How to Get the Most Out of Your Headshot Session

If you want a really great photo, it's important to remember that the photographer is only half of the equation.

The other half is you!

The goal of today's article is to help you prepare for your session so you get fantastic shots.


Related: Read our "What to Wear in Your Headshot Session" guide to learn what colors/clothing work best on camera!

​Part 1: The Psychology of Getting a Great Headshot

​What is it that separates those who look natural and relaxed on-camera from those who have fake smiles and "deer-in-the-headlights" expressions?

Confidence.

And how do you get confidence?

By being aware of a few, simple things:

Plan to look WORSE before you look GREAT.

Cameras used by professional photographers pick up EVERYTHING. They capture blemishes, wrinkles, flyaway hairs, and a whole lot more.

This means you might look WORSE in the first few test shots as your photographer sets everything up.
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Just remember to trust the process and give it a little bit of time. After the first 5-10 minutes, you should start seeing shots you really like!

It's a collaborative process.

The process of headshot photography requires three simple things:

• Be honest with yourself about how you look: How old are you now? Have you gained any weight? Is your hair thinner? With a highly-experienced photographer, some adjustments can be made with lighting and camera tricks, but other things might need to wait for retouching afterwards.
• Be honest with your photographer about what you're not liking: If you see something you don't like, point it out and ask if it can be adjusted.
• Be proud of who you are and what you look like. Many people worry that they look too young or too old, and think they'll be judged for it. But it's possible to be yourself while still projecting the right image.

And remember that everyone has completely different preferences. Some people prefer to look older while others want to look younger. Some want their hair fuller whereas others want it more tamed. Some want their face narrower, and others want it wider!

Remember that you can't expect your photographer to know exactly what you want without communicating it to them.

A great headshot should look like you.

If you look significantly different in your headshot than you do in real life, things can fall apart when people meet you in person. They might lose trust in you if they feel like your headshot was dishonest.

Think of things like excessive skin smoothing, facial and body slimming, and hair thickening as dishonest portrayals of yourself.

That being said, it's still OK to look a little better in your headshot than you do in real life.

And that's where lighting tricks and natural retouching come into play (related article: 5 Reasons You're More Photogenic Than You Think).

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When giving feedback to your photographer, try to be as specific as possible with what you want changed. It's much more helpful to say, "Can you make my face look slimmer?" or, "I think my face looks too wide," than to say, "I just don't like this photo."

You can even show a photo you've taken of yourself in the past that you DO like so your photographer has something to start working from.

​Part 2: Know What's Included in Your Package

1. ​Arrive camera-ready if you didn't book a stylist: If you're scheduling without a stylist or makeup artist, most photographers will give you about 5 minutes before the shoot begins to make some last-minute adjustments. There often won't be time for you to put on full makeup or do a lot to your hair. You'll also probably need to bring your own clothes, as most photographers do not provide clothing. Here's a guide on what to wear.
2. ​Know what's included (and not included) in retouching: If your package includes retouched images, it's important to understand what can and can't be done, and how long each retouching pass will take so you can plan accordingly. With us, it's about 2-3 business days for the first retouch pass, and then it takes about a day for each additional adjustment you want.
3. Be clear about your needs before the shoot: Knowing what backgrounds and specifications your photographer can shoot on is important. If you need anything different than what you see in their website gallery, be sure to email your photographer ahead of time to confirm whether it's doable.
4. Be sure you're working with the right photographer: I had to throw this in - if you haven't booked with anyone yet, you might want to read this short guide on how to choose the right photographer so you make sure to book with someone that can provide you with exactly what you need.

​Part 3: Preparing for the Shoot

To finish this article up, here's a list of 7 quick things you can do to ensure you're ready:

1. ​Know your goals for the session: Find out any specifications you need to match beforehand and make sure you're clear on how you're going to be using the headshots.
2. Prepare your looks beforehand: Grow or cut your hair, get beauty treatments if needed, and plan out the clothing you're bringing. If you're doing a multi-look shoot, make sure to have at least 2 outfits per look so the photographer and/or stylist can help you decide which will work best for each look. Here's a fantastic article on what to wear for headshots. If you're an actor, you should be clear on your brand and bring clothes that support it.
   1. Shooting outside on a cold day? Wear an extra layer underneath if you're shooting outdoors. Since you'll need to take your coat off, having an extra layer can help you stay warm. Uniqlo makes Heattech brand shirts that we recommend.
   2. Want to do your own makeup? Read my Ultimate Guide to Doing Your Own Headshot Makeup.
3. Try to keep stress levels down: The week of the shoot, eat well, drink lots of water, and avoid sunburns or scratching your face. Think happy thoughts to avoid stress and blemishes, but remember that if a blemish shows up, it can be retouched! Also, try to avoid alcohol the day before the shoot because it can cause puffiness and increase the appearance of bags beneath the eyes.
4. Get plenty of sleep the night before: But if you have trouble sleeping, it's OK because dark circles under the eyes can be minimized with makeup and/or retouching.
5. Eat breakfast so you're well fed and energized: If you're doing a longer shoot, it can also be helpful to pack a snack like a Granola bar. And if you're going to be drinking coffee before your shoot, use a straw to avoid teeth stains.
6. Bring contact info and plan to arrive early: Plan your route ahead of time because you don't want to be stressing out about arriving late and cutting into your shooting time! Make sure to keep your photographer's contact info handy so you can call them if needed.
7. Come to your shoot happy: Keep an open mind and have fun during the session!

If you're shooting with us, we can't wait to meet you! Feel free to email us at info@cityheadshots.com if you have any questions or concerns before your shoot.


Related Guide: Wedding Photographer NYC & NJ

Take Your Headshots from OK to Fantastic
​By learning a few "tricks of the trade"

Download our free guide:

• Learn our Hidden Angle Formula to find your best side and start using it to look more trustworthy and experienced on-camera
• Discover why certain colors look 10X better than others and how to match pieces perfectly so you look fantastic - even if you're bad at matching clothes
• Learn the 8 secret expression tricks we use to help our clients instantly look more confident and relaxed in photos - and how you can use these to look your best with ANY photographer you shoot with

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