Here are some considerations when preparing for your headshot:
1. Colour: Plain Solid Colours, avoid patterns or prints, as it will date your photo.
For women, jewel tones flatter all complexions, burgundy, teal, royal blue, purple, and darker green.
2. Consider wearing a top or a jacket, that will create a "v" neckline. This lengthens your neckline, and draws attention to your face. We don't want to show cleavage though, and no turtlenecks...do people even wear turtlenecks anymore...it results in the no neck syndrome.
Choose a blouse with sleeves, at least to the elbow, because your arms take up more skin area than your face, and it will draw attention to your arms, and may make your arms look larger.
Fine to medium gauge knits work well, as the texture adds interest.
Crisp ironed shirts, without a jacket can also help frame your face as well. By adding this colourful scarf, it helps create a "v".
If you have to wear white, only do so, if it's under a suit jacket, sweater, or a cardiagan. If your white sleeves are too long, I will tuck them inside the jacket. Our eyes always go to the brightest spot in a portrait, so if the white shirt was by your wrists, that is what will get noticed first....just like those men that wear white socks, with their black pants...it's a no no, unless you are Michael Jackson.
3. Choose clothing that is fitted, when clothing is a little too tight, it can show off bulges that you would rather keep hidden.
4. Choose long pants or a skirt below the knee for ladies. Even with a headshot, we might see some of your legs, as you may be sitting, standing, or would like a full length body portrait.
5. Make up- Do it the way you like to do it, or have some one else do it. Keep it light, as a close up headshot will see what you are hiding with the added foundation, or clumps of mascara.
6. Keep jewerly simple and minimalistic or none at all, because too much draws attention away from your face. The smaller the better, dangle earrings shouldn't be longer than 1 inch. We want others to see your face first, before your jewerly. When they recognize who you are, and if you sell jewelry, they will be ordering up a storm!
7. Do you hair the way you'd normally do it while wearing these clothes, if you were meeting your ideal client. Please if you are going to get a haircut, do it at least 2 weeks prior to your portrait session to allow some time to live with your new look.
8. Glasses. They can be a challenge to photograph, if the lens is reflective. You will see in the left portrait below, there is a green hazey film on the the left side of her glasses and near the nose on the right side. If you wear glasses regularly, and others would mostly recognize you, then you should have them on in your headshot. It is very difficult to remove lens glare even in photoshop. The best thing that can be done is to for me to take two different headshots, one with you wearing your glasses, and one without. A composite image can then be merged, but it still presents challenges, as usually you can't duplicate the exact position.
You could try to ask your optician to request to borrow a pair of similiar frames for the day without any lens, or if they can pop out the lense in your own glasses for the day. Or opt to say, I can be recognized with having to not wear glasses, and now I will pretend I wear contacts! I do charge an additional fee, if I have to correct for lens glare.
9. Once in the studio, remember the importance of good posture, and that angles are your best friend. A slight head tilt, and usually lowering your shoulder that is closer to the camera, will create a flattering angle. Want to avoid a double chin? Pretend you're a turtle poking your head out of it's shell,..by thrusting your chin out a bit, and then dropping it slightly down, will help make any extra chin disappear. No worries, I will direct you in your positioning!
10. Please don't worry about that camera lense starting at you! Think about someone that you love, and how you just won the trip of a life time to spend it with them. Are you dreaming it's on a secluded beach in a hammock... the possibilites could be endless, and your natural smile will appear!
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