You have made the decision to invest in some new headshots for your business. Now you might be panicking! If you are feeling a little daunted by the thought of your shoot, read on! Here are some tips on preparing for your headshot photoshoot and making sure you get the most out of it to produce the results you are dreaming about!
It’s All In The Planning!
Rocking up to your session is the final part- planning for your session is vital for a great shoot. So what do you have to think about? There is a bit of work to do in advance so that the headshots reflect you and your brand and put across the right message to your potential clients. Here are my top tips to consider when planning your shoot so that you feel fabulous and you love your images at the end of it!
Brand Personality
What is the personality of you and your brand? Is it fun, relaxed, cheerful? Is it professional, serious, formal? What about you? Are you friendly, spirited, creative? Great headshots will reflect these personality traits. This will lead you to make decisions about the type of headshots you are looking for and the approach you have to your shoot. It may also help you decide on what photographer to book for your headshot session.
Do Your Research To Prepare
Do you need an excuse to spend a lovely hour browsing Pinterest? Well this is a great one! Pinterest is a great tool for researching different styles and approaches to headshots. It will give you an idea of what you like, what you don’t like and will give you some inspiration to what you may want to achieve yourself. Look at the photographs on the photographers website. This will also give you some ideas and will help you to decide if their approach and style is right for you. My style is natural and led by the personality of the person I am photographing. This might not be the right fit for somebody looking for corporate, formal headshots. This style is generally a great fit for down to earth, small business owners who are looking for natural images that authentically reflect them and their personality.
What To Wear For Your Headshot Session
I know- it’s a biggie! The outfit you choose should reflect the personality of you and your business. For example, if you want to show a side to you that is warm, friendly and approachable, avoid the business suit or formal attire. Something more casual would fit this better.
Try on your outfit before the shoot to make sure you are happy with how you look in it and that you feel comfortable. Want a variety of shots to use from your shoot? Jackets, scarves, hats and jewellery are great, quick ways of mixing up your outfit quickly to give you different headshots from the same photoshoot.
Location For Your Photoshoot
A mix of indoors and outdoors is great for some variety in your headshot session. Outdoors with can offer a wide variety of backgrounds for your shoot. The backdrop in your images can bring atmosphere or colour into your headshots. Your photographer can help you to plan a location with your brand in mind. They will have the skill to use the chosen location to find great backdrops for your headshots.
Hair & Makeup
Some people choose to treat themselves to professional hair & makeup for their headshot session, but it is an individual choice. A recent trip to the hairdressers and a bit of extra time perfecting your makeup (if that’s your thing!), can go along way in helping you feel more comfortable in front of the camera.
Stacey from Makeup by SPR has a great offer on hair & makeup for clients booked in for headshot sessions with me.
Trust Your Photographer!
It is important that you choose a photographer that you connect with & feel comfortable with. If you get on with them, they will put you at ease & make you feel comfortable in front of the camera. Trust that your photographer will work with light & composition to get the best shots. Don’t be afraid to have a peek at the pictures on the back of the camera during your session! Your photographer will work with you to get images that you love from your headshot photoshoot.
A Last note…
Show off those images that you have invested in! You have taken a big step, often way out of your comfort zone, to book a headshot session. It is a big deal getting in front of the camera. Putting yourself out there as the face of your business can be scary- but you gotta do it!
Don’t let your self- esteem put you off using your fab images. How we see ourselves is very different to how others see us. Post that headshot on social media with a little note about yourself- I promise the engagement will be huge and will be nothing but full of love and positivity x
I would LOVE to hear from you if you want to book a session, or are just tipping your toe in the water to find out what a headshot photoshoot entails. I am really happy to chat and love to connect with other small businesses. Say Hello 🙂




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