What to know, decide, and prepare before your session — so you walk in ready and walk out with
images you’ll actually use.
Getting professional headshots doesn’t have to feel intimidating. With a little preparation, you can walk into your session feeling confident and ready. In this guide, we’ll cover what to wear, what to bring, and what to expect so you get the most out of your headshot experience.
A great headshot starts before you arrive. Get a full night of sleep — this is not negotiable. Well-rested skin reads differently on camera than tired skin. Puffiness, flat eyes, and a dull complexion are not retouching problems. They are sleep problems.
Avoid alcohol the night before. It causes facial inflammation that no studio lighting can fully compensate for. Stay hydrated. Drink water the evening before and again in the morning.
Treat the night before like you would the night before an important client presentation. Because that is exactly what this is.
Pro Tip
Lay out your outfits the night before so the morning of your session is calm, not rushed.
Start with Neutrals or Solids
If you are unsure of where to start, neutral and solid colors are always a safe choice. Think cream, gray, charcoal, black, burgundy, forest green or navy blue. Busy patterns, logos, and bold graphics pull attention away from your face, which is the entire point of a headshot.
Wear what you would choose for an important client meeting. The goal is the polished, capable version of you — not a costume, not casual Friday.
Bring at least two outfit options. Even small changes — a jacket on or off, a different color — give you meaningful variety in your final images. If you wear glasses, bring them. We will photograph you both with and without.
Keep Color Combinations Simple
Layering is a great way to add interest to your headshots, but just be sure to check and double check that your chosen combination works well together.
Consider your Branding Needs
If your headshot is going to be used on your company’s website and marketing material, keep your brand colors in mind. Find small ways to work these colors into your outfit to compliment the brand colors.
Pro Tip
Avoid brand-new clothes you have never worn before. Stiff, unworn fabric fits differently on
camera than something that already moves with you.
Keep it Simple
Avoid bold patterns, logos, and loud accessories that would distract the eye away for your face. Choose solid color tops and blouses and subtle accessories.
Check the Fit
Even though your headshots primarily focus on your face and shoulders, it’s still important to ensure that your top and blouse are a great fit for your body type.
Loose tops tend to wrinkle and bunch and can give you an unnecessarily boxy look.
Tight tops can create creases across the chest and shoulders. If you can sit and cross your arms without straining the fabric, it’s likely a good fit.
Shoulder seams should sit right at the edge of your shoulder.
Be Mindful of Wrinkles
Steam your outfit before the shoot and bring it with you on a hanger. If your session is here at the studio, there is a private space with a mirror where you can change once you arrive.
Necklines
Crew, scoop, V-necks, and boat necks all work well as long as they lay flat and aren’t stretched or gaping. Avoid super-low cuts or overly high necklines that tend to bunch.
Stick With a Familiar Style
This isn’t a great time to try a brand-new cut or style. Stick with a look that you feel confident in and wear often.
Get a Trim
A fresh trim can clean up ends and shape, but it’s best done about a week before the session to give it time to settle naturally.
Clean and Dry is Best
Hair should be freshly washed and completely dry when they arrive. Day-of washing is fine if that’s their normal routine. Otherwise, the day after a washing often looks the most natural and manageable.
Keep it Natural
Your makeup should make you feel comfortable and confident. Stick with a look and style that you know well and wear often, but apply slightly more than you typically do.
Aim for Even Skin Tones
A lightweight foundation or BB cream that matches their skin tone helps create a smooth, consistent base. Blend well down the neck to avoid lines.
Matte is Your Friend
Use a matte finish foundation or lightly dust with translucent powder, especially on the forehead, nose, and chin.
Define the Eyes, But Don’t Overdo It
Stick to neutral eyeshadow tones. A bit of mascara and eyeliner (brown or black) helps the eyes pop, but avoid heavy or smoky eye looks unless that’s their everyday style.
Go Easy on Blush and Bronzer
A soft flush of blush and a subtle contour can add warmth and dimension. Avoid heavy bronzer or high shimmer products as they can look patchy or reflective in camera lighting.
Optional: Go Pro
Just like with your hair, an appointment with a professional before your session can go a long way. Just make sure that they understand that this is for professional headshots, not glamour portraits.
Unsure Where to Start?
