How to prepare for your Headshot Photos

Ensuring a successful headshot or portrait takes not only the professionalism, talent, and skill of a portrait photographer, but also the efforts of the subject. Just as good preparation is crucial for your photographer, some of the work and preparation is on you too.  In this article we give tips on how to prepare for your headshot photos session, whether it’s in our Oahu portrait studio or in your office.

Here’s our short list of advice on how to prepare for your headshot photo session:

•  Make sure you get enough sleep the night before shooting. No makeup can hide puffy bags under the eyes. Yes, Photoshop can do wonders, but you want each image to look great without spending on extra retouching services, and no photographer will make fundamental corrections to every photo generated in a photo session!
•  The clothing you bring from your wardrobe should be the clothes you feel and look best in.  Avoid white and loud patterned shirts which take too much attention from your face. If this is a business headshot, avoid tank tops and short sleeves which are too casual, long sleeves will make you look more professional. Bring various accessories: scarves, simple jewelry, jackets, etc. it’s always better to come with more than you need.  Check that all clothes are clean, unwrinkled, and lint/pet-hair free.
• Plan haircuts and/or coloring a week in advance. This will give you time to own your new look.
• Bring hair styling accessories and extra make-up along in case you need to do touch ups between photos. If you’re hiring a make-up/hairstylist to help you before shooting then make sure to come with clean face & hair before taking photos and do not use hair styling products.
• Pluck/shape your eyebrows the day before. When blowing up photos today you can see every detail.  Well-groomed eyebrows will contribute to your expression but you’ll want to avoid any resulting redness if you have sensitive skin. 
• Don’t spend all day in the sun the day before your headshot session! You don’t want to end up with any unpleasant surprises like a sunburn or sunglasses tan lines. If you want to look tanned, plan ahead. You should start your tanning schedule one – two weeks in advance of your photoshoot or use a bronzing cream (which you have tried before)! 
• Be sure to come to the photography shoot in a positive mood because the way you’re feeling will be reflected in the photographs.  Before you leave the house, listen to your favorite music or eat something tasty and easy. Try not to strain yourself physically or mentally so you feel fresh and confident for your session.
• This may seem nitpicky, but if you’re planning to shoot any wide portraits that include hands, the fingernails should be painted in light neutral skin shades. Here’s why: red nails can distract attention from your eyes or if you plan to change your clothes several times throughout the shoot, colored fingernails can be a problem to match all your wardrobe items. It is better to do “French manicure” or use transparent lacquer.

In summary, there are 3 main takeaways that you should remember to ensure a great headshot/portrait session: good preparation, simplicity in styling clothes/make-up/hair, and a great attitude! Focus on these and let your photographer take care of the rest!

Want to know more about working with us? Click this link to read What to Expect During Your Headshot Session