My headshot LOVES and HATES
"Oh no, i'm scared... Are you one of those photographers that's going to shout at me and tell me off for not doing it right!?"
Absolutely not, but there are certain things that in the last decade of photographing headshots that I have come to love and hate from clients before, during and after shoots, and sharing these can hopefully help you to prepare for your session and get the beston the from your shoot. Bring your wardrobe
Bring plenty of clothes with you, a whole bunch... seriously.
You may love that selection of black tops you have, but bring some colour, varied necklines, it may be that a certain colour doesn't suit you on camera and we need to have some more choice. For the sake of bringing a slightly bigger bag on the day, it may make all the difference to your shoot.
Remember, just because you see photos of everyone else in a certain top, colour, or jacket, doesn't necessarily mean it will suit you or your casting. Any photographer worth their money will be able to guide you on what suits you.
Don't put yourself down
A lot of the times, the key to looking good in your headshot is confidence. If you can enter the shoot with a positive outlook and mentality, it will put you in a great position for the start of your shoot.
The amount of times I've had a client say "I hate having headshots taken, this is my idea of hell" or "I always look awful in headshots - I don't photograph well", it puts you in a really negative space to start shooting. Its nice to share this with your photographer, but there is no point dwelling on it for the entire shoot.
Even if you feel like having headshots taken is the worst thing on earth and would rather have all your teeth removed with pliers, you need to trick yourself into thinking the opposite. change your mental space. Our job as photographers is to make you look as appealing and castable as possible, your job is to come with an open mind and allow us to direct you to get the best results.
Timing is the key
Being late stresses you (and me) out, being early leaves you feeling bored and anxious with waiting. Pitch it right, allow yourself to arrive 10mins before your shoot, and use tools and apps like Citymapper, TFL and google to plan your journey efficiently.
Get nerdy
I love lists. My favourite clients are the ones that have thought about their casting, filled in the casting types survey on their client booking page (this is a tool you can use when you book a session) and come with a rough breakdown of what they expect from their shoot. If you don't tell me what we are aiming for in the shoot, you can't always expect me to get it 100% right for you.
Look at other people's headshots, work out what you like about them, is it the style? Is it the lighting? Is it the angles? Is it the clothing? What makes that headshot stand out? Save photos you like as a reference on the day, it makes a nice discussion point at the beginning of our shoot.
Above all, the biggest thing is to enjoy the shoot as much as you can and think of it like the hairdressers not the dentist! Don't take yourself too seriously and feel free to play about a bit during the shoot, it'll make it a much more enjoyable experience for everyone, and with better results at the end!
https://tenpoundcasino.com might seem like an odd tangent, but the advice about bringing a whole bag of options rather than just your favorite black tops is the same logic I apply when picking outfits for any high-pressure situation, where having choices keeps you from panicking. The bit about clients announcing they hate having their picture taken also rings true, since I've noticed that saying it out loud once is fine but dwelling on it just sinks the whole mood. Planning to arrive ten minutes early is the one tip I'm definitely stealing, because I always either show up flustered or way too early with nothing to do.
At https://trustlycasinosite.com, I’m used to weighing my options carefully before making a choice, so your advice to bring a variety of clothes and save reference photos really resonated with me. Going in with a clear plan and a few backups seems like the best way to build confidence and avoid second-guessing yourself. I also liked the reminder that a positive mindset can change the whole outcome—it’s true in most things, not just photos.
The point about walking in with a negative attitude is so true, because you can spot the difference on camera instantly — the whole "I hate having my photo taken" opener basically guarantees a stiff shoot. I also like the advice to bring far more clothes than you think you need, since what looks great in the mirror can fall flat on camera for reasons nobody can predict. Turning up ten minutes early rather than late or ridiculously early is such a small thing but it settles the nerves. I've got a headshot session booked myself, and honestly my evenings lately have been split between practising expressions in the mirror and a bit of tucan casino, a UK platform, when…
Loved this post! Arriving on time and bringing extra clothes options are such great tips. Whether someone is checking a photo booth rental cost for an event or getting ready for a headshot session, being prepared always gives the best results. Thanks for sharing!
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