10 Preparation Tips for Studio Headshot Photography

Many subjects ask our photo studio how to prepare for their headshot session.

Preparing for headshot photography is instrumental to a great experience with your photographer. It is a key component to improving the quality of your headshot photo, too.

Studio headshot photography provides a controlled environment. This eliminates factors such as wind, sunlight, and pedestrian traffic. Photo prep for a studio headshot is different than a location portrait.

Since every person has a unique vision for their headshot, there are many other methods of preparation.

As headshot photographers in Philadelphia, our studio wants to educate clients about the best techniques. These photo prep tips are a check list for subjects to reference before arriving on set for their headshot.

There are instances when clients arrive in tight jackets, baggy sweatshirts, or even work scrubs. You want to plan headshot photography outfits that fit to your body.

A headshot only requires clothes that look fantastic from the subject’s chest and higher. Wear shoes with proper support when posing on apple boxes and hardwood floors. Pants are cropped out of headshot photos, so sweatpants or denim jeans could suffice.

You'll take a headshot photography session more seriously when your entire outfit is together from head-to-toe.

If you work in healthcare or medicine, you may want to wear a white lab coat in the headshot photo. Bring it with you and wear a collared shirt or comfortable blouse underneath of it.

Knit blazers with trendy colors or patterns are a phenomenal option for headshots. Our studio believes that earth-tone colors, like blue, green, and brown are always a safe choice. Laying your clothes can create a texture that photographs well.

Avoid plain t-shirts, loud patterns, and oversized suit jackets.

Lay multiple outfits on the bed to see how they look. Think about how you want to portray yourself to companies that'd hire you.

Consider which clothes make sense for your level of professionalism. You should wear colors in the headshot photo that match your personality.

Once you select an outfit for the studio headshot photography session, remember to steam or iron it. Wrinkles are an easy imperfection to fix before arriving on set. This is a simple step that can elevator your headshot photo.

A bold tie, lapel pin, necklace, or earrings are worth bringing to a headshot session. Bracelets, watches, and rings are usually below the crop. Also, over-accessorizing can distract the viewer’s eyes from the purpose of the photograph.

You can wear glasses in the headshot photo if you regularly wear them. If most people familiarize your face with glasses on, then appearing in a headshot with them will make sense.

Light strobes can create a glare on glasses. Minor glares are fixable in programs like Photoshop. Prominent glares are an issue and photographers should adjust their lighting accordingly.

Oftentimes, subjects will discuss accessories with their headshot photographer or stylist before putting them on. These kinds of last-minute decisions are made inside of the studio. Bringing multiple accessories is helpful for choosing the best headshot look.

Our photography studio has a private dressing room for experimenting with clothes. Dressing rooms allow clients to fine-tune their style and make last-minute changes on the spot. Take advantage of this amenity before stepping on set in your most confident outfit.

Remember to bring multiple accessories when scheduling a headshot photography session at the studio. Photographers are eager to discuss these details with you while in-person.

A subject’s energy level can elevate or hinder photoshoot results. It is important to get plenty of rest and eat before a studio headshot session begins. When clients are operating on low energy, it is difficult for photographers to direct and guide them.

Modeling is work. Headshot subjects may need to stand for long periods of time, lean their bodies, and work the camera with various poses. Headshot photographers need their subjects to perform. Posing is difficult work on an empty stomach or little sleep.

Remember to eat a light meal before a photo session. Salads, smoothies, overnight oats, sandwiches, or wraps can provide enough energy to perform well during headshot photography. Avoid heavy meals that will cause you to feel bloated on set.

Pack a protein snack for the road. If you happen to need a burst of energy, then take a few minutes to eat it. The best time to eat during a headshot session is in-between wardrobe changes or lighting adjustments.

Sometimes light strobes can cause dizziness or hot flashes. As a result, subjects may need to take a break or cease the photo session to recover. The probability of hot flashes are higher for clients that forget to eat a meal prior to the session or lose sleep beforehand.

Arriving with energy for the camera increases your chances of a successful headshot photography session.

Busy schedules are common, and it is hard to make more time for ourselves. We understand that. When setting a date and time for your headshot photography session, try to avoid overscheduling yourself.

When clients overschedule themselves, they’re in a rush to enter, and then a rush to exit. Creating great headshot photographs is more difficult when the subject is eager to leave for another important commitment. Book your headshot on a lenient business day—like a Friday evening.

Headshot photographers want time to develop a bond with their clients. They want to avoid a hasty high school picture day experience. Instead, allocating time to review the vision, nail the lighting techniques, and make clothing adjustments will create amazing photo results.

Try to arrive 10 minutes before the start time. Our studio’s headshot photography experience is about 1-hour. This accounts for a wardrobe change, styling discussions, a creative approach consultation, capturing the headshot, and the photo review.

Headshot photographers and their subjects need time to gain trust. Comfort in front of the camera needs time to blossom. Unless the subject is a professional model, it takes each person several minutes to achieve their best look.

Photographers may need to follow specific rules and guidelines for a corporate headshot session.

Companies should design a guideline packet to ensure photos are consistent and high-quality. Sharing this information with a headshot photographer is a vital to preparation.

Corporate headshot guidelines should specify photo composition. Most companies—like law firms, hospitals, or insurance agencies—will want each headshot captured above the waist.

Some composition guidelines may restrict the subject from crossing their arms. The company should indicate a preferable body angle: either left or right.

Also, it important to discuss background color. Solid white, light grey, navy blue, or dark brown are common examples.

