Headshots HOT TIPS

Hello! I’m Renata (“Nata”), and I’m looking forward to meeting you. Your first impression headshot should last you at least 2 years. While this may look like a lot to read, every word is meant to help you look your best and feel comfortable. Throughout my years of creating headshots I have mostly worked with everyday people who have never been professionally photographed and/or do their best to avoid cameras. I regularly have less than 10 minutes to photograph clients so preparation is key. My ultimate goal is your satisfaction both with the experience of being photographed as well as the photos we create. With that, let the prep begin!

Stand in front of a mirror such that you’re squared off to it and your toes are facing it. Then, pick up your feet and turn your whole body about a foot to the right (about 30 degrees). Stay in this position and turn only your head (not your shoulders) to face the mirror such that both cheeks evenly face the mirror, i.e., you’re looking at it straight on. That’s a typical headshot angle. Look closely at your body from your chest to the top of your head. How does your clothing look? Is it laying neatly? If the sleeves are bumpy looking, pull them down towards the wrists. Is the shirt collar uneven or floating around your neck? Make sure your top flatters your neck and shoulders, e.g., 2 fingers of space between your collar and neck is too much space and ill fitting. Is the ultra thin necklace that you treasure and never take off fully visible or is it barely showing and resting crooked on your neck such that it is a distraction? How is your hair falling onto your clothing in terms of your planned hairstyle? See the female model below. The shoulder slightly closer to the camera has that side of her hair all falling onto the back. The other shoulder is covered with hair and zero hair is spilling onto the neck and chest. This hair positioning opens up the neck and jawline and shows off the tailored shirt collar. The hair barely touches the eyebrows and is neatly off of the face. You’ll be asked to mimic this (and other hair positioning) for shoulder length hair and longer.

Now that you’ve adjusted things a bit you’re ready to strike a pose. Smile as if you’re being photographed and then freeze - don’t make a move. It’s time to closely observe your current posture and expression. Some folks struggle with forcing a smile for the camera and push their tongue in between their upper and lower teeth such that it’s visible. If you’re guilty as charged and naturally (or unnaturally) smile with your top and bottom teeth not touching, then push your tongue behind your two front teeth. This will be key for you to remember as it’s not easy for me to spot during a quick photo session. Next, watch yourself as you do the following. Straighten up and stand as tall as you can. You probably can stand a bit taller, so lengthen a bit more as if you’re trying to get your head closer to the ceiling. Take a deep breath and let it out completely but maintain the taller position. That means you’ll exhale with your diaphragm without moving anything else. It’s likely you are now standing at least 2 inches taller. Keep breathing comfortably while maintaining a tall, elongated posture. Roll your shoulders back (imagine trying to touch your shoulder blades together) and down as if you’re reaching for the ground. You’ve now lengthened your neck and depending on your skin you’ve also flattened it out a bit. Lastly, and very importantly, to thin out your neck, chin, and face, push your face only about an inch or two at the most directly forward towards the mirror. Do not tilt your face up or down. Keep the bottom of your chin parallel to the ground. To recap: stand tall, breathe deep and let it out completely, relax into your tall/stretched out posture, imagine your shoulder blades reaching together, pull your shoulders down, push your face to the camera.

*** stand tall > breathe out > shoulders back and down > face push ***

*** stand tall > breathe out > shoulders back and down > face push ***

*** stand tall > breathe out > shoulders back and down > face push ***

Time to nail that expression. Pose with your body (shoulders, knees and toes) turned about 30 degrees to the left, then to the right, and then straight forward, with varying slight head tilts and expressions. Slight means not tilting your head more than 1.5 to 2 inches for professional work headshots. The goal is to be taken seriously and to look confident, sharp, and capable, not flirtatious or selfie-like. Observe how your eyes look as you open them wide then slowly narrow them. You want to look alert and calm as opposed to sleepy or too intense. If your forehead is furrowed and eyebrows are reaching for the sky because you’re forcing a smile then relax your eyebrows so you don’t look intense or surprised. Think of a funny friend or sweet furry family member and see what that does to your smile. Practicing offers 2 key benefits. It will make posing intuitive and we can jump right into focusing mostly on your facial expression. Additionally, you’ll discover you may have a preferred facial side (for most people it’s showing more of their left cheek - it’s a real phenomenon!)

*** tilt less > relaxed eyebrows > hide your tongue > happy thoughts ***

*** tilt less > relaxed eyebrows > hide your tongue > happy thoughts ***

*** tilt less > relaxed eyebrows > hide your tongue > happy thoughts ***

I sincerely hope this info is reassuring and addresses questions or concerns you may have. Even 5 minutes of practicing posing in the clothing you’ll be photographed in will make a WORLD of difference. Especially since when you meet up with me you won’t be able to see what you’re doing and I’ll effectively be your mirror. Don’t fret, I’ve got your back when it comes to helping you pose. However, the whole situation can be intimidating at first. You wouldn’t be the first to say, i.e., “Tell me what to do… I’ve never had a headshot before... I really hate being photographed… Make me look 10 years younger and 10 pounds thinner…” Forget everything that makes us all our own worst enemies when it comes to being photographed. We are all way too hard on ourselves for absolutely no good reason. To help ease any anxiety you may have, please consider thinking about your headshot session as a fun technical exercise. Imagine that it will be one of the easiest, most painless, and quickest jobs you’ve ever had to do. All you have to do is clean yourself up a bit more than a typical day, stand a few feet away from my friendly face, and move your body a bit here and there while trying to have some fun with it. It’s that easy. Right before the first photo, clients often tell me they’ve been dreading the session. Post session I can confidently say about 90%+ of them also told me they had fun, or that it wasn’t that hard and they wish they hadn’t put it off for so long. Piece of cake.

