Tips for your headshot session

Call it what you want.... executive portrait, business headshot, business portrait, corporate portrait, business image, professional image, whatever it is, whatever you need it for, Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter, Match.com, business cards, your website... whatever....make sure it is Professional! Make sure you look the best you can for that first impression. We all know it matters. A selfie outside by a garage door? Do you want your first impression to be that? No way. In this digital age, you are the face of your brand. As a result, every professional needs a great business portrait. Simply put, businesses are made up of people. Having a fantastic headshot can tip the scales. Take the time. It will be well worth it. With the right photographer(us), it's easy and painless.

Tips for Women

Structure: A structured, neutral-dark outfit translates well on camera. Make sure to get a well-fitted one; you don't want to look like you’re wearing a man’s jacket. Although not too tight, you will need to be able to button your jacket and be able to sit down. A cardigan can also work for a slightly more casual office environment.

Color: A blouse or top of a different color than the blazer. Don’t be afraid to try a fun pattern; only a little will show under the blazer or cardigan in a tight headshot. A bright pop of color can also be nice. Always try to stay away from white or skin tones for your outfit. Colors to avoid are orange, pink, and iridescent hues.

Accessorize: A fun way to add femininity to your corporate look is with jewelry such as a necklace. Earrings can be a nice touch but may or may not show up, depending on your hair length. Don't go too crazy. You do not want the distraction.

Make-up Tips: Wear a bit more than you would typically wear to work. Nothing crazy, but a pop of color on your lips and some blush can add a lot of vibrancy. Powder powder powder to keep away the shine. Feel free to bring it with you to reapply.

Hair: Style as you usually do, new styles for your photo can leave you questioning who is in the photo. Hair spray for flyaways is always helpful. Hair cuts should be at least one week old.

More tips below on expression, eyeglasses, and B&W options.

Tips for Men

Style: Collared shirts are imperative for a professional look. Non-collared shirts (t-shirts) can work in certain scenarios and are usually worn with a sport coat. Turtlenecks are also acceptable.

Pattern: A plain, non-patterned shirt and jacket always work best. If patterned, a very subtle one is acceptable.

Material: Shirts that work best do not wrinkle and bounce back when scrunched.

Color: An off-white or color shirt is much preferred over white. If a colored shirt is available, it’s your best option. Darker jackets, or whatever your style is. Colors to avoid are orange, pink, and iridescent hues.

Fit: Generally, a slightly looser fit is preferable to a tight shirt. The main concern is for collared shirts with buttons to the neck. The top must button easily, allowing for a loose-fitting collar (i.e. skin must not be pressed tightly), making head turns a breeze. Your jacket will need to be buttoned while sitting down.

Makeup: Always an option, a bit of powder never hurts. Give a new haircut a few days to settle in.

Expression

Bring a happy heart and your smile will take care of itself. Remember, your session should only take a few minutes. It’s a short enough time to turn off the outside pressures of the day and simply be present.

Smile Challenged? If so, practice in front of a mirror, remembering the feeling of a natural smile.
Also, a helpful technique is something we call “Lifting Your Apples.” The roundness of our cheeks is referred to as “apples.” In those instances where a smile is required but it’s challenging to do so on cue, simply “lift your apples” while placing your tongue in the roof of your mouth and a smile will emerge.
We will not only capture a range of expressions, from wide smiles to soft but also capture both sides of your face. This way you can evaluate not only which expression you prefer, but from which side of the face you feel best expresses it.

Eyeglasses

ALL glasses present two essential challenges:

1. glass glare 2. distortion (eyes and temples)

BOTH aberrations can be remedied with judicious retouching and are included with our pro retouching. However, for the best possible results, we recommend either wearing Non-Glare glasses or arranging with your Optometrist to remove your lenses prior to your session. Eye/temple distortion is much easier to restore than eyes being obliterated by glass glare.

Glasses without non-glare coating are problematic, and therefore we do not recommend regular glasses for portraits. The resulting glare can be light (easy to remove) to severe, which may require a complete rebuilding of the eyes.
Non-glare glasses work wonderfully and generally are no problem. However, non-glare can still present a challenge depending on the degree and where the soft green glow appears, as well as distortion eye, face, and temples caused by thicker lenses.

NOTE: Contact Lenses work well, though they can cause a bluish ring to appear around the iris.

Black and White vs Color

It would be more typical to find a color image these days but as a fan of Black & White, I would say that a well lit Black & White can look striking and very forgiving and the more drama the lighting can inject, the better the Black & White image will be. This might be a less appropriate option if you work in a corporate environment like Banking or Law but a great option if you’re in the creative fields like Architecture or Media. There is no right or wrong answer to whether you use Black & White or Color it’s really just a question of preference by you or your company when you get your business headshot