There is a lot of pressure when you’re prepping for your first headshot. The biggest question I get from headshot clients is consistently: What should I look like? In addition to not knowing how much to smile, or how conservative to appear, a lot of insecurity comes down to what you’re wearing.
It seems like good advice if your photographer tells you to “just dress professionally” if this shot will be used for business or “be yourself” if you’re an actor, for example – but upon closer examination, that’s not actually super helpful advice. Professional can mean so many different things! And what version of yourself is the right one for a photo that will follow you for years and years? Also, there are far too many things in a photo shoot that are out of your control and beyond your scope of prediction: What will the backdrop look like… How will the shot be lit (wait, are there different kinds of lighting?)… What colors best complement my skin tone? There is so much to consider.
So here are my top 5 tips for how to get yourself looking perfect for your headshot!
5. Pick a low-maintenance hair style
So this isn’t exactly about clothing, but remember that your photographer will ask you to turn, tilt, and adjust your head a lot during a headshot shoot. If your hair only looks good from one angle, or lying on your shirt in this one perfect direction, then it’s probably not going to work very well during your session. Your photographer and you will have to spend a lot of time adjusting how your hair falls on your shoulders or in front of your eyes instead of spending that time getting more shots for you to choose from later. Instead, try to style your hair in a way that’s easy to adjust without having to look in a mirror every time you breathe. This may mean using a little hairspray (even for men!) or wearing your hair up.
4. Avoid shiny fabrics
This is true especially if you will be shooting in a studio because studio lighting can be intensely bright! But even outside, your photographer is going to shoot you with as much light exposing you as possible. This makes for a brighter, more open looking vision of you! So, you can help by not choosing clothes that will reflect a lot of that light, which can create some glare on camera. Instead, pick more matte-finishes, and don’t iron your clothes on the highest possible heat, which can shine up synthetic fabrics pretty quickly.
3. Bring at least 2 possible color options
You may not know in advance what kind of backdrop your photographer plans to use. Plus, they may use more than one, especially if you are shooting outside! Plus plus, who knows what any of that will look like on camera! You may think you know what color is best on you, but that’s not always true when you’re photographed in bright light. I’ve seen it happen so many times that someone comes in wearing what they think is their “best color” only to see the final pictures and end up choosing the outfit that we spent less time shooting. Why? Because it turns out that in this setting, under this lighting, with your hair done just like that, oops: color #2 looked better after all! An easy solution is bringing a different color jacket, overshirt, or scarf to mix up the colors that are closest to your face. And this is exactly what leads us to…
2. Layer for faster costume changes
First of all, everyone looks better in layers. They are flattering, they add texture & depth to your appearance, and most importantly: they speed up a shoot, maximizing your time with your photographer. If you wear a flattering, simple undershirt, you can quickly try out different blazers, scarves, vests, or overshirts on top of that clothing item. This will give you many more combinations of outfits to choose from later! In the photos above, you can sort of see that the model is wearing the exact same black t-shirt underneath her jackets. She loved this red color, but also wanted to try the black for a more conservative look. In the end, you can see that these nearly identical shots have totally different feels, giving her more options when submitting a headshot for different potential employers.
1. Be comfortable
If you’ve taken headshots before, you know that sometimes a photographer will direct your physical posture and movements during a shoot. This is meant to find the most flattering angles of your body, and create a more “complete” feeling composition to the final image. That is stuff a photographer will worry about, not you! However, you can help by being in an outfit that allows you to move freely and comfortably. You may love that one blazer from your first suit 10 years ago, but if it doesn’t fit you well and your photographer asks you to cross your arms for a different pose, you are going to look stiff and strained on camera. To test this, try on your outfit before your shoot and watch yourself move around in a mirror. Can you lift your arms up and cross them? Can you clasp your hands? Can you twist your torso to both sides, and turn your head and shoulders at the same time? It may feel funny, but your photographer will know how to put you into a position that looks good on camera, even if it makes you feel like a silly head. So you want to be ready to say, “Ok,” not, “Hold on a minute… ::makes straining awkward smile face::]”…
In the end, none of this will work if you don’t feel mentally empowered in your outfit. You know that feeling when you just bought a new piece of clothing, and for whatever reason, you just feel more confident in it? It’s crisp, it’s new, and it makes you stand a little taller. Consider ironing your clothes the night before and bringing them in to your shoot on a hanger. And consider a lint roller & dryer sheet to help with last minute cat hair and static cling. These little tricks will keep you looking and feeling like your best, most hirable self!
