Headshot Session Tips

This is an exciting endeavor with an emphasis on putting your 'best face forward.' It will be a relaxing, enjoyable session where, for a change, YOU are the center of it all. Let's work together and make this a remarkable, successful experience! I have a minimalistic approach to headshots: less is more. Less jewelry, less make-up, less distractions and more focus on your unique features, your characteristics and how your expressions reveal the individual that you are.  You'll find it helpful that I shoot tethered to a laptop during the session.  This will allow both of us to be sure we're moving in the right direction and towards that ultimate headshot.  

Do you have facial features that you are proud of? Do you have features you wish you could minimize? This is not a time for keeping secrets nor being embarrassed about speaking truthfully. If you share your strengths and perceived (yes, I did say perceived) weaknesses with me, I will use my professional skills to enhance or minimize these features. Remember, we both have the same goal of capturing an image that makes you look your absolute best. Consider me your new best friend- at least for an hour or two! 

Please take the time to read and understand the various factors that go into creating a great headshot. This is an investment in yourself and your future. If you take these suggestions (but not yourself!) seriously, then we're going to have the makings of a wonderful session and beautiful headshots. While the end result may be for business, the session is a time to play. Don't you agree that relaxing, loosening up and enjoying yourself throughout the session will help reveal the true you? Think about what you want your headshots to tell others about you. What do you want them to see when they look at your image?

Yes, this is serious business, but that doesn't mean it can't be fun and enjoyable along the way. Be ready for some games, silly faces, expressions and prompts to get those facial muscles moving. Let's crack ourselves up! Why not, right?! Don't worry, I've got you covered. We will have fun and you will look amazing! I look forward to working with you. Please let me know if you have any questions.

SESSION TIPS FOR MEN

Skincare: Use the week leading up to your session as a good opportunity to really take care of yourself. Get your rest so you won’t have puffy eyes with dark circles under them. Stay hydrated so your skin will look healthy. Minimize sun exposure and prevent sunburns, especially considering the the altitude where we live and how easily that can happen. On the day of your session, applying a facial moisturizer will help conceal the appearance of dry skin.

Makeup: I suggest that men not wear any makeup for headshots. Powders will look unnatural and the effect will be exaggerated under studio lighting.

Hair: Wear your hair as you normally would. If you’re going to get a haircut before the session, do so a week in advance and not just a day or two beforehand. This will give the hair time to adjust to the length and fall naturally (and avoid any last minute frustrations of a less-than-ideal cut). If you use any hair products, bring them along to your session for touch-ups between wardrobe changes.

Grooming: If you shave daily, be sure to shave just before your session (with a sharp blade to avoid skin rashes and nicks that come from using dull blades). If you have facial hair, be sure it is trimmed, shaped and the edges are clean If you’d like images with and without facial hair, trim the hair you have prior to the session, and midway through you can shave for an alternative look (please bring your shaving supplies with emphasis on a sharp, rather than dull, blade). Last but not least, take care of those stray ear and nose hairs.

Clothing: Please bring a variety of shirts, jackets and ties to choose from. If you’d like a business-look, bring two different jacket and shirt combinations with up to as many as 10 ties. Solid shirts, such as jewel tones, black or gray, are ideal. Similarly, solid ties usually photograph better than patterned ones, but bringing an assortment of ties, jackets and shirts gives us flexibility and diversity throughout the session. Be sure that all the options you bring are clothes that are comfortable and fit well. If a shirt is one that makes you feel really good about yourself, this will be apparent in the photos. If it is uncomfortable or you don’t like it, this will be apparent as well. Don’t select anything too loose, baggy or with ‘lazy collars’. When wearing a collared shirt under a jacket, the shirt’s collar should fit snuggly without baggy space between your neck and the collar. If you’re going for a more casual look with a collared shirt and no jacket, skip the t-shirt under the collared shirt. Be sure the shirts and jackets are steamed or ironed. Avoid patterns, stripes and bold colors. Neutral colors that work well with your skin tone are ideal. Do not hesitate to bring off-season clothing to your session. Your headshot will be seen year round and you can change your headshot image just as you would your wardrobe throughout the year. When in doubt as to whether or not to bring a particular item, bring it! We’ll work together to create a variety of looks that you will feel proud to share. It doesn’t matter what you wear on your lower half, because you will only be photographed from the chest up.  

