By Francisco Vilton ·
A professional headshot does a lot of work. It sits on your LinkedIn profile, your company website, your email signature and every speaker bio, often for years. A little preparation makes the difference between a photo you tolerate and one you are proud to use.
Decide where the headshot will be used
A lawyer's website, a realtor's signs and an actor's casting profile all need different looks. Tell your photographer where the image will go so the background, crop and expression suit it. Most people need one formal and one more relaxed option.
What to wear
- Solid colours, especially mid-tones such as navy, burgundy, teal and grey.
- Clothes that fit well at the shoulders and neckline, which is all the camera sees.
- What you would wear to an important meeting in your industry, or one step dressier.
- Avoid busy patterns, thin stripes, big logos and very bright white or neon.
- Bring two or three options. Most headshot packages include outfit changes.
Grooming
- Get a haircut a week before, not the day before, so it settles.
- Keep makeup natural and matte; shine reads as sweat on camera.
- Bring a comb, lip balm and blotting papers.
- Glasses: wear them if you always do. We will angle the lights to avoid glare.
The night before
Sleep and water show up on camera more than anything you put on your face. Skip salty food and late nights, steam your clothes, and lay everything out so the morning is calm.
During the session
You do not need to know how to pose. A good headshot photographer will direct your posture, the angle of your chin and shoulders, and your expression, and show you the images on screen as you go. Most people relax after the first few minutes, which is when the best frames happen.
After the session
You choose your favourites from a private gallery and we retouch them: even skin, colour correction and small distractions removed, while still looking like you. Use the same headshot everywhere so people recognise you across platforms.
Ready to book? See our headshot sessions and prices in Dover, DE.
