Everyone needs a headshot – business owners, entrepreneurs, artists, speakers, and corporate people – you name it, they need it.
Things are so visual in today’s professional world. There’s LinkedIn and other social media, plus now some companies want your image on your email signature. So that snapshot of you on your friend’s deck with the glass of wine cropped out just isn’t going to cut it anymore.
Yet most people still approach getting their headshot done like a dental appointment they just don’t want to schedule. Because when was the last time you had a picture taken – senior photos? Your wedding day? Having solo photos taken can give some people anxiety, whether it’s about getting through the session itself or wondering if you’ll like at least one of the photos after all the time and financial investment in the shoot. But you know personal branding is important so you book it. Now what? Here are our tips on preparing for your headshots so you can have the best session possible.
Do!
Prepare your wardrobe ahead of time. Don’t scramble the morning of your shoot and stress about what to wear.
Do!
Define what you want to communicate in your personal branding. Are you going for Boss Lady, Artist, and Lifestyle Casual in your shoot? All in one shoot?! It’s possible, but you’ll have to plan your outfit choices accordingly to achieve the most variety.
Don’t!
Look like you played dress up in a lawyer’s closet – unless you are a lawyer. Just because you need a formal headshot does not mean you need to look overly formal if you are a casual person.
Don’t!
Bring clothing with pet hair on it. No, we’re not going to “just Photoshop it out.” Prepare your wardrobe ahead of time to be clean and without issue. This goes for stains, too.
Do!
Bring along clothing options and accessories if you just can’t decide. We are happy to help pick your top three when you arrive at your session.
Don’t!
Stress about what you’re supposed to do during the session. Your number one job is to just show up. We will pose you and create shots that communicate what you need.
Do!
Be sure to be well rested for your shoot. If you are ill or something has come up that would otherwise prevent you from being present and ready to go, just reschedule your shoot.
Don’t!
Choose colors that are electric or patterns that are too busy. Color can be good, but think about throwing a cardigan or blazer over that bright dress so it’s an accent and not the main palette. And pattern can be lovely, but if it’s too busy it will be distracting.
Do!
Book professional makeup and hairstyling for your professional photo session. If you don’t know how to properly do camera-ready makeup and hair, leave it to the experts. We include styling with our Premium Headshot package that we do in our NE Minneapolis studio. This goes for guys, too.
Do!
Prepare to be pleasantly surprised at how fun and quickly the session goes – you’re really going to enjoy your time with us and the images we create for you!
