A Week Out

If you’re getting a haircut, schedule your appointment to be at least week in advance of your session. Sometimes new haircuts give your hair harsh angles and choppy layers. While these look fresh and clean in-person, in pictures they might look severe and unkempt. Let your haircut soften out over a week. Additionally, allow yourself a week to settle into your new haircut so that you can practice styling it.

Make sure you are well-rested. Late nights really start to add up, especially under your eyes. Reduce the possibility of those inconvenient dark circles appearing by getting enough sleep the week before your session. The National Sleep Foundation suggests that teenagers get at least 8-10 hours and adults at least 7-9 hours of sleep a day.

Drink water on the regular. Usually, it’s advised that you follow the 8×8 rule: drink eight 8-oz glasses of water per day. Keeping yourself hydrated helps to keep your skin clear and bright and helps with brain function.

Eat healthy foods. As above, what you put inside your body directly affects the outside. Stay away from junk food and fatty, greasy, or salty foods; in addition to these being unhealthy, they also make your skin appear oily and make you feel bloated. Instead, opt for healthy foods like yogurt, fresh fruits and veggies, lean meats, and whole grains.

Exercise once a day. Exercising once for thirty minutes a day the week before your headshot session will boost your confidence and help you feel good about how you look in your pictures. Looking toned is just an added bonus!

Plan your route to the studio. Make sure you know how you’re getting to the studio of your photographer before the day to you go. Even better, if you can get to your destination early, do it!

Practice your poses and expressions. If you’ve never done a headshot session before, you may not know exactly how to pose for a picture. That’s okay! Usually, your photographer will coach you. There are usually poses for men and poses for women. Men tend to be shot straight-on so that they appear more dominant and strong. Women tend to be shot from above and from the side, giving the appearance that they are more coy/demure/shy. And, as you probably know from taking selfies, shooting a picture from above makes the face appear slimmer and more feminine. Men usually lean forward with their elbows on their knees, or they lean back with their arms folded or their hands on their hips. Women usually keep their hands close to their bodies, and their posture is more soft, with slight curves to the neck and back. Of course, there are always exceptions to these rules, especially if you want to go for a different look to emphasize your personality. Also, practice posing the way the character you are interested in would pose. This might help you become more comfortable and creative with your physical expression during your session.

Prepare your headshot bag. Be prepared to walk out the door with the following essentials:

• makeup (to touch-up throughout your session or to change your look)
• a hairbrush/comb, hairspray, and a curling iron
• several outfits (depending on the “looks” you’re going for, you may need formal, casual, and/or business)
• jewelry
• water and snacks
• a mirror
• eye drops (if you’re shooting in a place where the air is dry or the wind is blowing, you’ll need these)
• payment for the photographer (cash, check, or credit card; ask your photographer which method they prefer)

The Day Of

Make sure you get a complete night’s rest (7-8 hours). As above, we stress the rest. SLEEP! Sometimes, if you’re too tired, you appear bored in your photos. Get enough rest so you can look lively and alert.

Eat a healthy breakfast. Make sure you eat a healthy breakfast the morning of. Pace yourself so you have enough time to eat more than just a granola bar as you rush out the door. Your body (and your sanity) will thank you.

Do your makeup and hair before you leave. Do your hair and makeup at home (or wherever you’re getting it done: a friend’s, a makeup studio, a MAC store) so that you don’t risk running late and losing the chance to do it at all.

Double check your bag. Do you have your change of clothes? Your makeup? A hairbrush and/or comb? Jewelry? A mirror? Eye drops? Snacks and water? Payment for the photographer? If you do, great! If you don’t, make sure you have those items in your bag before you leave the house.

Leave early! As always in show business, If you’re early, you’re on time; if you’re on time, you’re late. If you’ve never been to the studio before, make sure to leave extra early so that, if you get lost, you have more time to find your way.

Common Questions

What do I wear? For men, v-necks, blank t-shirts, button-down shirts, a light jacket, and a sport coat are all a good idea to bring with you. Also, don’t forget a tie: preferably a solid color. You might want to layer your look, so be prepared to pair some of these items. For women, v-necks and scoop neck woven shirts are flattering without showing too much skin. Avoid tank tops or dresses with spaghetti straps; these types of tops show too much shoulder and detracts attention away from your face. Ideally, you should feel comfortable in what you’re wearing while also appearing professional and friendly. In terms of colors, choose dark jewel tones. Darker colors tend to blend better with shadows. They also help directors focus their eye on your face. Avoid prints like polka dots, stripes, plaids, houndstooth, tweed, floral, or geometric patterns. These images are too “busy” and distract the person looking at your headshot. If you want to choose a piece that contains lace, make sure the lace is only a trim instead of it covering the entire shirt.

Can I wear jewelry? Yes! Just make sure it’s not over-the-top or gaudy. A great example of appropriate jewelry for a headshot are stud earrings (like pearls or diamonds), a simple leather banded or metal banded watch, a simple bracelet, and a small ring. If there are too many items in the photo that are distracting (like a gemstone breastplate necklace) then the focus falls away from your face.

Is nail polish acceptable? Sure! Wear a neutral color or clear nail polish. Avoid bright colors (even pastels) because, if your hand appears in the frame, your nail polish may detract focus from your face.

Do I wear glasses or contacts in my headshot? You can do both. Tell your photographer that you’d like to do a few shots with your glasses and a few without them. If you want to some with your glasses on, however, make sure you have the lenses popped out (either by yourself or your eye doctor) before you attend the session. Glasses sometimes result in small reflections on the lenses if shot from a certain way, so make sure you get them removed beforehand. (And replaced afterwards!)

Should I do a playful or a serious headshot? It’s up to you. Consider the following questions:

• What type are you? (ingénue, leading, or character?)
• What role are you auditioning for? (ingénue, leading, or character?)
• Do you want a variety of looks that showcase your personal styles?

Make sure you know what you want before you walk in. A helpful guide for the photographer is a list, made by you, of three words that people would think of when they look at your picture.

• Flirty, fun, pretty.
• Intelligent, serious, quiet.
• Strong, in charge, experienced.
• Quirky, funny, nerdy.

I’ve never done this before! How should I look/act/pose? Usually your photographer will do a little bit a coaching with you during your session. Like you did a week before your session, practice your poses in the bathroom mirror, this time at the studio. (But don’t take longer than a couple minutes; you don’t want to hold up the photographer.) If you’re still feeling a little awkward, it’s not bad form to simply confess to the photographer, “Hey, I’ve never done this before. What do you suggest?”

How much does a headshot session cost? Typically, a business headshot will run from $99 to $250; acting or modeling headshots tend to run from $200 to $450. But if you live in a busy city, the cost may be higher. New York and Los Angeles are the most expensive places in the country to get headshots, so consider finding a great photographer near you now if you plan on moving to those cities soon. As with pursuing any business relationship, make sure that you investigate the type of work the photographer produces. Visit their website and take a look at their style of photography: Is it clean? Are the people’s faces in focus? Is the image bright and clear? Each photographer has a different “look” to their pictures. Make sure you choose one who’s right for you. After all, you need these headshots. Put your time and money into a good investment.