Glasses: Glasses can pose unique challenges during photography sessions. If you wear glasses regularly, please bring them to your session. If you have several pairs, please bring them all. Each frame will sit on your face differently and lenses will have different coatings which will affect the glare caused by the studio lights. There are things we can do to minimize reflections in eyeglasses, so please feel free to be yourself and wear your ‘second eyes’ (or third... or fourth!).

SESSION TIPS FOR WOMEN

Skincare: Use the week leading up to your session as a good opportunity to really take care of yourself. Get your rest so you won’t have puffy eyes with dark circles under them. Stay hydrated so your skin will look healthy. Minimize sun exposure and prevent sunburns, especially considering the the altitude where we live and how easily that can happen.

Makeup: Trendy makeup styles can date a photograph as quickly as clothing can. Whether you or a makeup artist apply your makeup for your session, please keep it simple and natural looking. The skin on your face needs to match the skin on your neck. Heavy foundation and powder applied to the face does not look natural nor blend with the tone of the skin on the neck. Hard lines of eyeliner, heavily-applied eyeshadow (especially in non-neutral colors) and thick or fake eyelashes result in distraction not enhancement in a headshot. Aim for the ‘natural beauty’ look. Also, it is easier to apply more makeup during a session than it is to remove it. Don‘t go crazy with eyebrow waxing either. Think natural!

Hair: The goal of your hairstyle for your session is to have it look like it would when you’re having a great hair day. Bring any tools or products you use to style your hair so we can keep it looking its best throughout the session and any wardrobe changes. It is easier to photograph your hair as it should be than to photoshop your hair as we wish it would have been. Attention to detail is the key. Please don’t mind me being in your personal space throughout the session fixing strays or what not. Trust me that it looks better to get it right the first time around rather than trying to touch it up later. If you have longer hair, please bring a hair band so we can photograph you with your hair pulled back as well. The diversity of the resulting images can give you some fun options for different looks. And remember, a few weeks before your headshot session is not a time to get a new cut and style. Stick with a cut you know and a style you can easily fix.

Clothing: Please bring several options of shirts or tops to choose from. Be sure that all the options that you bring are clothes that are comfortable and fit well. If a top is one that makes you feel really good about yourself, this will be apparent in the photos. If a shirt is uncomfortable or you don’t like it, this will be apparent as well. Choose items that feel good and make you shine. Don’t select anything too loose, baggy or with ‘lazy collars’.  Also, be aware that low or plunging necklines will give the illusion of missing clothing once it is cropped.  It's best to stay away from these styles, so as not to give the illusion of being naked!  Be sure clothing is steamed or ironed, as needed. Stay away from patterns, stripes, bold colors and asymmetrical necklines. Neutral colors that work well with your skin tone are ideal. Bring a variety of necklines because a shirt that you might think will be your favorite for your headshot may not photograph the way you imagine it would. This is an easy fix-- change it! Do not be hesitant to bring off-season clothing to your session. Your headshot will be seen year round and you can change your headshot image just as you would your wardrobe throughout the year. When in doubt as to whether or not to bring a particular item, bring it! We’ll work together to create a variety of looks that you will feel proud to share. It doesn’t matter what you wear on your lower half, because you will only be photographed from the chest up.  Most importantly, remember this:  K.I.S.S.S.-- Keep It Simple, Solid and Symmetrical.  

Jewelry: Less is more! Simple stud earrings, ideally no necklaces. We are focusing on you and not your accessories. I have photographed clients in the past who have been advised of these tips only to comment, “I wish I wouldn’t have worn those dangly earrings” and “I wish my necklace had been centered on my neck.” Let’s not create your image with well-applied make-up, well-styled hair, nice-fitting tops only to be ‘ruined’ by distracting earrings or free-moving necklaces. I’d rather spend the time coaxing out that genuine expression than asking you to rearrange your necklace. Trust me, you’ll thank me on this!

Glasses: Glasses can pose unique challenges during photography sessions. If you wear glasses regularly, please bring them to your session. If you have several pairs, please bring them all. Each frame will sit on your face differently and lenses will have different coatings which will affect the glare caused by the studio lights. There are things we can do to minimize reflections in eyeglasses, so please feel free to be yourself and wear your ‘second eyes’ (or third... or fourth!).