You’ve booked your headshot session, now what? Time to prepare for your headshot! Don’t worry, the posing and expression coaching are all my responsibility. However, there are many simple ways you can prepare to help maximize your investment to ensure an image that you’ll love to show the world. There are also many things you shouldn’t do, so let’s start with those.
Not only will they reflect those colors onto your skin, but the focus of the image will no longer be on you.
Good lighting will help show your natural skin tone. Getting a good night’s sleep and being well hydrated will prepare your skin in the most natural way. If you feel you must get some additional color, try it out months before your headshot and see if you like it. However, I have never, ever photographed someone and thought they needed a tan.
If you are traveling to a warm climate, keep in mind that getting a lot of sun suddenly will also make you look naturally uplit.
Although some shine might be fun for a night out, it doesn’t play well with photography lights.
Cameras often accentuate color. Remember you can always apply more, and keep in mind you are applying makeup for closeups, not the theatre.
A standalone pimple is easy to remove from the image, and that retouching is included with your image purchase. It will actually be more difficult if you apply a lot of concealer to the area.
I can whiten teeth in images easily, and that retouching is included with your image purchase.
Some “don’ts” can be broken more easily, but in general should be avoided.
Tiny, repetitive details may cause strange patterns in your images. And you don’t want a pattern to compete with your face, the focus of the image. However, if you often wear vibrant florals or other patterns and that is part of your brand, of course you should prepare to wear something that represents you.
If your neckline is too low, you may not be able to see your top when cropping closely, making you seem as if you don’t have a top on.
Some business jackets or blazers have shoulder pads. For most people, shoulder pads will make you look bulkier and shorten your neck. In headshots, this will be pronounced. Choose or purchase a simple jacket without shoulder pads unless you have a reason to add bulk. Prepare for your session by trying on your jacket to make sure it fits.
Again, you don’t want to try and hide yourself with anything that competes with your face. In general, jewelry should be minimal or none at all. For ears, either nothing or simple small studs are perfect. However, if large jewelry is part of your trademark, choose something that will complement you and your outfit the best, and limit yourself to one signature piece that is classic and thoughtful.
Prepare by trying them out in advance to make sure they fit well. If you are wearing a shirt and tie, make sure your collar is not too loose (no gaps), nor too tight (causing your neck to fold over the collar). Dress shirts that are too big for you will not lay flat on your chest.
You may want to consider purchasing a few new items specifically formulated for photography. My go-to makeup artist, Meredith Ehler (book directly with her), can help you navigate “camera-ready” makeup. Bring your makeup with you for touchups.
This means planning weeks in advance for making appointments and also making sure you have time to prepare the day of your photoshoot. It can make a big difference between you loving your photos or not.
If you plan to cut or color your hair, make sure it is done enough days in advance to let the cut or color settle in. Your hair care professional should advise you based on your exact services you need and how to prepare.
Bring your hairbrush with you to smooth out hair during the session.
Remove hair that you don’t want to show up on your headshot. This could include upper lip, nose, ear, chin, sideburns, etc. Also, if you don’t want chest hair showing, plan tops or prepare accordingly.
If we are taking branding photos that show your arms and legs and your outfit shows unwanted hair, you may want to adjust your prep or outfits accordingly.
Dry skin and lips won’t look good in photos, and a little prevention is much better than paying for advanced retouching.
This will help with bags under eyes, puffiness, and redness.
For video or for your own use, try Lumify Eye Drops. They can work miracles with redness. However, you may want to check with your eye doctor and try it out long before your session to ensure you don’t have any adverse reactions. However, retouching is included for all your selected images, and I can remove red veins in eyes easily.
If you want some shots without glasses, I recommend not wearing them if possible before the session, so that you don’t have marks on your nose (same goes for wearing sunglasses on your way). If you want some shots with glasses, bring all the glasses you have in case one works best (style, less glare, etc.). Avoid transition lenses.
If you are wearing a dress shirt, please press your collar so it lies flat and the fold is crisp in the correct place. If your clothes are prone to wrinkling, carefully bring your outfit and change after arrival.
Not sure about outfits or accessories? Bring all your options. In my studio, I have a hanging rack for your clothes and a changing area, plus a bathroom close by. We can chat about your wardrobe based on the looks you are going for, and also try out multiple outfits.
Don’t worry! You’ve done your due diligence finding a photographer and booking your dedicated time. You have the information to prepare for your headshot. So many clients share with me that they used to hate getting their photos taken. I make it my highest priority to treat you with respect and make your time as fun as possible. I want you to walk away after your time thinking “that was fun!”
Contact me, or fill out the form on my pricing page.
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