How to Make the Most of Your Headshot
This is a guest post written by Viscera Studio.
About Viscera Studio: Creative Director, Ari Takata-Vasquez, started Viscera Studio as a sister business to her brand and brick-and-mortar shop, Viscera.
Through the creation and operation of Viscera, all design, marketing, photography, and product development were created in-house. Thanks to a supportive small business community, Viscera has been featured in SF Chronicle, Oakland Magazine, 7×7, Racked, Thrillist, and more.
The idea of a headshot might make you nervous. You want to look and feel your best when you have them taken, right? Being in front of the camera can be as anxiety-inducing as public speaking might make you feel. Suddenly, you’re very aware of your breathing and what do you do with your hands?!
Here are 5 easy tips to help you get a better headshot that really captures you and your personality!
It starts before you step into the studio
Get a good night’s sleep
They say when you want to start waking up earlier, it’s not about what you do in the morning, but what you do the night before– and the same goes for your headshot.
Make sure you get a good night’s sleep the night before your headshot appointment and don’t forget to drink lots of water.
On top of making sure your skin looks healthy and hydrated, getting a good night’s sleep can help alleviate stress. Arriving at your photo session well rested helps you enjoy the photo process and put your best foot forward.
Have your outfit ready to go
Similarly to getting a good night’s sleep, you want to reduce any stress and last minute changes before your headshot.
Have your outfit ironed and set-out the day before your headshot. Having this ready beforehand helps you to avoid the stress of trying to find an outfit that looks and feels good.
While we’re on the topic of wardrobes– stick to solid colors and avoid small patterns. Small patterns tend to look a little funky on camera.
Do your research
This is going to sound funny, but you need to do your homework before your headshot.
While models make it look easy, finding a ‘style’ of headshot that you like can take some work.
Cruise through LinkedIn and see who’s headshots you like– notice what you like about them? Is it the setting/background? Are they in a fun pose? Does their expression look genuine? Having this ready before you arrive at the studio can make it easier to communicate the look you’re going for with your photographer.
Arrive early
I’m not just saying this as a photographer, but so you can have a relaxed and enjoyable headshot experience.
You never know when there’s going to be traffic or delays on public transit or you’ll have a hard time parking or finding the building.
Build in some extra time to get to your headshot so you don’t arrive stressed or overwhelmed (remember that good night of sleep you got?) It also gives you extra time to deal with any last minute primping or touch-ups like dealing with deodorant on your shirt.
Pro-tip: if you have deodorant on your shirt, grab another part of the fabric and rub it against the deodorant stain– like magic it’ll go away!
Have fun!
Try your best to have fun and enjoy the experience. Once you let go of the self-consciousness you’ll be amazed at how great the photos turn out.
Your photographer can take care of helping you find the right lighting or angles, just focus on relaxing and letting your personality shine through.
One thing I like to do is have something funny to read before I get in front of the camera– it can be a silly podcast or (my personal favorite) Dad jokes to help me relax and have a genuine smile on my face.
Viscera Studio regularly hosts Headshot Day events. Their next headshot event is happening on April 18th, 2023. Learn more and schedule your slot here.
Visit their event page to learn more about all of their upcoming events.
