Don’t worry! I’ve put together this quick guide to help you feel ready to go on the day of your session!

What should I wear?

Clothing is a way to express yourself, and it’s important that the outfit you choose for your headshots matches your personality and conveys the message you want about your business and yourself.

That said, the simpler and more neutral the clothing, the better. Go for solid colors and avoid neons and busy patterns. Be sure to iron all your clothes before the shoot so they don’t appear wrinkled in your photos. And when it comes to shoes, remember that no one will see your feet in a headshot, so wear something comfortable!

Bring a few different outfits to choose from, and I’ll help you decide on the best one for your images! The most important thing is that you’re comfortable because if you’re not, it will show in your photos.

Should I do my own hair and makeup or hire a professional?

Whether you hire a makeup artist or hair stylist is completely up to you! Some people do so because they want to look their best, while others feel comfortable handling their appearance on their own. If you don’t often wear much makeup or don’t like the way your makeup has appeared in photos, definitely consider hiring a professional to do it for you.

The most important thing is that your headshots look like you, so make sure to do your hair and makeup in a way that is normal for you. After all, you want people to recognize you from your photo!

Should I get a haircut before my session?

If you do choose to get a haircut, schedule it at least a week before your session. We’ve all had bad haircuts, and you want to give your hair time to grow out, just in case it’s too short for your liking.

How do I pose?

Posing is something you definitely don’t have to worry about! It doesn’t matter if you’ve been in thousands of photos or you avoid the camera like the plague—I’m here to help you feel relaxed and have fun. I’ll coach you into a variety of poses and expressions and shoot photos from different angles to make sure we have a lot of great images and options for you to choose from. And I’ll never just put you in front of the camera and expect you to figure it out; there will always be plenty of clear direction!

I don’t like the way I look in photos. What can I do to change that?

Many people feel that they’re not photogenic, and most of the time that’s because they’ve only had photos taken by friends and family, not a professional. As a professional photographer, I’m an expert in lighting, angles, and post-production, so I know how to create photos that you will love!

Should I have headshots taken in a studio or outside?

Both are great options, and fortunately for you, we’ll do both at your session! Studio light and backdrops offer better control of the images, while natural light can give your photos a fresh, clean feel. I’ll photograph you in both settings, giving you more options to choose from!

These are some of the most common questions I hear when it comes to headshot sessions. If you have more questions, feel free to get in touch! I’d love to chat with you!

I suggest looking professional yet approachable, as well as trustworthy and intelligent. That may seem like a lot to fit into one photo, but a big part of your headshot is the wardrobe. Take a few minutes to think about all of the things that make up your personal brand and what you want others to take away from a glance at your profile.

Keep your colors calm.

That means no neon or blindingly bright colors and especially no busy patterns. These distract from your face, which is the main focus of the photo.

Instead, opt for solid, neutral colors and jewel tones, which flatter almost any complexion. Avoid flesh tones like beige or tan and keep away from dark black or bright white. If you’re looking for a neutral color, go with navy, burgundy, gray or forest green. A great way to choose your outfit color is to find a top that matches the color of your eyes and build the rest of your outfit from there.

Go for classic, instead of trendy.

For the guys, I suggest you think classic. Pick your favorite suit that fits well and doesn’t bunch up when you button it or when you sit down. Stay away from jackets with tight grids or small herringbone patterns as they can have a moiré pattern effect on camera. Ties look best when their tone lands between the suit and the shirt, so a light shirt, a dark suit, and a tie in a shade somewhere between them. Some ties are too shiny—try to stay away from really reflective, shiny, silk ties.

If you don’t wear a tie, choose a non-white shirt if possible. White shirts without a jacket and tie to break them up can lose detail in the color and folds. And if you wear a button-down shirt, it’s best to wear a jacket or sweater of some kind to layer the look. If not, choose a darker color shirt or something with pockets or details to avoid it looking like a head floating on a blank, boxy shirt, and unbutton a button or two. And make sure we can’t see your undershirt beneath the button-down shirt: wear a v-neck or no undershirt at all.

For the ladies, I recommend much the same in keeping it classic. Choose a professional suit or business-oriented outfit that is timeless: you shouldn’t be able to tell what decade it is in the photo.

Keep it conservative.

Try not to wear stark white unless it’s under something, such as a suit jacket, cardigan, or sweater. V-necks accentuate the neckline and generally look best on women. Just don’t choose something with too low of a neckline, as too much cleavage may also be distracting from the look you are going for. And no turtlenecks—they tend to make people look like they have no neck at all in photos.

