Taking full length or even three quarters images during a headshot session are more than just another ‘look’, they require me to completely reconfigure the lighting and reflectors. For this reason, full length images are reserved for custom portrait sessions. Full length shots are great and I encourage them, but this would be reserved for portrait sessions, rather than a standard headshot session.

Two things I can guarantee every headshot client: There will be good usable images and there will be absolute stinkers. Sneezes, out of focus shots, shots where the lights didn’t fire, weird expressions and nervousness. Those shots won’t make it to your gallery. The rest, the ‘potentials’ will be uploaded to a private gallery with only light editing to correct colors and contrast and you will have the option to order retouching on additional shots.

There are as many philosophies on this as there are headshot photographers it seems, but I will tell you a story: once upon a time, I was working with a model client that was doing a great job until she asked to see the back of my camera.

She saw an image that she didn’t care for and said ‘hmmmm’. The shoot went from calm and relaxed to nervous and tense, as she began asking to see the back of the camera every other shot.

Up until that point, the shoot went fantastic and she ended up loving the images (ironically, including the headshot she was initially disapproving of), The images after that were alright from a technical standpoint, but there was some lost magic. Where everything felt organic and natural before this, the expressions felt more forced after this and the poses were more intentional and stiff.

The moral of the story is: don’t psych yourself out. When you look at a headshot on a 3 inch camera LCD or even an unedited raw on a preview monitor, don’t judge the shoot by that one photo. Instead, trust me and just enjoy the shoot. We’ll go over the images afterwards and if you feel that they don’t quite hit the mark, we’ll take some additional images.

Your shoes won’t be seen unless you’re doing a portrait session with full length images, so bring along whatever shoes are comfortable. Comfort is key here, as you’ll be able to see your overall confidence, comfort and emotion in your headshots.

I’ve had a few clients choose to wear high heel shoes because it ‘sculpts’ them or makes them look taller, or changes their posture. It doesn’t, but if high heels somehow make you feel more confident, then go ahead and go for it!

In general, no. I’m sure there’s exceptions and it’s ultimately up to the client, but I have done entire headshot sessions where a client has worn some sort of hat and just continuously flips the brim or ‘models’ the hat with their hands and it comes out looking a little funny or forced.

There’s some general advice to give, but I also want to stress that headshot sessions are a highly individualized shoot. For instance, if you’re an actor, you should walk in with a good idea of the types of roles you would like to get booked for. Leave little to chance, as you wouldn’t want to use cheery, happy photos with bright poppy backgrounds to submit for more serious, dramatic roles.

General advice

• bring several outfits even if you’ve just booked one look. I am happy to give my opinion and it gives you more options to choose from, rather than a have a button fall off a single outfit
• Bring your clothes look new and are neatly ironed/pressed and on hangers, in a garment bag, etc. I will not iron your clothes or wait for you to iron your clothes and I will not do a shoot where clothing is brought in garbage bags, rumpled into a purse, etc. As hard as it is to believe, all of this has happened to many times!
• Bring layers. Putting on or taking off a jacket, glasses or tie is not considered an additional look and it’s a wonderful way to increase the variety of your shoot and switch up tones quickly! For ladies, maybe a jacket and scarf
• Bring a variety of color options that fit the mood of the roles you’re vying for.
• Have a rough idea of the type of background you’d like to have and dress accordingly. White backgrounds are great, but it can be fun to have a color to ‘lift’ the mood. Yellow or pink for fun, youthful appearances, dark charcoal grey for somber dramatic looks, etc

I’m highly collaborative. If you’re stuck and want to send me a few pictures of what you have, I’m happy to have a look and share my thoughts!