HEADSHOT SESSION PREPARATION

Since being prepared will contribute significantly to how your final images turn out, there are a number of things you’ll want to do before you get in front of the camera. Key among these is drinking adequate water in the days leading up to your shoot and getting a full night of sleep the night before. Doing this will not only help you feel better, it will also help you and your skin look better.

You will also want to consider the following areas:

CLOTHING

When deciding on what clothing items to bring to your session you’ll first want to consider the purpose and intended audience of your headshot. In most cases this means dressing in a manner that is representative of your profession and meets the expectations of your typical viewer—whether that be a customer, client, follower, casting director, potential employer, etc.

Beyond this, you will want to avoid distracting articles. Stay away from any clothing that is glaring in tone, has an excess of different colors, or is overly textured/patterned. It is also best to avoid anything with logos, images, or any kind of writing. The real focus of your headshot will always be your face and expression.

It is ideal to come to a session with a few clothing options, especially if you are doing a standard session. Consider different tops (shirts/blouses) in varying shades (light/dark) and differing neck lines (v-neck/collared/no collar). A few too many options is better than too few. If you're on the fence about whether an item of clothing will work for your headshot, bring it with you and we'll figure it out during the session.

If you will be wearing a suit make certain that both your shirt and jacket fit properly. Your shirt should fit comfortably, but there should also be no sizeable gaps between the collar and your neck when fully buttoned, nor should there be a gap between the lower edge of your shirt collar and jacket lapels. Your jacket should fit snugly against your shoulders and any padding should not extend beyond the end of your shoulders. If you plan on wearing a tie, bring several options. Solids and understated patterns work best. If you would like to do an open collar look, consider collar stays or starching to avoid a sagging collar. Be mindful that an ill-fitting shirt and/or jacket will have a profound negative effect on your images.

Overall, be certain to bring items that you feel completely comfortable wearing. If you're not comfortable in your clothes, it will show in your images.

ACCESSORIES

For those of you who wear eyeglasses, bring more than one pair in differing styles if possible. This will allow for more shooting options. In the case of jewelry such as necklaces and earrings, less is more. A simple pair of stud earrings can be fine, but anything larger or more colorful tends to become an unnecessary distraction in your images. Scarves are almost always a distraction.

HAIR + MAKEUP

In the case of your hair, it is entirely up to you. I will say however that it's best to wear it as you normally would and aim to have it in a 'good hair day' condition. Bring with you whatever products/items you need to keep it that way.

Women, it’s best to start with a natural look and avoid heavy or excessive makeup. If you would like to have an extra look, we'll carve out some time part way through the session where you can add or make adjustments to your makeup. Also, please keep in mind to avoid any products that create a heavy sheen on your skin. In front of studio lights, these kinds of products are going to create distracting highlights on your face.

Men, you really don't need any makeup. If you have a skin condition or blemish you are concerned about, let me know and we'll see if it is something that can be better handled by some simple retouching. However, if needed, do consider using some lip balm leading up to your session; dry and cracked lips will not help your image.