Relax, You're In Safe Hands
Let’s be honest. Most of us don’t like having our picture taken, especially when we know it’s going to be on a company website, in a brochure or even on a billboard! My job is to make sure you look your very best and that we capture the essence of who you are. Your friends and colleagues should see your headshots and say, “Ah, yes, that’s a great likeness”. I promise to make your photoshoot relaxed and straightforward. Who knows, you might even enjoy yourself!
Choosing Your Outfit
If you’ll be wearing your company uniform, you don’t have to worry about your wardrobe. Otherwise, when choosing your clothing, think carefully about your audience and the message you’re sending out. For actors we talk about the character types they are likely to play and they will dress accordingly for their headshots. It’s the same for you. You may not be a professional actor but we’re all playing roles and presenting ourselves in ways that best connect with our target audience. Are you a business leader looking to convey confidence and authority or an author who wants to look relaxed and relatable. Whatever it is, you’ll want to dress accordingly. If you have booked sufficient time I recommend bringing along a few different outfits to try out and give yourself some options.
What Not To Wear
- Patterns and stripes (which can be distracting).
- Shiny clothes which can reflect too much light and be distracting.
- Very bright colours like whites or light pastels (which can draw focus away from your face).
- Logos or images on clothes. Keep it plain and simple.
- Avoid wearing too many accessories, hats, scarves and any jewellery. It’s distracting.
- Sleeveless tops. Showing your arms can draw focus away from your face.
- Very low cut necklines or high turtlenecks.
What You Should Wear
- Deep, strong colours. “Jewel colours” work well, like sapphire, ruby and emerald.
- Something you love. You probably already know which colours work well for you, so start with those.
- Tried and tested. I want you to feel very relaxed on your shoot so wear clothes that are tried and tested that you know work well for you. It’s not the time to try new outfits. If you do want to wear something new, wear it around the house before your shoot to make sure it feels comfortable.
- Fitted clothes. Avoid anything too loose.
- Bring options. If you know blue is a good colour for you, consider bringing a few options to play with on the day.
- Keep colour combinations simple with solid-colours layered over one-another.
- If it’s an outside shoot, wear an extra layer to keep yourself warm and comfortable.
Glasses
If you usually wear glasses, then wear them for the shoot. You can always try a few without. Glasses can be challenging to photograph because light reflects off the glass and spoils the image. Ideally you will have an anti-reflective coating, which means almost no light reflects off of the lens surface. If not, I recommend talking to your optician and see if you can borrow a pair of empty frames or invest in a new pair for your photoshoot. You could also see if they can remove the lens from your existing frames and pop them back in afterwards.
Hair and Makeup
Do your hair and makeup just as you normally would. I don’t recommend doing anything special for your shoot. Come with your hair styled and ready to go.
Remember, you need to feel completely comfortable and confident on the day and not be worrying about whether a new style is working for you. If you’re having a hair cut for the shoot, do it a few days before so it looks more natural and you're not worrying about it. Come camera ready and bring some makeup and hairspray or products with you for any last minute touch-ups. Wear translucent powder (and bring it with you) to help soften any light shining onto your skin.
If you have a beard or stubble, just make sure it’s tidy. Do a bit of basic maintenance before you come, making sure those nose and ear hairs and eyebrows are trimmed and tidy.
Final Tips for a Great Shoot
Be prepared. Don’t leave everything till the last minute. You want to arrive relaxed and focussed so you can take your time and enjoy the process.
Prepare your outfits a few days before the shoot to avoid last minute dramas. Make sure they are pressed and ready to go.
Get plenty of sleep the night before and stay off the alcohol. Drink plenty of water and eat well on the day of your shoot so you’ve got lots of energy.
Plan your journey and get there in plenty of time. You want to show up calm, relaxed and ready to enjoy yourself.
Relax and enjoy it. It'll be over before you know it so relax, trust me (you're in safe hands) and have fun!
“From the very first phone call through to after I was sent the photos, I could not have been better looked after. There are very few people who feel really comfortable having their photo done, and… I am over the moon that I now have some photos that I feel capture who I am.”
“This was my first ever headshot session. I didn’t know what to expect, but I needn’t have worried. Gary is a true professional and I immediately felt comfortable and at ease. The resulting images were amazing. He captured me perfectly.”
