What does Your Headshot Say About You?This is one of my favorite subjects—You and Your PROFESSIONAL Photo! Do you need one—NO, you need 5-10! And yes, they should be current! I recommend that my clients have a photo shoot at least once a year or at the very least every 1 ½ years. Why? Because you are THE INDUSTRY EXPERT and need to have an arsenal of photos so people remember you, are intrigued enough to read your book, come hear you speak or buy your products.

Facial recognition is wired deeply inside every human mind. Therefore, it is very much to your advantage to provide a headshot that people can identify with and remember you by. In today’s competitive market, your photograph should articulate your line of business and also define your personal and professional brand.

Preparation for a great a professional photo shoot is critical. Think about the image you are trying to convey. What type business are you in? What is your business culture? Who is your target audience? Once you have answered these questions, again, consider the impression you want to make. Below are some helpful tips to help you create memorable professional photo.

The days leading up to the photo shoot, be sure to:

  • Drink plenty of water and get rest.
  • Avoid eating salty foods, carb overloading and alcohol – all of these can lead to making your face and body appear fuller. (A total bummer yes, but you’ll thank me later!)
  • If you need a hair cut and/or color prior to the photo shoot, try to get it done approximately a week prior to the shoot. Hair stylists tend to cut your hair so that it looks best a week or so after you get it done. Plus, if you are disappointed with your hair cut, a week will give you ample time to get it fixed before your photo shoot. You should avoid drastic haircuts, color or style changes before your photo session. Remember, you want your photo to look like your authentic self—unless of course, you are revealing you new radical look that is readily identifiable with your brand.
  • If you are not comfortable styling your own hair, have your hair blown out and/or styled by a professional prior to your photo shoot. So, schedule your photo shoot later in the day to give yourself enough time to get your hair done.
  • If you plan to get your brows or lip waxed, be sure to do it 2-3 days prior to the photo shoot to give any irritation time to clear up.
  • To help you feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera, practice your smile and/or expression in front of the mirror. Remember, your expression should exude confidence and competence. For example, if you are a criminal attorney, you many not want to have a large friendly smile in your photo. In the same respect, if you are a dentist; you will want to show those pearly whites!
  •  If you plan to bleach or whiten your teeth, be sure to do it 2 days in advance so your teeth are not tender the day of the photo shoot. If you drink coffee or other liquids that cause staining on the teeth after you bleached them, simply drink those liquids through a straw until after your photos have been taken.

On the day of your photo shoot:

  • Keep drinking lots of water! Eat a healthy breakfast so you are refreshed and operating a on all cylinders.
  • A drop of Visine in each eye will help to reduce puffiness, redness and make the whites of your eyes appear brighter.
  • Hire a professional makeup artist! Let me say it again—HIRE A PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP ARTIST! They have the right tools and expertise to see how to enhance our greatest features and camofloge our problem areas.
  • Avoid wearing your sunglasses on the way to your photo shoot. Sunglasses have a tendency to leave a mark on your nose that could take more than 20 minutes before going away.
  • Bring with you 2-3 wardrobe & accessory options (or more depending on the number of shots you need), and hairspray and hair tools so you can refresh your look if needed.
  • Plan to arrive 5-10 minutes prior to your scheduled time so you do not feel rushed and are feeling relaxed and confident.

Deciding what to wear can be stressful. Wear items that makes you feel good—and look good, of course! The photos are supposed to make you look confident and professional – so take the time to strategically wardrobe and accessorize accordingly to help capture the essence of you and your brand.

The photo should represent a dynamic and intelligent person with expertise and high business standards. This can easily be achieved though a few basic concepts:

  1. Wear attire that is clean, wrinkle free, fits properly and makes you feel fabulous! Don’t wear a jacket you cannot button, or you have to stretch to be able to button.
  2. Choose attire that works for every season, instead of a winter or summer look.
  3. In general, dark clothes attract less attention and put the emphasis on your face and eyes. Some of the great authors and TV anchors of our time are migrating to white attire (on the top) to achieve the same – keeping the focus on your eyes and face. Let me caution you – this is not easily done well and you must have the right photographer and makeup artist to pull this off. Be cautious, yet strategic when wardrobing for you photo shoot.
  4. V-neck and scoop neck style tops tend to be flattering on most people. Avoid turtlenecks as well as plunging necklines.
  5. Avoid attire that has complex patterns, stripes, plaid and herringbone. Instead opt for solid colors whenever possible and avoid clothing with large buttons, ornamental detail and shoulder pads.
  6. Jewelry and accessories should accentuate your features and not overpower them. Small earrings keep the focus on your face and not your jewelry. Nevertheless, wear jewelry that is proportionate to your face and body shape.

Your look can be optimized by paying attention to some simple details.  Remember, your appearance brands you. It’s all about being memorable—for all the right reasons!

The tips provided above are generalities. If you would like to schedule a consultation to discuss your specific needs for your photo or video, media appearance or keynote presentation, call Melissa @ 858.750.0234.or email at Melissa@StyleologyGroup.com.