Preparing for Your Headshot Session
If you’ve never had your photo professionally taken before, it can be a little nerve wracking. But a little preparation can have you feeling calm, confident, and ready to knock it out of the park! You can trust that your photographer is going to handle all the technical aspects of creating stunning photographs for you. Your focus should be on looking and feeling your best.
These tips will help you prepare to come in and slay your session!
Pick outfits that represent you
Think about what you want to convey with your photos. If you’re looking for work headshots, consider your industry and what other experts in the same field are wearing. If you’re taking lifestyle or creative photos, think about the personality and energy you’re trying to communicate. Pinterest can be a great resource when looking for outfit inspiration!
Practice doing your hair and makeup, and plan your outfits early
If you’re doing your own hair and makeup instead of working with a hair stylist or makeup artist, do a couple of trial runs before the day of your shoot. With your clothes already picked out and your style already practiced, you’ll be able to confidently get ready on the day of your shoot without the fear of indecision around what to wear, and with a steady hand perfecting your look.
Bring props that will contribute in a meaningful way to your session
Props can be a great way to add meaning to your photographs and clue others into what your business is or the story you’re trying to tell. Make sure to gather these props ahead of time so that you’re not looking for them when it comes time to leave for your session.
Eat, Drink, and Be Merry!
Not only is this good general life advice, but great for your photo session as well. In the days leading up your session, make sure to stay hydrated and avoid foods that are high in salt or fat that can lead to feeling sluggish or bloated. Get a good night’s sleep the night before, and have a light but filling meal or snack right before the session to keep any hangriness away.
Pack the essentials
If you’re doing a longer session, you may want to bring a few essentials. For example:
- Mirror, comb, and makeup
- Chapstick
- Lint brush
- Safety pins
- Props
- Snacks and water
- Hair ties
- Bug spray/sunscreen
- Appropriate clothing if hiking to your location
I also personally pack all of these things as well for my clients in case anything is forgotten!
Brainstorm locations and poses beforehand
Your photographer will have plenty of ideas for locations and poses for your session. But researching on your own as well can help give you an idea of what you want. Looking at different poses on Pinterest or Instagram can also help you feel more relaxed as you’ll already have an idea of what your photographer may ask you to do.
Communicate with your photographer
Probably the biggest pre-session thing to do is clearly communicate with your photographer what you want to get out of the session. Make sure that your vision and their vision is aligned. A good photographer will be happy to discuss what you’re looking for and make recommendations for the session based on your requests and their style. What you don’t want to happen is for the photographer to think you’re looking for lifestyle photos when you were really looking for business headshots for your Linkedin. So just be clear about your wants.
And a note about style: take some time before booking to familiarise yourself with the photographer’s style through their website and social media to make sure it aligns with what you want. Each photographer has a style unique to them. If that photographer’s style is not what you’re after, find another photographer instead of asking the photographer to change the way they work.
I hope these tips help you feel more comfortable going into your next session! Interested in learning more about booking a portrait or headshot session with me? Follow this link to see pricing and what’s included.