Corporate headshot guidelines should discuss proper attire. For instance, the company may require a certain color of tie, or possibly no tie at all. Consider the availability of patterned suits, sweaters, a collared shirt or blouse. Adding visual contrast through scarves or lapel pins are sometimes a requirement, too.

Corporate headshot guidelines should indicate lighting preferences for photographers. Switching between certain styles of lighting can develop inconsistencies between each subject. As an example, lighting guidelines may require no shadows on the subject’s face or enhancements on their clothes.

Providing your company’s corporate headshot guidelines to a photographer can expedite the process. It ensures that a photographer understands the vision and branding aesthetic. Share this with your headshot photographer before arriving on set.

Hire an experienced hair and make-up artist that understands the look that you want to achieve in this photograph.

Our studio believes that a hair and make-up artist is essential to achieving the best headshot photography results. A photo that will appear on business profiles, websites, and networking platforms should look high-quality.

Professional hair and make-up artists know how to accentuate facial features and minimize imperfections. This impacts the subject’s camera confidence and approachability. When a subject knows that their hair and make-up looks its best, it creates comfortable energy translates in each photograph.

Time is another factor that hair and make-up artists resolve during studio headshot photography. Hair and make-up artists work fast, which allows subjects to mentally prepare while sitting in the salon chair. Problems on set may arise like flyaway hairs, make-up wearing off, or excessive shine. Hair and make-up artists are responsible for quickly fixing these issues, which is efficient for both the subject and photographer.

If consistency is a top priority for headshot photos, then a hair and make-up artist can further guarantee this. When multiple subjects are awaiting their headshot, a hair and make-up artist can create a consistent look for each of them. Hair and make-up artists keep subjects occupied while they wait their turn on set, which creates a better studio experience.

It is common for men to bypass hiring a hair and make-up artist for their corporate headshot photo. However, men should consider hiring this service. Removing shine, adding powder on the skin, and trimming hair is a game-changer for men.

As a review, hiring a hair and make-up artist contributes to the success of a studio headshot session.

Skin care makes a difference in a headshot photo.

While Photoshop can remove basic imperfections, we encourage clients to maintain healthy skin before entering the studio.

One method of smart skincare is avoiding too much sun. Some clients make the mistake of scheduling their headshot after a beach vacation. Harsh tan lines or burnt skin will show in each photograph. Remember to avoid overexposing yourself to sunlight.

Moisturizing your skin is vital to capturing the best headshot photography. Use a face moisturizing cream to remove dry skin from areas around the nose, scalp, and neck. This technique will keep your skin looking clear and clean throughout the session.

Remember to wash your face to remove dirt, oil, bacteria, and other pollutants. Washing your face daily can reduce these imperfections and maintain a fresh look. Professional headshot cameras take sharp photos. Fine details, like skin textures and hair strands, are visible.

Avoid bad habits like picking skin or rubbing eyes. Touching the face can further irritate the skin.

Healthy skin improves your confidence in front of the camera.

A fresh haircut or hair coloring appointment is essential before booking a studio headshot session.

Hair styling—for men and women—is critical when trying to appear at your best. In professional headshot photography, subjects should want their hair to look perfect.

Capturing a headshot photo during the awkward stages of hair growth is a bad idea.

It is important that the headshot endures the test of time. On average this is about 3-5 years. Opting for a trendy haircut that fits your personality, face shape, and attire will create fantastic photography results.

Try to schedule a haircut 1-2 days before your session. Scheduling a headshot session on the same day as a haircut appointment is not a good idea. This is because loose strands of hair are visible on the face or articles of clothing.

Hire a trustworthy barber or hairstylist that understands the professional look that you’re trying to achieve.

Bad hair days are an inconvenience that can reduce the quality of your headshot photo. Take a moment at the studio to improve your hair with a comb, hairspray, or styling gel.

Headshot photography often involves close-up shots that focus on the facial features. For this reason, we recommend going above and beyond to maintain good personal hygiene prior to the photo session.

Feeling clean and fresh is a confidence booster that will reflect into the camera. When preparing for a studio headshot, subjects want to create as much positive energy as possible for themselves. Good personal hygiene soothes the tension.

A simple hygiene tip is flossing and brushing your teeth. Clean teeth are important for striking an authentic smile. Sometimes subjects can have food in their teeth, which will show in the photograph. Remember to clean your teeth after eating a meal.

Prepare for a studio headshot photo like you're arriving to an upscale networking event with high-profile guests.

It may feel awkward to look in the mirror and practice for a headshot session. However, by doing this, you can gain confidence in yourself. It will determine which angles of your face look their best for the camera.

Every person has slightly different eye sizes. Usually, a person’s “best side” is the angle where their smaller eye is closest to the lens. Remember this when capturing a headshot or any casual photograph.

Practice is one of the steps toward feeling more comfortable during headshot photography so take the necessary time to do this. The more time invested into preparation, the more at ease one will feel during the headshot.

Looking in a mirror is the only opportunity that subjects can see themselves. During the session, they are in the hands of their headshot photographer.

Subjects who practice in a mirror can help photographers with directing posing and generating expressions.

If this guide serves as a helpful reference, then you’re one step closer towards a successful headshot photography experience.

Consider our Philly studio to update your profile with a headshot. Curious readers can learn more about corporate headshot photography and how the careful approach that we apply.

In review, headshot photography sessions in the studio are more successful when subjects can prepare accordingly. Following these tips can ensure that your next headshot is better than last one.

Contact Phil Kramer in Philadelphia to book your next headshot.