Try to stay away from short sleeves or tank tops: executive headshots tend to look better without bare arms, but if you’d like to try showing arms in a sleeveless blouse or shift dress, we could make it work. Just bring a blazer or sweater to put over it as an additional option.

Avoid flashy jewelry.

If you’re going to wear earrings or a necklace, keep it simple. Go for small hoops or studs, and avoid loud, colorful pieces that will distract from the rest of your outfit. Statement necklaces may seem fun, but they can easily draw all the focus in an image.

Make sure you’re comfortable.

It’s essential that you feel at ease in whatever outfit you choose because if you’re uncomfortable, it will definitely show in your photos. If you buy a new outfit for your session, be sure to try it on and wear it around a bit beforehand to make sure you feel comfortable in it. Your clothing reflects who you are, so don’t wear something that feels completely unnatural and unlike your everyday work wardrobe.

Don’t wear your outfit to your session.

You don’t want your chosen blouse or shirt getting wrinkled by your car seatbelt. Wear some comfortable clothes to your session and bring your outfit in a garment bag or on hangers to avoid any unexpected wrinkles or stains before the session.

Wear casual shoes.

The best thing about headshots is that you don’t have to create a full outfit. In fact, your shoes don’t even have to match the rest of your look! Just choose shoes that you feel comfortable in since they won’t appear in your images.

Putting together an outfit for your headshots may seem a little overwhelming at first, but just think about how you want to present yourself to the world. You do this every day in your choice of clothes for work, so put the same thought into your outfit for your session!

Most employers or recruiters look at your headshot on your LinkedIn profile or online resume before reading anything about your experience or skills. That may seem unfair, but many people are very visual, and a headshot is a quick way to judge a person’s seriousness and professionalism. Is the image a selfie or a professional headshot? Does it look old or outdated? These are questions recruiters will ask in the first few seconds of looking at your profile.

That’s why it’s so important to have an updated, professional headshot to help give you the edge in your job hunt. Here are 8 tips to help you get the photo that will help you score your dream job.

Hire a professional.

An iPhone photo or an image snapped by a friend just can’t compare to a professional headshot. A pro photographer brings all their years of experience, training, and knowledge about lighting and posing to your session and will make sure you get the best possible images to help you in your job search or furthering your career. Professional headshots are an investment, but they’re well worth it.

Show off your personality.

A lot of times, when people think of headshots, they think of stiff, posed photos in front of a background—just like the photos you took in school. But professional headshots are all about showing off your personality and what makes you skilled and qualified in your field. This is also why it’s important to regularly update your headshot: You want your photo to look like you, especially if you’re applying for jobs. If you look 10 or 15 years younger in your headshot than you do in person, potential employers may think you’re trying to hide something or aren’t honest about your experience.

Be open to possibility.

You hire a professional photographer for their experience and skill in lighting, framing, and capturing your headshots. They know the best backgrounds, whether in the studio or outside, and how to pose you to get the best possible image. Their suggestions may seem odd at times or feel unusual to you, but trust them because they know exactly what they’re doing, and you’re sure to be thrilled with the results!

Keep your look simple.

You want to look your best in your headshots, so it can be tempting to put on extra makeup and put more effort into your hair. While that’s a great idea, you want to be sure not to overdo it. After all, you want to look like yourself, exactly how you would appear in a job interview. If you don’t wear a lot of makeup in everyday life, don’t slather on a ton before your photo session. Be sure to choose a look that isn’t too far from your regular appearance.

Avoid wild patterns and colors.

In the same way you want to keep your hair and makeup simple, your outfit should be understated as well. Choose solid colors and stay away from loud patterns that will distract from your face. You want to look professional and intelligent, and even if you love to wear fun colors, that might be a turnoff for potential employers when you’re job-hunting. Keep your clothing choices timeless to ensure you can keep using your headshots for the next couple years.

Practice your smile.

You may feel ridiculous trying out different expressions in the mirror, but doing so can help you loosen up before your headshot session. You don’t want to make the same face in every image, so try bigger smiles and smaller ones, with teeth and without. Your photographer can also offer some coaching in developing the right expression for each shot, so don’t be stressed if you don’t have it all figured out.

Clean those glasses.

This is a small thing, but it can have a huge effect on your images. If you wear glasses, be sure to clean them right before your session to get rid of any dust or fingerprints that may show up in your photos. You may even consider wearing frames with no lenses to avoid the glare, especially if your glasses don’t have an anti-reflective coating.

Just relax.

If you get nervous in front of the camera, you’re definitely not alone! Most people don’t feel comfortable having their photo taken. Just take a deep breath, smile, and try to relax. Your photographer will do their best to make you feel comfortable and help you get the headshots you want!