Your corporate headshot appointment is coming up! Are you ready for your session? Follow these tips to ensure your best look yet.
Before Your Session
If you’re especially serious about getting the most out of your session, there are a few things you can do in the days leading up to your headshot appointment to help you get the best results. These tips will help you feel confident and put-together inside and out. The camera will love you.
Cut Back on Screen Time
This one may be a little confusing. What does screen time have to do with having your photo taken? Well, for one, excessive screen time can irritate your eyes and cause redness. The harmful blue light also contributes to dull skin and eye bags, so try to reduce your screen time as much as possible in the 2-3 days leading up to your appointment for brighter eyes!
Reduce Sodium
You may notice that you will look in the mirror on occasion and notice that you don’t really look like yourself. This could be due to the previous day’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner! Meals that are high in sodium can cause you to retain water in your face (as well as elsewhere in your body) and you may feel that you look puffier than normal. No worries! Just try to watch your sodium intake and steer clear of highly salted foods the day before your headshots are scheduled. You can continue to drink fluids as normal–hydrated skin looks great on camera.
Trim Your Hair
A few days prior to your session, get your hair trimmed into your preferred shape and touch up your color, if you have it. This probably isn’t the best time to experiment (if you end up unhappy with the new result, you’ll have to see it in your headshots for quite a while) so stick with your usual ‘do, though if you want to try something special in the way of styling (like opting for curls if you usually go straight, or vice versa) you should go for it! Just call on someone with more experience or hire a professional stylist if you’re nervous about the result.
Rest Up
This tip is tried-and-true timeless advice for looking (and feeling) your best. Getting a good night’s sleep the night before is crucial–after all, you want to look refreshed, vibrant, and well-rested in your photos. The trick to achieving that “I-can-take-on-anything” look is an adequate amount of sleep. If caffeine usually impedes your ability to rest, switch to decaf in the afternoon and spend the evening pampering yourself a bit more than you normally do. This is a great opportunity for self-care. Swipe on a thick layer of moisturizer and head to bed early to get the best possible shut-eye.
Day-Of Headshot Session Checklist
Once the day has arrived, you’re only a few short steps away from your professional headshot session. Run through this checklist to make sure you haven’t forgotten anything before your shoot.
Double Check the Details
The first thing you should do in the morning is double check the time, location, and other pertinent details regarding your session. A last-minute mixup will leave you flustered and could result in needing to reschedule your appointment. It’s best to nail things down immediately so you know exactly how much time you have to get ready or if you need to adjust your schedule.
Makeup
If you’d like to wear makeup for your session, go for it! Just try not to overdo it – focus on eliminating redness, covering blemishes, and minimizing shine. Enhance your favorite features but don’t paint on a second face, as this photo should showcase you as you appear daily or close to it.
Remember, cameras today aren’t like they were 20 or 30 years ago – the lens is capable of picking up every last detail of your face, so it’s not necessary to over-exaggerate features with makeup like in decades past. If you’re unsure, just wear as much as you would on a regular basis. Your headshots should represent you!
Wardrobe
As for wardrobe, there are a few things to note. Start by selecting 2-3 different outfits (in many cases you can just swap out tops–clarify if your pants will show in photos with your photographer). If you wear a uniform or industry-specific clothing (like an apron or a white physician’s coat) bring that along, as well as a more professional option and a business casual option. A blazer or suit is great for your professional style.
Try to choose colors that aren’t too vibrant–you’re the star of the show here, not your blouse. Pick muted hues and tones that are complimentary to your complexion and will contrast with the background without creating too much noise. Solid colors or simple patterns are fine, but busy prints may be too distracting.
Speaking of distracting, jewelry shouldn’t be too elaborate. Stick with simple accessories that add a ‘finishing touch’ to your ensemble. Also make sure that your glasses are clean and smudge-free. It’s a good idea to keep a lens cloth on hand at your session.
Finally, make sure your outfit is steamed or pressed and remains lint- and hair-free throughout the day prior to your appointment. If you’re eating before your photos, you should change into another outfit or do your best to protect your clothing from any potential spills.
Your Headshot Session
According to Corporate Headshot Photographer London, arrive on-location or at the photography studio 10-20 minutes ahead of your scheduled time to allow yourself plenty of time to prepare and get in the right mindset. Adjust your appearance as necessary–smooth any wrinkles that may have appeared in transit, brush off with a lint roller once more, and make sure your makeup hasn’t smudged.
Now comes the easy part! Relax and follow the posing instructions as your photographer delivers them. The team at Schmittat Photography is experienced in delivering high-quality corporate headshots, so all you have to do is defer to their expertise and then wait for the end result.
