Headshot Information

HEAD.SHOT

/ˈhedˌSHät/ noun / a photograph of a person's face, especially a promotional photograph of a model, actor, or author.

How to prepare for your headshot session.

#1 - Clothing

 The most important thing to remember is that a headshot is about YOU… not your clothes, not the background, just your beautiful face. The clothing you choose for your session should draw viewers to your face. Here are a few tips for choosing clothes that will allow you to be the centerpiece. *Exceptions are listed at the bottom of this page.

• Colors : Jewel tones, gray, black, brown (if it isn’t the same shade as your skin), and muted colors. NO white or cream. NO bright red or pink.
  
• Patterns : Avoid patterns or stripes, unless they are very small and used as a layering piece.
• Style/Shape : Long sleeves are best! No turtle necks or high/straight necklines. A button-down, v-neck, scoop-neck elongates the whole image and keep you from looking squatty.
• Pants : Your pants likely won’t be visible in your headshots, but just in case, you should have some basic slacks (black, navy blue, or gray). Basic dark wash jeans work as well.

#2 - Hair & Makeup

 Your hair should be clean and neatly styled. It’s a good idea to bring along a brush and any product you use, in case your hair gets tousled on the drive to your headshot session. Men should have facial hair neat and trimmed. Below are some makeup suggestions for women.

• Colors - Nothing too bright or too dark. Neutral colors are great on the eyes. Lips and cheeks can have a slight pop of color, with some coral or berry. As always, choose shades that compliment your skin tone.
• Shimmer - AVOID shimmer, sparkle, and bright highlights. They look great in natural light and in your selfies, but not in professional headshots. Photographers utilize flashes, strobes, and reflected light that can make sparkly makeup look distracting.

#3 - Jewelry

 Jewelry should be simple and not distracting. Basic earrings like small/medium hoops and non-sparkling studs work well. Watches, bangles, and cuff bracelets should be avoided. If you have facial piercings that can be removed, consult someone in the related industry to see if you should have them in your headshots or not.

#4 - Posing

 Don’t be afraid to practice your smile at home! Get in front of your mirror and try 3 types of smiles, to see which looks the most natural on you.  First the no-teeth smile, then the lips-parted smile, and lastly the full-teeth smile. Now you can play a little with posing and tilting your head slightly. After a while, you will find that you have a “good side” that looks best turned towards the mirror. This information will be very useful to your photographer and give you a confidence boost for your session.

*EXCEPTIONS - Most headshots are for acting, modeling, and corporate/business and follow the above listed rules.  If your headshots are for an online dating profile or your own business, then you might require something a little more personal. Speak with us to find how to best express personality and character in those types of headshots.