5 Tips for headshot photos
5 tips to prepare for your headshot session
Headshot photography in Temecula
When creating your brand, there are few things more important than having a great headshot. If you're an actor, writer, or any other creative professional, a picture of yourself can be the first thing that people see when they Google your name. And if you're looking to promote yourself or your business, a great photo is essential.
A headshot session is an exciting experience—but it's also full of potential pitfalls if you aren't prepared. Here are five things to keep in mind before arriving at your appointment:
Wear clothing that suits your industry
When deciding what to wear for your headshot session, it's important to consider the type of industry you're in and the image that will best suit it. For example:
If you're a model or actor, then clothing with clean lines is ideal because it will highlight your body shape and help create an illusion of height. Color harmony is key. Wear solid colors considering the colors in your background, and dress to compliment them. Avoid busy patterns or logos as these can distract from the main focus of your photograph--you! Wear layers like jackets, sweaters and collars to frame your face.
If you work in finance and business, choose darker colors such as navy blue or black that make people look thinner on camera. In addition, avoid bold stripes since they tend to add bulk rather than subtracting from it.* Bring Simple accessories. Often less is more when it comes to jewelry.
Have a nice, neutral background in mind
The background should be simple and neutral, so that it does not distract from you. It's best if the background is light and has a lot of open space behind the subject for cropping and other edits.
A good headshot photographer will have multiple options for different backgrounds, so they can accommodate any preference you have.
A headshot session is all about you feeling relaxed, having fun and making sure you get exactly the images you want
A headshot session should be fun! It's your time to shine! The photographer will guide you through the process, but ultimately it's up to you how much direction or input into the final image(s) that happens during a shoot. Feel free to offer suggestions or ask questions. Collaboration delivers the best results.
Headshots are about showing your personality and should communicate professionalism, confidence, and experience.
Choose the right photographer
Ask to see their portfolio. If you are meeting with a photographer for the first time, it's important that they have previous shots they can show you. This will give you an idea of what kind of work they do and how they style themselves as professionals in their field.
Get details on how long they've been in business and how many headshots they take per year. If a photographer has been doing this type of photography for many years, chances are good that he or she knows what works best when shooting people's faces--and why!
Ask how long it takes them to get back with you after receiving your photos from the photo shoot (this should be expedient). You don't want to wait too long before seeing your images so that if something needs tweaking or retouching, there isn't much time lost between shooting sessions/photo shoots.*
Ask your photographer if they can recommend any local makeup artists or places where you can get your hair done right after the shoot
Your photographer can recommend any local makeup artists and/or hair stylists they think will do a great job with your look. Having professional hair and makeup will help with a more polished and professional look. You won't regret the extra attention to detail.
Now that you know what to expect and how to prepare for your headshot session, it's time to get started! We hope this guide has given you some insight into what goes into creating a great portrait and why it's so important. If you have any questions about anything we covered here today, please don't hesitate to reach out. We love hearing from our readers (and potential clients), so please feel free to contact us with any comments or concerns--we'll do our best to help answer them as quickly as possible!