How to Prepare for Your Headshot Session
How to Prepare for Your Headshot Session
The best headshots rarely come from the best camera. They come from a person who walked in rested, comfortable in their clothes, and knowing what to expect. After years of photographing actors, executives, and founders in New York, I can tell within the first few frames whether someone prepared. The ones who did look like themselves. Here is how to be one of them.
Start With a Goal, Not a Outfit
Before you pick a shirt, answer one question: where will this photo live? A LinkedIn profile, an acting submission, a company website, and a book jacket each call for something slightly different. Tell me the goal when you book, and we'll shape the session around it. If you have two or three headshots you admire, send them over. They tell me more than a paragraph of description ever could.
Wardrobe: What Actually Works on Camera
Choose solid colors. Mid-tones such as navy, deep green, charcoal, and burgundy tend to flatter most skin tones and keep attention on your face. Skip tiny patterns, thin stripes, and large logos, which can distract or create a shimmering effect on camera.
Bring options. Pack three or four tops, not twenty. Include one safe, classic choice and one that feels more like you. We'll decide together what makes the cut.
Mind the neckline. Your shirt or jacket frames your face. Collars should sit cleanly, and anything too tight or too loose will show up in the frame. Wear it once before the session so you know it behaves when you sit and move.
Iron or steam everything. Wrinkles are easy to miss in a mirror and very easy to see in a photograph. We have a steamer as well!
The Week Before
You don't need a dramatic transformation. You need to look like a well-rested version of yourself.
Drink plenty of water and get decent sleep the two nights before.
Skip new skincare products, facials, or aggressive treatments in the days leading up. Nothing new right before a shoot.
Schedule a haircut or trim about a week ahead, so it has time to settle.
Go easy on salt and alcohol the night before, which can show in the face.
The Day Of
Eat something beforehand so you're relaxed and not distracted by hunger. Arrive a few minutes early so you can settle in rather than rush. If you wear glasses, bring them, and tell me if glare is a concern so we can plan the lighting around it.
Hair and Makeup
Come with your hair styled the way you'd normally wear it on a good day. For makeup, aim for polished and natural. The goal is to look like you, only evened out. If you're unsure whether you need professional help, I wrote about that separately, and it's worth a read before your session.
Grooming Details
Check the small things in a mirror before we start: stray hairs, collar lint, and, for beards, a clean line. These are quick to fix in the moment and much slower to fix later.
What to Expect in the Session
Many people are nervous about the camera, and that's completely normal. I'll guide you through it. We start with a few easy frames to warm up, then adjust posture, chin, and expression as we go. You'll see images as we work if you'd like, so we can make adjustments together rather than guessing.
You don't need to know how to pose. You need to be willing to try a few things and tell me what feels natural. A real expression almost always beats a perfect one.
Most of the work happens in small cues, like tilting your chin slightly forward, relaxing your shoulders, or thinking of something that makes you smile. I'll direct all of it, so you can focus on being present.
After the Session
I'll send a selection of images for you to review and choose from. Take a day to look at them with fresh eyes, and ask a trusted friend or colleague to weigh in. Pick the one that looks most like the person people meet in real life.
A Quick Checklist
Know where the photos will be used
Bring three or four wardrobe options, steamed or ironed
Hydrate and sleep well
Avoid new skincare or big changes the week of
Arrive early, with glasses if you wear them
Come ready to try things
Preparation takes the pressure off, and it gives me more to work with. If you'd like to book a session, calendar slots are limited, so reach out early to find a time that works.
