How to Prepare for Your Headshots

So you have your first headshots session coming up. Let’s talk about what to do to put your best face forward and help the photographer truly capture YOU in the classic, simple headshots.

How to Prepare for Your Headshots Photo Shoot

You want to make sure you come prepared so the photographer can really focus on just capturing your photos.

What to Wear for Your Headshots

• Keep it simple. Unless there’s a specific need for it, dress as simple as possible. 
• Solid colors are preferable. 
• If you wear patterns, keep them simple.
• Start simple, then if you have multiple outfits planned for the shoot (and have discussed that with your photographer), add layers and details as you go.
• Always iron clothes prior to the shoot. We can do a lot of magic with Photoshop, but wrinkles are difficult to magic away.
• Don’t sweat your shoes if you’re just doing professional headshots (not applicable for acting or modeling headshots, where a full body shot may be necessary).

What to Do With Your Hair

• Definitely brush it. Do all you can to tame fly always and frizzies. 
• Bring your brush or comb with you to the shoot, as well as some hair spray if you have it.
• If you have long hair, start with it down. If you want to wear it up for a more casual look, save that for the end of the shoot.
• Don’t wear any hats during the day of the shoot. Hat creases are difficult to Photoshop out, as well.
• A hair stylist is always recommended if you can afford it. (We have our own recommended hair stylists in Nashville if you need them.)

What To Do With Your Makeup

• Start light and natural. You can always add more as you go.
• Bring your makeup to cover up any shine or build your look.
• Bring lip balm or gloss to help keep your lips looking soft and healthy.
• Don’t do any masks or extreme skincare the night before the shoot, in case your skin reacts or turns red.
• Avoid tanning prior to a shoot, as it often makes your skin look unnaturally orange.
• Lash extensions are usually recommended, as the lights can sometimes wash out eyelashes.
• Men, shave right before the shoot for a cleaned up look. If you have a beard, use beard oil, but sparingly. Healthy and conditioned is good, but greasy is bad.
• We always recommend hiring a makeup artist for shoots, and they can stay with you through the shoot to touch up anything.

What to Expect at Your Headshots Photo Shoot

This is more of a specific “what to expect when working with Whiskey Media Studios”. A lot of photographers have similar workflows, but this can differ from photographer to photographer.

• Come prepared with what type of music you’d like to work with. We’ll put on some tunes while we shoot.
• If you have a longer shoot, we’ll do some warm up shots, that are more fun and loose while we get light tested and adjusted for your skin tones. If it’s a shorter shoot, we’ll test light, make sure you’re comfortable and feeling ready, then dive right in.
• Relax and have fun. The photos will turn out better if you look and feel comfortable.
• Trust the photographer’s direction. Sometimes the poses might feel silly or weird, but we have a vision and know where we’re going with it.
• Squint your eyes slightly. Many people widen their eyes when they smile at a camera, and that can make you look a little, well, crazy. A slight squint will look more natural.
• Pro tip: when the photographer tells you to move a certain way, ie. move your left shoulder back a bit or tilt your chin down, use little movements. If we say, “Bring your left shoulder towards me,” unless we specifically direct it to be a “big” motion, we expect tiny little adjustments. We’ll tell you if we need more. Making tiny adjustments helps us inch closer to the exact pose we want, without losing the look with a big adjustment.

And most of all, relax and have fun!

Confidence can’t be faked. Know that the photographer knows what they’re doing and will do their best to capture your look, so confidently pose your *** off for some rockin’ headshots.