get one of those rogue pimples starting to make our skin turn red and bulge - it's OKAY! We've seen it all before.
First things first: Be kind to yourself!
We’ll never achieve a perfect look on any day of the week, so give yourself some grace, while knowing a great photographer can help replicate how you could look as if you were in their studio on one of your best days.
As for my photographer's style?
I strive to keep aspects that make you unique while ensuring your image meets professional marketing standards.
You should not look glossy or blurry or like you belong on a Kardashian's Instagram page.
Flyaway hairs, blemishes, or even balancing skin tones is relatively easy if you're having a bit of an 'off day' when we shoot.
What NOT to retouch!
If there are any parts of your face or body that you're proud of and do not want removed or retouched, speak up.
Some photographers will remove all wrinkles, birth marks, blemishes and imperfections in the skin (it's not my style, but some want that glossy look), but for most of us, those unique flaws make us “us”. Sure, it might not stand up against highly manufactured celebrity images, but just know all of those magazine images are HEAVILY RETOUCHED and are not actually what the person looks like.
Mindset And Relaxation Tips: How To Reduce Camera-Day Nerves And Anxiety.
Most people who get in front of my lens who are adamant about hating having their picture taken, or talk about how nervous they are - and they are regularly singing a different tune when they leave the session as a result of working with me.
That’s because the best photographers are 90% counsellors, 10% photographers. Remember, you’re working with someone who’s there to cheer you on and make you look like a rockstar!
I always recommend to my clients is to arrive early! There's nothing worse than being held up from traffic or construction, and whenever that happens to me my blood pressure rises and I get in a mood.
Be honest with your photographer: Most of us well versed in helping people navigate the nerves and pressure you can feel when having your photo taken. Mention if you feel nervous, it's totally okay! I usually feel that way if I'm uncertain of what to expect or worried that I'll screw something up. A photographer who's worth their weight in gold will help guide you every step of the way.
What To Do After Your Professional Headshot Session?
My wife and I love the TV series, "Parks and Recreation", and there’s a hilarious episode where two characters, Tom and Donna, participate in their annual tradition of “Treat yo’self”.
It's a day where they go on ridiculous spending sprees to buy things that they don’t need but that just make themselves feel good.
I'm not saying you need to break the bank after your headshot photography session or anything like that, but if there's a favourite place you like to go for food, or a coffee shop that brings you joy to visit, do it after your session!
The day of your headshot session can feel overwhelming, even if you have a great photographer who hold your hand and guides you every step of the way, so in the spirit of Tom and Donna...
