The Ultimate Guide to Preparing for a Headshot

Preparing for a headshot shoot is time well spent. Not sure what to do and when? These simple steps will have you looking and feeling your best on the day.

What should I do the week before my headshot session?

• Drink plenty of water.

  Grab your water bottle and get sipping. In the lead up to your headshot aim for eight glasses a day. Staying hydrated will help flush out toxins and leave your skin glowing. If you get a spot before your photoshoot try to ignore it. A little blemish is easily retouched. 

• Moisturise your face daily.

  Men, it might not be part of your nightly routine but moisturiser is a friend when preparing for your headshot. General areas of flakiness aren’t as easy to remedy in post-production. If your headshot takes place in summer, suntan lotion is vital too. Nobody wants red cheeks, peeling noses or sunglass’ lines. 

• Apply lip balm regularly.

  If you are prone to dry lips, keep a pot of Vaseline nearby and use it. Chapped, cracked lips are not a good look and are especially noticeable in a headshot. Keeping your lips healthy is important if you are planning to apply lipstick. Well-moisturised lips mean a smooth application and long-lasting wear.

• Consider a haircut.

  It mightn’t be a great idea to go for a drastic restyle in the lead-up to your shoot. But a trim or refresh of your highlights is worth considering as you prepare for a headshot.

• Avoid salty and fatty foods.

  Take your hand off that salt cellar and grab an apple. Too much salt content in food leads to water retention and bloating. Fatty foods cause spots and sluggishness.  As you prepare for a headshot you want to feel good in your skin and about yourself. 

• Reduce alcohol intake.

  Drinking alcohol dehydrates your skin, causing it to look dull. It also leads to puffiness and redness, particularly around your eyes. Caffeine isn’t great, either. Coffee fans, I can only apologise.

• Decide on your main outfit and alternative options.

  The right outfit can make or break a headshot. Think about the image you want to portray. Is a suit and tie necessary? Are you more of an open-shirt person?  Have a rummage in your wardrobe and choose your favourite option and backups. This downloadable style guide can help guide you through. If anything needs to go to the dry cleaner now is the time. 

What should I do the night before my headshot session?

• Iron your clothes.

  Carefully press and hang your clothes the night before. Crumpled clothes can undermine your professionalism. And removing wrinkles when retouching is a nightmare. Have a pet? Make sure your outfits are fur-free.

• Put outfits and accessories ready to go.

  Hang or lay out your clothes and accessories so they are easy to find the next day.  On the morning of your headshot, you don’t want to be scrambling about or risk forgetting anything.

• Double-check the shoot time.

  Sometimes headshot shoots are booked weeks in advance. It’s easy to forget the agreed time. Check the weather forecast too. If it is grim and you plan to have an outdoor headshot session, it might need rescheduling.

• Check the location and parking.

  If you plan to drive, look at your route and parking options at the meeting point. You don’t want to drive around in circles at the last minute or risk a parking ticket. As with everything, when you prepare for a headshot session, having these details sorted will stop you from feeling flustered on the day.

• Exfoliate your face.

  If you can lay your hands on an exfoliator, use it. It will leave your skin looking brighter and make the most of your hard work staying hydrated and eating healthily. 

• Wash your hair.

  Greasy, lank hair doesn’t look nice in photographs. If your hair is fine, don’t wash it right before your shoot which can make those pesky fly-away hairs worse.

• Check nail varnish isn’t chipped.

  Your hands probably won’t appear in a headshot but make sure your nail varnish looks presentable in case you want a wider portrait shot (this goes down as far as waist height and includes hands if arms are crossed).

• Shave to avoid redness in the morning.

  If you plan to shave, doing it the night before will give your skin time to calm down. Don’t panic if you nick yourself a small mark is easily fixed in Photoshop.

• Get an early night.

  With busy lives and boxsets to binge on, bedtime often gets pushed back. But a good night’s kip before your photo shoot is essential. So stop scrolling and catch some zzz’s. 

What should I do on the day of my headshot session?

• Wake up early.

  Set that alarm and don’t be tempted by the snooze button. Getting up early means plenty of time to prepare for your headshot. Feeling stressed about being late will put you in the wrong frame of mind, which is likely to come across in the pictures. 

• Have a good breakfast.

  A proper meal will set you up for the day, giving you the energy to prepare for your headshot. Studies have shown that people who eat breakfast have better overall health and improved concentration - useful when focusing on getting the best shot!

• Store your photographer's number in your phone.

  Make you save your photographer’s phone number. If you are running late or get lost, it’ll be much easier to give them a quick ring and get yourself on track.

• Check the weather and confirm the plan.

  You have probably already looked at the forecast and assumed the best but things change fast. Nothing like British Weather to keep you on your toes. If there is a sudden downpour and your headshot session is planned for outside, confirm it can still go ahead.

• Put clothes safely in a suit bag/ on hangers to transport.

  You’ve spent time carefully ironing everything, don’t undo your hard work last minute. Pop your outfit on a hanger, inside a suit bag if you have one. Even a T-shirt can get crumpled when shoved in the bottom of a bag.

What should I bring to my headshot session?

• Glasses wipe or cloth.

  Dirty glasses can make flash and light reflections worse. Make sure your spectacles are sparkling clean.

•  Anti-shine papers or powder.

  Sweating happens to us all, particularly on a hot day or when we are feeling anxious. Cameras are good at picking it up. And studio lighting can make you look particularly shiny. Some powder or oil blotting sheets can help take the edge off the gleam.

•  A small hand-held mirror.

  If you have an outdoor headshot, it’s worth sticking a small mirror in your bag for a final check. You can also ask to see your image back of the camera.

• A hairbrush or comb.

  You might get blown about on your journey in or between shots outside. A quick once-over with a brush will help your hair look as professional as you are.

• Lipstick/ gloss.

  Item deIf you are wearing something on your lips, make sure to bring the product with you ready for top-ups.

• A bottle of water/ snack.

  There’s nothing worse than an empty stomach and a dry mouth to put you off your game. A small healthy snack can give you a little boost. But avoid anything too greasy or crumbly. 

• An umbrella.

  Make sure you have an umbrella if you need to make a mad dash to the car. “Drowned Rat” is not a look anyone wants for their headshot. 

So there you have it, ways you can prepare for your headshot session. Take the time to work through this list, and you’ll be sure you’re putting your best face forward!

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This article was written by Leigh, an Exeter-based corporate photographer, specialising in personal branding shoots and business headshots. No stuffy studios, just professional, natural portraits for modern entrepreneurs.

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