(A Step-by-Step Guide)
Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
You’re a busy professional growing an incredible career. But as you’re putting yourself out there, you realize your professional image is somewhat….outdated. Maybe your last professional headshot was 10 years ago? Or maybe you just swiped your LinkedIn photo from the last wedding you attended (it’s more common than you’d think!).
So you’ve gone ahead and booked a professional headshot photographer. What’s next? There’s more at stake than school picture day. You’re showing up on professional platforms like LinkedIn, and this photo could either help or hinder that personal brand. So how can you best prepare?
1. Have a conversation with your photographer
Hopefully this is already happening. A professional headshot photographer will want to have that conversation and help you be as ready as possible. A conversation with you can help determine what direction to guide you in, what to recommend for clothing, the vibe of the shoot, and other important details.
2. Plan ahead for your hair
Think about when you feel most confident in how your hair looks. Is it immediately after a haircut? Or is it a few days or a week after your haircut? Is it the same day as you get a blowout from your favorite salon? Once you book your session, plan to have your hair right where you want it. Also, now is typically NOT the time to try a new/different hairstyle. You want to show up in your headshot the same way you’d show up to an important business meeting. Do it in a way that makes you feel super confident, and that people in your life would actually recognize you!
3. Think about makeup
If you are comfortable doing your own makeup, that’s totally fine. Many of our clients do their own makeup prior to a session and they look great. Or if you have a makeup artist you like, feel free to use them on the day of the session. We also have partnerships with some amazing hair and makeup artists who can come right to the studio to work with you. But remember: the goal for headshots is not glamor makeup. It’s typically a more subtle, natural, corporate style. Don’t think “wedding.” Think “important corporate meeting.” Also, sticking pretty close to how you show up on a regular basis should play a factor as well. And don’t worry….we’ll be taking care of any blemishes with retouching as well!
4. Plan your outfits
What’s the goal with your headshot? If it’s to match the style of your company, then let that guide your outfit choice. For example, if your company is more formal, then go more formal.
If the goal is to build your own personal brand (which many people are), then ask yourself this question. Who is your intended audience and what do you want to communicate to them? Some work in more formal industries (eg. Finance) and want to present themselves as such. In this case, more formal corporate attire is appropriate (think about shirts, ties, blazers, etc). Others want to present a more laid back, down-to-earth image. This may be a shirt with no tie and a nice blazer. Or a t-shirt and a blazer. Or a nice, but more casual blouse. In some cases, it may be a good idea to bring a range of attire for different use cases. Check out the portfolio to see a range of outfits in action.
The important thing is that you want to show up as YOU. Wearing something in your headshot that you would NEVER wear in real life doesn’t show people the real you.
5. Drink lots of water
Simple one here. Good hydration can help your skin look even better on the day of the session. Start the day before and make sure you’re drinking plenty of water.
6. What are your potential use cases?
It’s ok if you haven’t thought of every single one. But it can be helpful to at least have an idea of the different places you’ll need to use your new headshots. Do you just need an upgrade for your LinkedIn profile? Or are you doing a lot of things professionally and will need to use your headshots in a lot of different scenarios? Being aware of this will help your professional headshot photographer guide the session and focus on shooting styles that will be the most useful for you and your goals.
7. Please……try not to get sunburned
If you do, it’s not the end of the world. Our retoucher is REALLY good and can remove red skin if needed. But besides not being good for your skin in general, it can also affect your confidence in how you show up on the day of the session. So use some SPF!
8. Come to the session ready to have fun
I know, I know. You may not have ever thought you’d hear the words “fun” and “headshot” in the same sentence. Most of our clients who tell us about their past experience have often likened it to visiting a dentist or the awkwardness of public speaking. But I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t HAVE to be like this. While I may put you into some awkward poses, you’ll QUICKLY see how good it makes you look. And I can guarantee I’ll have you laughing at my Expression Coaching (a major part of what I do in these sessions). Check out my Google reviews. People frequently reference how comfortable I made them and how much fun the whole session was.
This is what I tell all of my clients: if you come with an open mind, ready to have fun, this is what’s going to happen…..we’re going to knock it out of the park together.
Seriously. While I’m happy to work with actors and models, most of my clients are corporate executives, founders, entrepreneurs, and keynote speakers. And many of my clients tell me that they don’t feel comfortable in front of the camera. Go ahead and check out the rest of my website. 80-90% of those people told me some version of that. And just look at how confident, comfortable, and energetic they look.
Now imagine YOU in their shoes.
Are you ready to knock it out of the park?
Daniel Wakefield is a photographer, entrepreneur, and author. He is the founder of Top-Tier Headshots and the Accelerate Coaching Group, initiatives through which he helps professionals and creatives elevate their brand and business.