Happy practicing and see you soon!

What to WEAR

Most company/corporate headshots benefit from a no-frills, clean approach. Alana’s shirt fits her well (including around the neck) such that it’s slimming, is ironed, presents a tailored look, has no branding/logos, and it doesn’t distract you from her face. Yes, it’s a dark shirt and she has dark hair and eyes, however the tone of the shirt isn’t as dark as her hair such that you can’t tell where the shirt ends and the hair begins. Plus, the medium light background presents a nice contrast with a darker shirt. Also, Alana’s pose is great. Relaxed, but not slouchy, and she’s directly facing the camera which gives off the impression she’s open to communicate/engage.

Clothing that is new-ish, clean, ironed, tailored (think structure/design), lint/fuzzies/human and pet hair-free. Flattering fabrics and colors that aren’t also show stoppers since your face is the main focus for this style of portrait. Lightweight/all seasons style and think twice about heavy/distracting patterns unless your profession and persona calls for it. Easy on the jewelry (minimize or think twice about oversized, spinning/moving, reflective pieces). For the men out there, the Suit Supply Traveller shirt makes your collar and upper chest/collarbone area of your shirt rest beautifully (not rolly) under a suit jacket. If your background will be solid and pretty dark then reconsider wearing your favorite black top especially if you’re a brunette to boot. For the opposite scenario, look at this model above. Dress to impress. Simple and clean is better than worn and baggy. Wear what makes you comfortable, but not something you’d put on to run errands.

WHAT NOT TO WEAR

Did you notice David’s shirt before you looked at his face? The bulging fabric distorts the pattern and is not something retouching can correct. He would benefit from a quieter pattern or a solid color, and a shirt that fits his shoulders better. Otherwise, he looks great in terms of overall grooming including clean teeth. He could improve his posture (his shoulders look high and tight to me) by trying to stretch his head to the ceiling a bit and reaching directly down to the floor.

Avoid wrinkled, old/worn/dated clothing, oversized and abundant jewelry, a plunging neckline, anything neon, an ill-fitting top (think nearly bursting buttons, a floating/loose around the sides of the neck collar, a jacket that should button but doesn’t, lapels or fabric that easily flops around in the wind outdoors), branded shirts with logos, black clothing layered onto black clothing especially when the background will be dark, bright white, turtlenecks, oversized bunched up sleeves, glittery or shiny makeup.

Excessive oil on your face is not optimal. Flash photography will make even slightly shiny faces shinier. These oil absorbing wipes are super handy not just for professional photo sessions, but also when you’re out and about all day and need to freshen up. You can often find them at local pharmacies in smaller quantities.

If you don’t typically wear any/much makeup, don’t start now. However, I strongly recommend applying a slightly tinted lip balm and be sure to moisturize your face with a matte moisturizer so it looks plump and hydrated.

Eyeglasses can be tricky to photograph. If you don’t wear eyeglasses 100% of the time, consider not wearing them.

WHAT TO GROOM

Henry hit the genetic AI hair lottery. (Did you really think I would pick apart past clients of mine? Never. Believe it or not I worked hard to get AI to make Henry scruffy but still presentable as I felt bad for the guy. Crazy, I know.) While handsome and dressed appropriately (well-fitting, non-distracting, flattering crew neck, thin vs. bulky/heavy fabric) and being pretty well groomed, there’s room for improvement. Notice the scruffy profile of his beard, and his neck could stand to be shaved up to the jawline. And well…unibrow. Taming such a unibrow calls for professional help and is worth considering. The sum total of his hair looks heavy and might give off a bit too laid back of a first impression, particularly if he’s on the hunt for a job. If I was constrained to only giving Henry 1 sentence of direction I would say, “Please pull your shoulders back and push your face slightly towards the camera.”

Nose hairs, neck hairs, chin hairs, ear hairs, extra shaggy eyebrows be gone - bust out those tweezers! Tame that beard or mustache. For those of you who are accustomed to dermaplaning to exfoliate and remove facial hair you know all too well that will make your skin look great so don’t forget to do that 2-3 days in advance of your session. A 2 week-old haircut would be ideal. Try your best to tame frizzy, flyaway hair even if it means using some product that’s not part of your day to day routine. Whiten your teeth if that’s something you’ve done in the past for yourself. I hate to have to say it but, tooth floss is your (and your dear photographer’s) best friend. Also, if you suffer from not-so-white eyes, Lumify Eye Drops are life changing. Hot tip: CostCo members get a way better deal and it’s typically always available in warehouses. And this 5-minute lymphatic drainage routine after you shower the morning of your session will likely make you feel better and less puffy.

Please understand, retouching will be minimal and it’s not a replacement for cleaning yourself up a bit. The more you come prepared the better you’ll feel and it’ll show in the photos.