The do’s and don'ts for your next headshot session
It’s understandable that the idea of showing up to a studio and having professional portraits taken can be daunting for many of us, as a lot of people aren’t at their most comfortable in front of a camera. That being said, your headshots help tell your story, as well as the story of your brand and your business. It can tell potential clients more about your personality, what you value and projects your image better than any amount of copy ever could. Getting your shoot right can thus go a long way in helping you get the best results and have the best possible experience. As with many things in life and in business, preparation is key. To aid your preparation for your upcoming headshot session, I am sharing my most valuable Do’s and Don’ts for your next portrait shoot.
Do:
Keep your headshots updated. You want potential clients to be able to recognise you easily, so it is advisable that you update your headshots annually or after making significant changes to your appearance,
Being prepared will help you feel more confident and relaxed, as well as save time on the day of the shoot. Practise your smiles and poses, plan your outfits and come with a preconceived idea of what images you are hoping to get and where you want to use them.
Opt for recognizable clothing that fits well. Again, you want yourself and your brand to be recognized by potential clients who looked you up before meeting in person. Wear what you would usually wear in a work setting and opt for a simple, classic outfit that makes you feel confident.
For team portraits, brand consistency and consistency between headshots can go a long way in helping build and strengthen your brand. Establish some guidelines on outfits, similar poses and photo composition to help establish your image.
A real smile that reaches your eyes will help you seem approachable, dependable and more comfortable in front of the camera. Think of something you find funny or that makes you happy to ensure a genuine smile and an added boost of serotonin.
Trust your photographer and inform them of your expectations and of any insecurities you would prefer not to have captured on camera. They have similar requests from almost all their clients and there will certainly be no judgement. Having this information will also help your photographer find the most flattering lighting and poses to make you look your very best.
Find poses that help you feel confident and pay attention to your body language to ensure that you are sending the desired message. Avoid “closed-off” and stiff poses that can make you seem unapproachable and rather opt for good posture and an open demeanour.
Some variety in poses, angles and outfits will give you more to work with when using your professional portraits to build your brand. Bring a change of clothes, accessories or tweak your hairstyle to expand your options when choosing your portraits
Come well-rested and hydrated, as this will greatly help improve the outcome of your photos and your overall shoot experience.
Relax and enjoy the experience - it should be a fun one after all. Remember to breathe and avoid tension in your face and body, as it will certainly show in your photos.
Don'ts:
Keep backgrounds simple to avoid distracting from your face, which should be the focus of your portrait. Anything that takes away from you is doing you a disservice.
Similarly, very heavy makeup, bright colours and busy patterns will also distract from your face and crowd the portrait. A little bit of drama around the eyes or a pop of colour in your outfit can add interest and personality to your portrait, but less is more.
Photoshop can only go so far, so it is best to ensure that you are well-groomed and putting your best foot forward to avoid too much having to be corrected and your portrait ending up looking unnatural.
While good posture can help you look confident and self-assured, overdoing it can cause you to be overly rigid and uncomfortable. Find a comfortable balance you can easily maintain for a few minutes at a time.
Avoid making big changes to your appearance very close to your shoot, as you won’t yet be used to your new look and thus won’t feel completely like yourself (even if you love the results). If you just changed your hair colour, certain shades of freshly dyed hair can look too vibrant and fresh haircuts haven’t had time to settle in yet.