Congratulations on taking the first step toward enhancing your professional image!
Success in headshot photography is 50% client preparation and 50% our photography. At your session, we will do everything humanly possible to make sure you love your headshot, but your preparation is critical to getting a great final photo.
If you’re feeling unsure about how to prep for your photo shoot, here’s a list of some key ways to prepare for your session.
1. Understanding Your Brand
Before your session, take time to reflect on your brand identity. Consider:
Before your session, take time to reflect on your brand identity. Consider:
- What words and colors represent you?
- Do you have specific brand colors?
- Are there any props or elements related to your profession or interests that you'd like to incorporate?
- Do you have specific brand colors?
- Are there any props or elements related to your profession or interests that you'd like to incorporate?
2. Dress to Impress
Your clothing choices play a significant role in conveying your brand and style. Consider the following tips:
Your clothing choices play a significant role in conveying your brand and style. Consider the following tips:
- Coordinate with your brand colors for a cohesive look that aligns with your brand identity.
- Stick with solid-colored tops for a more flattering and less distracting appearance.
- Choose well-fitted attire that reflects your personal style and makes you feel confident.
- Bring layers for versatility and different looks during the session.
- Ensure your clothes are ironed and free of wrinkles to maintain a polished look.
- Avoid logos or badges on your attire to prevent distractions in the photos.
- Stick with solid-colored tops for a more flattering and less distracting appearance.
- Choose well-fitted attire that reflects your personal style and makes you feel confident.
- Bring layers for versatility and different looks during the session.
- Ensure your clothes are ironed and free of wrinkles to maintain a polished look.
- Avoid logos or badges on your attire to prevent distractions in the photos.
3. Makeup & Hair
Makeup and hair preferences vary from person to person. Consider the following:
Makeup and hair preferences vary from person to person. Consider the following:
- Avoid too much highlighter or shine. Matte makeup looks flattering in headshots.
- Keep makeup true to your everyday look; avoid drastic changes that may feel unnatural.
- Professional makeup is optional but can boost confidence and ensure a polished appearance in photos.
- For hair, consider wearing it down for a more flattering look unless you typically wear it up.
- A professional blowout is nice but not necessary; ensure your hair is well-groomed and reflects your personal style.
- If you wear glasses, opt for non-reflective lenses to avoid glare in photos.
- Keep makeup true to your everyday look; avoid drastic changes that may feel unnatural.
- Professional makeup is optional but can boost confidence and ensure a polished appearance in photos.
- For hair, consider wearing it down for a more flattering look unless you typically wear it up.
- A professional blowout is nice but not necessary; ensure your hair is well-groomed and reflects your personal style.
- If you wear glasses, opt for non-reflective lenses to avoid glare in photos.
4. Posing & Props
Posing and props can enhance your headshots and help tell your story. Here are some tips:
Posing and props can enhance your headshots and help tell your story. Here are some tips:
- Review past photos to note color choices, hairstyles, preferred angles, and poses.
- Communicate your preferences to the photographer to ensure they capture your desired look effectively.
- Bring along any past photos you particularly liked to serve as visual references during the session.
- Practice posing in front of a mirror to become more comfortable with different angles.
- Experiment with poses to find your most flattering angles and expressions.
- Communicate your preferences to the photographer to ensure they capture your desired look effectively.
- Bring along any past photos you particularly liked to serve as visual references during the session.
- Practice posing in front of a mirror to become more comfortable with different angles.
- Experiment with poses to find your most flattering angles and expressions.
5. Pre-Shoot Self-Care
Taking care of yourself before the shoot can help you feel confident and prepared. Consider the following:
Taking care of yourself before the shoot can help you feel confident and prepared. Consider the following:
- Schedule grooming appointments, such as haircuts or manicures, a week before the shoot for a polished look.
- Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water as you want your skin to look its best in photos.
- Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep. Headshots get up close and personal.
- Organize your outfits and accessories ahead of time to minimize stress on the day of the shoot.
- Avoid activities that may cause skin irritation or blemishes leading up to the shoot.
- Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water as you want your skin to look its best in photos.
- Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep. Headshots get up close and personal.
- Organize your outfits and accessories ahead of time to minimize stress on the day of the shoot.
- Avoid activities that may cause skin irritation or blemishes leading up to the shoot.
6. On the Day
Arriving prepared and relaxed will set the tone for a successful session. Remember to:
Arriving prepared and relaxed will set the tone for a successful session. Remember to:
- Arrive early to the shoot location to allow time to settle in and relax before the session begins.
- Bring spare outfits, props, and makeup for touch-ups if needed.
- Check for shine on your face and use oil blotting sheets if necessary to reduce glare.
- Trust your photographer's guidance and enjoy the experience, knowing that you're well-prepared to capture your best self.
- Bring spare outfits, props, and makeup for touch-ups if needed.
- Check for shine on your face and use oil blotting sheets if necessary to reduce glare.
- Trust your photographer's guidance and enjoy the experience, knowing that you're well-prepared to capture your best self.
7. After & During the Shoot
Throughout the photo experience, we review the photos together as we take them in the studio.
After the shoot, we will go through all the photos. These Photos will be made available to you for you to narrow down the photos you like.
This can be a difficult process, but i will walk you through the photos and point out the different things that we see.
This can be a difficult process, but i will walk you through the photos and point out the different things that we see.
After narrowing down the images, the final decision will be up to you to select which photos you want to keep. The final photos selected will go through detailed retouches & edits.
You will be provided 1 Sample Retouched Photo to showcase what a retouched photo looks like.
You will be provided 1 Sample Retouched Photo to showcase what a retouched photo looks like.
The final photos are delivered via email within 5 business days from your selection date. Need your headshots sooner? There is an option to get them next day for an additional fee
Thank you for entrusting us with your professional image! If you have any questions, please email me at pawan@p1photography.ca. I look forward to capturing your best self in your headshots!