How to prepare for your Headshot Photography session

Booking your headshots is the easy part.

It’s the “What on earth do I wear?” and “How do I stand?” thoughts that usually follow.

Whether you’re having studio headshots, updating your actor portfolio, or booking lifestyle headshots for your business, a little preparation makes all the difference.

I always send a preparation guide to clients who book a headshot with me, but here’s a few tips for you on how to feel calm and confident for your session….

…Because if you’re relaxed and confident during your session, your images will reflect that!

1. Be clear on where your Headshots will be used

Before you even think about outfits, it’s good for you (and your photographer) to know what is the main purpose of the shoot, ie:

• Are these for acting auditions or a portfolio?

• Updating your LinkedIn profile 

• Corporate use?

• Your website homepage?

• Social media and marketing?

• Press features or speaking events?

An actor headshot usually needs to meet a clear brief – clean background, natural expression, minimal distraction.

A corporate headshot may need to feel polished and consistent with a team.

A lifestyle or brand headshot might need to reflect warmth, personality and approachability.

When you’re clear on the purpose, it makes  everything else become easier.

2. Choosing what to wear for Headshots

What should I wear for my photographs?

This is the question I get asked the most. The answer isn’t a straightforward answer – or a right or wrong answer, but here’s some tips for different headshot types:

For studio headshots (actors & corporate)

Keep it simple.

• Solid colours work best

• Avoid busy patterns and large logos

• Wear clothes that show your body shape (Actors)

• Bring a couple of options with different necklines

• Think about layers (jackets, overshirts, cardigans) for a quick change to add variety to your images

For actor headshots especially, clothing shouldn’t overpower your expression. Casting directors need to see you, and the real you – not a fancy outfit or something that makes you appear bigger/smaller than you are.
If you tend to get cast certain roles and there’s a clothing style that suits that – the yes wear/bring that!

For group/team shots

Discuss clothing together before the shoot

• Choose clothing styles that reflect your organisation’s values
• Make sure colours & styles do not clash with each other and create a cohesive look together.
• Avoid busy patterns or large logos
• Incorporate branded elements, like your company’s coloured ties, scarves, or a coloured background

For lifestyle or branded headshots

This is where you can show more personality.

• Choose colours that align with your brand

• Wear something you feel comfortable and confident in

• Consider texture (knits, soft fabrics, structured pieces)

• Think about how outfits work with your setting

Props for Lifestyle/Branded headshots

For lifestyle headshots, it could be good to bring a prop or two. Think about items that are relevant to your business and could be used in a headshot – ie, phone, diary, notebook, mug/glass, etc.
Think about your typical day and what you use.

Consider bringing in items that match or compliment your brand colours.

Top tip: If you wouldn’t normally wear it to meet a client, don’t suddenly wear it for your photos. If you don’t normally wear heavy make up and heels, don’t wear those either!

4. Don’t stress about it!

Headshots aren’t about being photogenic, they’re about connection.

The best images happen when you:

• Trust the photographer

• Let yourself relax

• Allow a bit of personality to come through

To help with this try to make sure you:

• Get a good night’s sleep

• Drink plenty of water

• Arrive with time to spare – I wouldn’t recommend coming to your session before the scheduled time in case the photographer has another client, however rushing in flustered is the quickest way to feel tense in photos, and not give you the best look!

And remember – you don’t need to “know how to pose.” That’s my job.

If you’re local to Swindon/Wiltshire or nearby, my sessions are calm, supportive and gently guided, so you leave feeling far more confident than when you arrived.

Whether I’m photographing an actor who needs to match a casting brief, or a small business owner who needs profile or website images, or anyone who feels awkward in front of the camera, I’ll direct and guide you what to do and simple adjustments that can make a huge difference.

(for extra guidance my Personal Brand Photography sessions provide time for us to work together before the shoot and discuss the images that we’ll be taking, along with outfits, props, etc)

Tips:

Consider adding a personal touch to your photos by incorporating hobbies or interests into the photos. Whether it’s capturing a love for music, a passion for sports or a more crafty hobby, this is a great way to highlight unique personalities.

Discussing the intended use of the images with your photographer before the shoot  will help determine the appropriate type of headshot, background choices, styling, composition and final crops for your photos. 

Suggested generic prop ideas for lifestyle headshots – plants, cushions/throws, phone/tablet/laptop, mug/glass, business cards/items with branding, notebook & pen, topical books.