General Tips
- Let us know what kind of look you want for your headshot.
- Where will your headshot be used so we can be sure it’s appropriate
- Drink lots of water and be well rested to avoid the dark circles under your eyes
- Avoid having a facial 1-3 days prior to your shoot as the skin can stay red or blotchy for a few days and a facial can bring up fresh pimples.
- Your skin might not look it’s best after drug/alcohol use. Try to abstain from these before your shoot
- Please call if you are running late or arrive early
What to Wear
- Wear clothes that are comfortable and that make you look and feel great
- Make sure your jacket, shirt, blouse and/tie fit you well. A poor fitting jacket or shirt will be obvious in the photos (especially around the neck)
- Don’t overdress
- Turtlenecks are almost always a bad idea (since they crowd the face) but can hide a double chin well… so think it through
- Clothes must be neatly pressed and should look new or like new
- Avoid busy patterns and large lines/stripes
- Utilize blue/green/turquoise shirts/blouses or accents which can help emphasize blue/green/hazel eyes
What to Wear – Men
- The standard business look is a suit jacket, dress shirt and tie
- A casual business look is often a jacket and open dress shirt, shirt and tie, or dress shirt on it’s own with no jacket
- Polo shirts are a good look for some businesses. Be sure the shirt is in good condition and fits well
- For a no-jacket casual look, bring colored shirts – ideally darker than your skin tone
- A white dress shirt by itself is a bad idea – unless you plan to wear it underneath something (jacket or sweater)
- Bring a few different jackets, shirt colors and ties so we have choices for the photo

not a well fitting jacket

well fitted jacket
What to Wear – Women
- Avoid clothing with big prints and busy patterns
- Different necklines will change the apparent shape of your face.
- Bring a variety different shirts/blouses to see what works best with your face and venue
- For a no-jacket casual look, bring various colored blouses – ideally darker than your skin tone
- Be stylish and fashionable, but remember the picture is about your face and not your clothes or jewelry… so avoid flashy accessories
- Sleeveless tops/dresses can draw attention to your shoulders/arms. Consider bringing items with a variety of different sleeves
Remember: Select and wear clothes that make you feel comfortable. Select something that makes you look and feel good.

no jewelry

gorgeous necklace, but it’s the first thing you notice
Jewelry
- Keep jewelry extremely simple – small is better
- Avoid jewelry that would distract from your face or that looks dated
- The picture is about your face, not your jewelry
- Consider if facial piercings or multiple ear piercings are appropriate for where your photo will be displayed
What to Bring
- Your previous headshots so we have something to improve upon
- Examples of headshots that you like to help communicate the look you are looking for
- Various changes of clothing (see above)
- A good, open, positive attitude
- Lip balm
- Hair brush/comb
- Makeup and hair products you prefer (especially if you have allergies)
Hair and Makeup
- Make-up should be clean and natural
- Wear a heavy layer of translucent powder – your face will appear flawless in photos. Shine disappears, pores seem smaller, skin looks even, and blush is smoother
- Line lips before applying matte lipstick, then reline. Don’t overdo it. Dip a cotton tip of a Q-tip in powder and run along lip line to prevent color from bleeding
- Avoid shimmers or products with lots of sparkle or shine
- Avoid frosts or overly-bright colors
- Don’t get a new hair cut just before the shoot (you may want to let it grow-in a bit or get used to styling a new cut)
- Do not try/use any new product on your hair, face or body the day before or few days before your shoot. In case you have a bad reaction to the product
- Arrive with hair styled and makeup already applied, if you are not using makeup artist