A great headshot starts before you walk into the studio. Preparation doesn’t need to be complicated, and most of the work happens during the session, where I coach your expression and posture. But a few simple steps make the difference between a good session and an easy one.
A week before
- Decide where the photo will be used. LinkedIn, your company website, a speaker bio or a press kit may each call for a slightly different look. Tell me when you book.
- Choose your outfits. Solid colors and tailored layers work best. Bring options: the Pro Session includes up to two outfits and the Premium Session up to six. See what to wear for your headshot.
- Plan haircuts ahead. Get a haircut about a week before rather than the day before, so it has time to settle.
The day before
- Sleep. Rested eyes are the most important thing you can bring.
- Prepare your clothes. Iron or steam everything and hang it so it stays wrinkle-free.
- Go easy on salt and alcohol if you can. Both tend to show in the face the next morning.
On the day
- Arrive with time to spare. Rushing shows in the shoulders and the eyes.
- Bring what you need for touch-ups: comb or brush, lip balm, powder if you use it, glasses and their cleaning cloth.
- Wear makeup the way you normally do, perhaps slightly more defined. See hair and makeup tips for your headshot.
During the session
You don’t need to know how to pose. We start with a short conversation about where the photo will be used, then I guide you through small adjustments to your angle, posture and expression. You see the images on screen as we go, so we can refine together. I also handle the details you’d only notice afterward: flyaways, a twisted collar, a tie that’s slightly off, glare on glasses.
After the session
You choose your favorite images, and we deliver them professionally retouched. Retouching polishes skin, flyaways and small distractions while keeping you looking like yourself.
Common myths
“I’m not photogenic.”
Being photogenic is mostly expression and angles, and both can be coached. Many of my clients start their session saying exactly this.
“I need to look like a model.”
You need to look like yourself on a good day, confident and approachable. That’s what people who meet you later will recognize.
“Retouching will fix everything.”
Retouching polishes, but it can’t create an expression that wasn’t captured. That’s why the session itself matters most.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a session take?
The Express Session for teams is 15 minutes per person, the Pro Session 30 minutes and the Premium Session 60 minutes. See the rates page for details.
Ready for a headshot that looks like you on your best day?
Every session includes expression coaching and professional retouching, in my studio in Indianapolis or at your office. See sessions and rates, or tell us what you need and we’ll help you plan it.