In todays world your headshot really is your calling card. Everyone has a website, a blog or a social media page. Because we live in a cyber world many times our first hello to people are the images they see of us on the internet. While the technology of the world and how we interact with it might turn upside down and all around every six months, some things never change. One of those is that you only get one chance to make a first impression. For good or bad most of the time you are making that impression without ever knowing when. With that in mind here are a few tips to make sure you have the best possible head shot session so you can make the very best first impression.
1. Rest those eyes. In the end your head shot is still a portrait and to me ALL portraits are about the eyes. It really is true, your eyes do tell your story. You want to make sure the night before your shoot you get some good rest. If you are up too late, or have too much fun the night before it will absolutely show in your eyes at your shoot. Nothing says lets do business or let's go on a date like bloodshot eyes with big dark bags!
2. Color Choice. When you are deciding what you want to wear in your images keep this in mind. Your head shot is about YOU! Do not wear clothes that make the shoot about your clothes and you second to them. Keep it simple and classic. The best colors are darker solids. I would also say the best color choices are blacks, grays, darker blues and white.
3. Don't wear your clothes to the studio. You spend a bunch of time ironing or steaming your clothes so you look tip top. Then you put on your clothes and jump in your car and pretty much ruin all the hard work. Your head shot is basically a close up of your face so everything in the frame is going to be visible. If your shirt or blouse has wrinkles they are going to show. Make sure you wear something else and bring what you are going to wear to the studio on hangers.
4. Be you. The number one tip I have for you is to absolutely be who you are. If you are a smiley person let that smile shine. If you are not a smiley person don't try to become one. One of the biggest misconceptions about head shots is you have to smile. If you are a lighthearted person don't try to be to serious. If you are more of a reserved person don't try to become an extrovert at the session. Remember this, the ONLY thing you have to do and do well to create an amazing head shot is BE YOU!!! Trust me, who you are is always far better than what you think you should be.
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