Show up confident.
Walk away with photos you'll actually use.
Preparation is the difference between a headshot you tolerate and a headshot that does business for you. Read this once. Save it. Refer back the night before.
What to do, and when
Most session-day stress comes from leaving prep until the morning of. Here's the rhythm that works.
Set the foundation
- Get your haircut at least 3–4 days out. You want it tidy, not freshly cut
- Pick your outfits. Pull 2–3 looks that fit well and feel like you
- Press, lint-roll, and inspect every option. Check collars, buttons, and hems
- Schedule grooming — manicure, beard trim, brow clean-up
Set yourself up to win
- Lay out your outfit and put it on a hanger by the door
- Drink water through the day. Skip the salt and alcohol
- Light dinner. Get to bed early
- Charge your phone and screenshot the studio address
Show up dialed in
- Eat breakfast. Protein helps. Avoid heavy or salty meals
- Easy on caffeine. One cup is fine, three makes the eyes twitchy
- Bring outfits on hangers. Not folded in a bag
- Arrive 10 minutes early with a touch-up kit in hand
Wardrobe
Your clothes do half the work before the shutter ever clicks. Get this layer right and everything else falls into place.
Fit is the whole game
Baggy or too-tight clothing don't photograph well. They flatten you. You want clean, tailored lines that signal the professional you already are.
For studio sessions: bring a variety. Business, business casual, and one polished casual look.
Solid > patterns
Solid colors give you a clean pop and complement the face. Patterns can work, but they often pull attention away from your expression.
Pick colors that flatter your complexion. When in doubt, navy, charcoal, white, deep green, and cream all photograph beautifully.
The details get noticed
Headshots crop tight. Every wrinkle, loose thread, and crooked collar shows. Press your clothes. Use collar stays.
- Press the night before
- Use collar stays
- Lint-roll head to toe
- Check buttons and seams
- Brand-new clothes you haven't worn
- Anything that "almost fits"
- Busy logos or graphic tees
- Distressed or worn fabric
Keep it simple
Earrings, necklaces, a watch — all welcome. Just lean simple. The eye should land on you, not the accessory.
Have a signature piece that's part of your brand? Bring it. We'll work it in.
Hair & glasses
Both are easy to get wrong without realizing it. Here's the rule.
3 to 4 days out. Always.
Your hair is the crown you never take off. Style it the way you wear it every day — this is not the time to try something new.
Get the cut 3–4 days before. Not the day of. Fresh cuts look stiff. Aim for "neat and settled," not "just left the chair."
Bring a comb, brush, and any product you use, in case we need to retouch between looks.
If you wear them, wear them
Glasses are part of who you are. Don't ditch them for the shoot just because you're worried about glare — that's a problem I solve at the lighting setup.
If you only wear glasses sometimes, bring them along. We'll shoot a few with and without so you have options.
Grooming
The 20 minutes before your session matter more than you think. Walk in clean, walk out with photos you'll use for years.
The clean signal
- Shave or trim that morning. Fresh edges photograph sharp
- Tidy the brows and nose. The camera notices what mirrors don't
- Moisturize the face. Dry skin reads tired on camera
- Lip balm. Cracked lips are the easiest tell to avoid
- Skip the SPF-heavy products. They cause flashback and shine
Natural beats heavy
- Go natural and slightly enhanced. The camera amplifies makeup
- Avoid SPF. It causes shine and flashback. This is the #1 mistake
- Moisturized lips. Bring a balm and a touch-up color
- Bring your kit. Powder, lipstick, mascara for between-look refresh
- Hair tools optional. A flatiron or curling wand if you do touch-ups
Mindset
Confidence isn't a pose. It's a state. The camera reveals what's already there.
You don't need to "smile bigger"
Most stiff headshots come from people trying to perform an expression instead of carrying one. I'll coach you on camera. Your only job is to show up as yourself.
Bring what you'd bring to a top client meeting
Same posture. Same focus. Same confidence. The image we're capturing isn't a version of you. It's the version of you that wins business.
The best headshots aren't taken. They're drawn out. Come prepared to have fun. That's the part most people skip, and it shows.
Every detail compounds
Your headshot shows up before your résumé does. On LinkedIn. On speaker bios. On every pitch deck. Get this one right and it works for you for years.
It signals category
An intentional headshot tells buyers in 1.5 seconds whether you're premium, mid-tier, or commodity. Preparation is the difference.
It compounds for years
The headshot you make today is the one shaking hands with every prospect for the next 24 months. Worth a few hours of prep.
It removes the friction
Showing up prepared means we spend the session capturing your best looks, not fixing wrinkles, hair, or wardrobe mid-shoot.
I'm here before, during,
and after the session.
If anything on this list isn't clear, or you need to shift your appointment, reach out. Headshots are a team sport — let's make sure yours go right.