If you have signed up for your StoryWorkz Headshot, here are our tips for getting yourself ready.
Mainly, don't overthink it. Relax. Expect to have a fun, relaxing experience, and to come away with some great images of yourself.
So, I have a pretty comprehensive guide covering all the things you should think about and do before a headshot session, and I link to that here.
Longer studio sessions and speedy Instant Sessions have different specifications and realities. But here are my TOP 5 preparation tips for any headshot session:
As the saying goes, if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail. So put a bit of time into thinking about what you want from your headshot session, what sort of personal and professional image you want to project. Think about what you want to wear, about something that flatters you and that you feel good in. If this is an expanded studio session, why not make a Pinterest board of images you like and share that with us? Or if there are images in our portfolio that you like, let us know which those are. And of course be thinking about the background style you want. Oh, and if you are planning to get your hair cut or colored, do that 3-5 days before your session. We don’t recommend doing anything drastic, hair-wise, just before a shoot.
If we are doing a headshot to match some company guidelines, please study up on that and stick to that. But otherwise, or if there are no guidelines, think about what you would wear to the most important meeting where you need to look your best. Bring (or wear) your favorite outfit, what you feel best in. It’s usually best to stick to solid colors (patterns can often date a photo) and simple necklines. And when it comes to makeup and jewelry, less is more. Remember, this is a HEAD shot not an EARRING shot.
Think of your headshot as if you were hiring a key employee for your personal brand – someone who is going to be out there representing you 24/7/365 to the world. Would you hire someone who showed up hungover, with red, puffy eyes and dehydrated, wearing a rumpled shirt covered in cat hair? No, you would expect your rep to show up rested, well hydrated, showing enthusiasm and keen interest in the job. You deserve to present yourself in the best possible light. So get a good night sleep and drink plenty of water.
Ok, this is some homework you can do. Because one key to a really strong headshot is a well-defined jawline.
Now if you are a marathoner or otherwise super fit, you may not need to worry about this so much. But for the rest of us, there’s a simple trick we can do to firm up our jaw for the camera. And it’s call the Turtle, or the Chicken.
What you do is think of your body as encased in cement, so that you can only move from the neckline up. And then you jut your forehead toward the camera, like this (watch video).
Now it feels and looks a bit funny, but it works. And it does take some fine tuning in the studio because this is not a natural move and I will need to get your chin angle just right after you do some turtling. But practice this in front of a mirror for 4-5 minutes to get the hang of it. It will make all the difference.
It is always my goal to make your headshot experience fun and useful, to keep it relaxed and productive. And I realize people typically come into a photoshoot with a bit of anxiety and trepidation. And I also know that ALL of us tend to fixate a bit on things that we think are our personal physical flaws. But trust me when I say that it is highly unlikely that these things are as noticeable to others as they are to you. But that does NOT mean they are not important.
So if you have these concerns, if you have anxieties, if you feel you know what your strong side is, what your best type of smile is, be sure to share that before or at the start of your session, so we can work with to accommodate all the things, to deliver the best possible results.
Again, I have lots of other notes about clothing and jewelry (linked above). I look forward to seeing you, and if you have any questions or concerns before your session, don’t hesitate to reach out.