5 Steps to Prepare for Headshots

To get the most out of your headshot session and to look your best self, it pays to prepare. Here are five steps to getting ready for the best headshots you’ve ever had!

1. Choose wardrobe wisely

Even though a professional headshot typically only shows head and shoulders, the best looks seem custom tailored. Meaning jacket, shirt or blouse should never be too baggy or too tight. Also, since headshots are a closeup of this area, it’s especially important to keep clothing tidy and free of wrinkles.

There’s a careful balance between maintaining focus on your face and also having a great-looking outfit.  While busy patterns or very bright-colored clothing can be detractors, nude colors do nothing to help your headshot pop. Choose a more subtle yet appealing contrast like a solid teal blouse with grey jacket, or navy jacket with ivory shirt. If you can’t decide on clothing or colors, know that I’ll be available for recommendations.

Keep jewelry to a minimum—bold statement pieces make it appear like you’re selling jewelry and not branding yourself.

2. Prepare your hair

Schedule an appointment for your favorite salon to touch up your cut and color. Give yourself time (maybe a week) to get used to any significant changes to your look.

On the day of your shoot, it’s a great idea to have your hair professionally styled so that you can feel confident in your look. You can try out a local DryBar, or choose the option to have a hair and makeup done at my studio before the shoot. If you choose to come to the studio for hair, arrive with clean dry hair and limit styling products. Let my hair artist take care of that for you.

3. Prepare your skin

Drinking lots of water does wonders for skin—making it look healthy and younger. Have plenty of water in the week leading up to your shoot. Also, moisturize your face and neck the night before and the morning of to avoid dry patches. To keep your skin looking good, choose great quality products.

Linda Loud, my favorite Mary Kay consultant, offers free consultations on just what your skin needs to look healthy.

On the day of your headshot session, keep makeup light if you’re doing it yourself. Avoid using sunscreen as it does not play nice with studio lights.

I recommend having makeup professionally applied and I offer hair and makeup sessions at the studio upon request. If you choose to have professional makeup at the studio, please arrive with a clean, makeup-free face.

4. Get a good night’s sleep

Get at least 7 hours of sleep per night leading up to your shoot and definitely the night before. No alcohol the night before or day of your shoot, please! No one looks good with dry skin, sleepy/bloodshot eyes or bags under them.

5. Relax

I coach clients to look confident and approachable in their headshots. Mouth tension or big, Kool-aid smiles and deer-in-the-headlights eyes could ruin a headshot. Practice relaxing your mouth and your eyes in the mirror before the shoot. Your eyes should look straight into my lens like it’s an old friend. Try smizing with your eyes (the way your eyes look when you smile) and give a pleasant, comfortable, just-about-to-smile look with your mouth.

I hope you enjoy these tips. I’d love to hear from you. Contact me for a consultation!

(Thanks to Tracy Hohman for being a great example and headshot client!)

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