The Headshot Session

The day of the session has arrived – many people are nervous/tense in front of the camera, and that anxiety if left unchecked can lead to less than ideal images. Try to relax, let yourself go – you’re gonna do GREAT! And your photographer should be able to assess and coach you on how to look your best. By the time you arrive at the studio, you and your photographer should have a game plan on the look you’re going for. Assuming your photographer agrees, you may want to bring several clothing options and see how they look in combination with different background colors.

Lighting for Headshots

The type of lighting used should be specifically designed to minimize unwanted facial features for both women and men, regardless of skin tone or condition, creating a softer look with no harsh shadows or hotspots. With the latest camera and computer gear, you no longer have to either wait to see results of the session until later, or have to look at the images on the small screen on the back of the camera. Today’s professional setup has the camera directly connected (tethered) to a high-resolution laptop computer – each image is stored and displayed on the laptop. This allows both you and the photographer to review images as you progress.

The Best Pose and Expressions for Headshots

Great images are created and don’t happen by accident. Unless you’re an actor/actress, or have studied photography, you likely don’t know how to look your best in front of a camera. Experienced headshot photographers know how to coach you (known as Expression Coaching) to look your best, providing direction/feedback. For example, when people naturally smile, the lower eyelid muscles naturally contract a bit, or “squinch” along with a smile. But when they get in front of a camera and smile, the mouth moves but the eyes don’t – which is one of the many reasons high school yearbook pictures usually look dreadful! Your photographer should recognize this, and coach you on how to look more natural when you smile.