If you aren’t sure what reach for, you can never go wrong with a suit jacket or blazer and a nice dress shirt. We can always take the jacket off for a more relaxed look.
Go for Solid Colors
Mid-tone blues, grays, earth tones, and classic white or black are great choices. Avoid bright colors, loud patterns, or logos as they distract and don’t age well.
Check the Fit
Clothes should be well-fitted but not tight. Baggy shirts or jackets can look sloppy; overly tight ones can create bunching or gaps. Try everything on before the shoot.
Be Mindful of Wrinkles
Steam your outfit before the shoot and bring it with you on a hanger. If your session is here at the studio, there is a private space with a mirror where you can change once you arrive.
Watch the Collar
Shirt collars should stand neatly and lay flat. Worn-out or floppy collars can be a real eye sore.
Consider a Tie, Or Not
Ties can work great for business headshots, but aren’t required. If you’re unsure, bring one along. A no-tie look with a jacket is often the perfect blend of professional and approachable.
Skip the Undershirt
You might wear an undershirt daily, but we recommend skipping it for your session. If you feel you must wear an undershirt, go for a v-neck to ensure that it stays invisible.
Time your Haircut Wisely
A trim 3–5 days before the shoot lets the cut settle in and avoids that just-cut look. Don’t wait until the night before unless it’s your regular routine.
Style it as You Normally Would
Don’t overdo it. Aim for how you’d wear your hair to a job interview or meeting. Bring product with you in case touch-ups are needed during the shoot.
Tame Flyaways and Wrinkles
Use a small amount of product (pomade, wax, or gel) if needed to keep things neat without looking greasy or overly stiff.
Facial Hair? Keep it Sharp
Beards, goatees, or stubble should be clean and well-shaped. Use a trimmer or razor that morning, and check for missed spots or uneven lines.
Going Clean-Shaven? Watch for Irritation
Shave with a fresh blade and soothing products to reduce redness and bumps. Shaving the night before can help avoid any irritation showing up in photos.
Trim Nose, Brow, and Ear Hair
This is a small detail, but it makes a big difference. A quick grooming pass can keep the focus on your eyes and face and not stray hairs.
You do not need to know how to pose. That is what your photographer is for. What you do need to bring
is your posture. Stand tall. Shoulders back and relaxed — not pulled up toward your ears. Think of
lengthening your spine rather than tensing it.
For expression: think about someone you genuinely respect, or a moment when you felt confident and
completely in your element. That internal state produces authentic expression far more reliably than
holding a forced smile. Your photographer will guide you throughout.
The most common mistake is holding your breath. Breathe normally. Natural movement between frames
keeps your expression from going flat. Still does not mean frozen.
Pro Tip
Spend two minutes in front of a mirror before your session — not to rehearse poses, but to
find the expression that feels like you at your best.
Most people have a preferred side of their face. If you know yours, mention it at the start of your session.
If you are unsure, your photographer will explore both — and the images will make the answer obvious.
A common technique: if one eye is slightly smaller than the other, positioning that eye closer to the
camera creates a more balanced appearance. Your photographer handles this naturally. You do not
need to manage it.
The goal is not symmetry. The goal is the version of you that reads as confident, capable, and present in
a single frame.
Pro Tip
Take a few selfies from your left and right side in natural window light before your session.
You will quickly see which reads better.
Your Favorite Makeup and Hair Products
Even if you’re not big on makeup, a small amount of touch-up with products that you know and like can make a huge difference. A little bit of hairspray or gel can go a long way in taming those flyaways and a fresh touchup of makeup can assure that the images will look great straight out of camera.
An Extra Wardrobe Option
It’s a really good idea to have an extra shirt our blouse to try in case your first choice just isn’t fitting the way you expected it to. This is also a great way to get a little variety from your session.
A Friend
Having a friend that you know and trust can be a huge help. They can help keep an eye on for a mis-aligned tie or necklace, and a familiar face can help you feel more relaxed and confident in front of the camera.
An Umbrella
Let’s face it; this is Ohio and the weather can be VERY unpredictable. Don’t let a surprise rain storm destroy your hair on the way from the car to the door.
Pro Tip
If you feel tense at any point during the session, say so. A short reset — a breath, a pause,
a laugh — produces better images than pushing through discomfort.