Pro Tips from a Photographer for Professional Looking Headshots
How to Prepare for your Photo Shoot
Your headshot is a powerful marketing tool that is often the first thing a client sees. Once you have decided on the look and feel of your headshot now it’s time to prep for the occasion. Every headshot client I get asks me how they should prepare for the shoot, so I thought I’d put forward my best tips on how to get photo-ready, for a shoot with me or anyone else.
CLOTHING
- Dress as if you were going to a job interview or present yourself in the same professional manner as you would when seeing clients. If you’re the casual type, then go casual, but still wear flattering styles and fabrics.
- Don’t wear any crazy patterns or designs, these will distract from the main attraction, your face.
- Simple clothing tends to photograph better. Scoop-necks, v-necks and collared shirts shoot well. Anything that is too complex or finicky usually needs adjusting and can ruin a shot. If you fall into the corporate category, your marketing department can decide if they want ties and suits or not.
- Wear colours that enhance your skin tone.
- Choose something you feel comfortable in and love. If you feel awkward in your clothes, it will show in the photos. Better to choose clothing with a pattern that you love, than something plain that you don’t.
If you are more casual or have a non-corporate position, wear what is appropriate for your audience!
MAKEUP
- As a general rule, more makeup than usual is better. However consider how much you would normally wear. If you don’t wear much makeup, you may want to apply a bit of light blush and mascara so your natural features show up better in the photos. If you usually wear makeup, you may want to wear a bit more pronounced eye makeup. Put on a bit more than you would in your daily life and your photos will end up looking like you do in-person.
- It is recommended that you bring some lipstick or gloss to your photo shoot, even if it is just a tinted chapstick.
- Men may want to consider a bit of foundation to smooth out skin tone.
JEWELRY
- Please leave the distracting jewelry at home. Even if it is a beautiful necklace or earrings, you don’t want the first thing people notice about your image to be your accessories. Simple and subtle is more effective.
- Make sure if wearing a pendant necklace you have it centered in the shot. Your photographer should also be watching for this (I call it “live photoshopping”).
HAIR
- If you colour your hair, make sure to have your roots touched up before your picture is taken. There is only so much than can be fixed in post.
- Make sure your hair is neatly styled whether it is up or down. Depending on how nimble you are with styling your own hair, you may want to get it professionally done for your photos.
For those of you wanting to DIY it, here are some things to consider
- Soft diffused lighting works better than spotlights so you don’t have hard shadows on your face. Have your photographer stand at the window and face inwards to get natural window light. If shooting outside, overcast days produce better results than sunny days for the same reason.
- Shoot your photos from slightly above to get the most flattering angle. Stand or sit at a slight angle but still look at the camera directly. That said, you don’t always have to look at the camera.
- Make sure your picture is framed properly so you are the focal point.
- Try not to have a busy background that can distract from your face.
- Try laughing in the photo, and have the your friend shoot just after you laugh. I find people are the most relaxed after laughing and their natural warm expressions come out.
A landscape oriented headshot portait of a woman with black background.
Good luck and let me know how it goes! Let me know if you found any of these tips useful 🙂
How to Prepare for a Shoot
How to Prepare for your Real Estate Photo Shoot
Images are a very important aspect of marketing or selling any property. Photos and online presentations are typically the first impression that a client has. Make it count and take the time to prepare for the photography of your home or business.
Help me create images that wow, by following the tips below. Not all tips will apply or be possible, but do your best. Most of these tips are catered towards residential properties, but are useful and relevant to commercial properties as well. Please be ready by the time arrive. Thank you!
Don’t feel like reading all this? Download your own copy here.
EXTERIOR
You know when you look at a hotel website and the photos are all perfect? That’s what we’re going for, more or less.
- Move vehicles from the driveway and park away from the front of home.
- Place garbage bins and anything that is not attached to the property, in the garage or out of sight. □ Remove or coil garden hoses neatly.
- Remove any toys or pet related items from the yard.
- Remove seasonal decor.
- Straighten deck furniture.
- Cut grass and remove all weeds from cracks in concrete.
GENERAL
- Turn ALL inside lights on, including lamps, under counter lights and stove lights.
- Replace any burned out bulbs.
- Open all drapes and blinds on windows with a good view. Exception would be bathrooms or bedrooms with a poor view.
- If blinds are down, ensure they are all equally angled open.
- Conceal cords. Unplug them from the wall if needed (except lights).
- Turn all ceiling fans off. They will create a motion blur in your photo.
- Turn all televisions off.
- Remove small rugs from floors, especially from tile or wood floors.
- Remove all personal photos.
- Make beds and close closets. If you want to showcase a closet let me know.
- Remove all evidence of pets; pet dishes, pet toys, pet cages, litter boxes.
- Remove clutter from all rooms, ie, tissue boxes, remotes, cleaning robots, brooms, stacks of paper, boxes, bags etc.
- No shoes by doors or anywhere.
- Clean the property. Vacuum, wipe windows and walls, remove all dirt. It WILL show in the photos if you do not.
KITCHENS
- Clear all counter tops. No dish rags or towels, soap, knives or cutting boards. It’s okay to leave one or two small appliances for size perception, but more than that can be distracting.
- Remove dish drying racks and dishes from the sink.
- Clear the refrigerator completely of any magnets, pictures, lists, etc (front, sides and top).
- Remove any calendars. Calendars make a listing dated if it goes over 30 days.
- Remove trash can.
- Remove floor mats.
BATHROOMS
- Clear the countertop from absolutely every item considered to be personal.
- Remove toilet cleaning brushes, toilet plungers and trash cans.
- Remove shampoo and conditioner bottles and personal items from shower and tub area.
- Toilet lids must be down.
- Remove all floor mats.
- Ensure towels are neatly hung. Bonus: put out fresh towels, neatly hung.
TWILIGHT SHOOTS
In addition to the above, it is very important to ensure that all burned out light bulbs have been replaced (interior: all lamps, pot lights, stove lights, under counter, vanity etc – exterior, soffit, garden, garage, railing etc).
Good luck and let me know how it goes! I have prepared this same information available on a free download here, for your convenience and reference.