How to Prepare for Your Headshot Session
How to Prepare for Your Headshot Session
Arrive Prepared and Comfortable
This short guide is designed to help you prepare for a professional headshot used across your firm’s website, proposals, recruiting materials, team communications, and other professional uses. You do not need prior experience in front of the camera. Direction will be provided during the session.
A little preparation helps the final image feel current, professional, and consistent with the rest of your team.
Quick Preparation
Keep things simple in the days leading up to your session. Follow your normal routine, get a good night of sleep if possible, and avoid last-minute changes to skincare, grooming, hair, or makeup. The goal is not to look different. The goal is to look like a polished, current version of yourself.
Arrive a few minutes early if possible so you have time to settle in before being photographed.
Clothing and Wardrobe
Choose clothing that reflects how you normally present yourself in a professional setting. If your firm has provided wardrobe guidance, brand standards, or a preferred level of formality, use that as your starting point.
Simple, well-fitting clothing usually photographs best. Jackets, blazers, cardigans, sweaters, collared shirts, blouses, dresses, suits, sport coats, professional separates, open-collar shirts, and simple ties can all work well. Neutral and controlled colors are usually reliable, including navy, charcoal, gray, black, cream, white, light blue, deep blue, burgundy, plum, and other muted tones.
Avoid anything overly bright, visibly worn, uncomfortable, or visually distracting. Very small grids, tight checks, dense herringbone, and high-contrast patterns can create visual distortion on camera.
Fit matters more than complexity. Choose something that allows you to sit, stand, and move naturally. Layers can also help a headshot feel more finished, especially if you are unsure what will work best.
Before arriving, make sure your clothing is clean, pressed, lint-free, and ready to wear. Bring a backup option if you are unsure. The goal is consistency, not uniformity.
Optional Wardrobe References
We maintain wardrobe inspiration boards with examples of structure, tone, layering, and formality that tend to photograph well. These are references, not requirements. Your firm’s wardrobe guidance should remain the primary reference.
Hair, Grooming, and Small Details
Style your hair the way you would normally wear it in a professional setting. If you are getting a haircut or color, avoid scheduling it immediately before the session. A little lead time usually photographs better.
If you wear facial hair, trim or shape it the way you want it to appear professionally. If you prefer a clean-shaven look, shave the morning of the session if that works well for your skin.
Use makeup and skincare products you already know. Avoid experimenting with anything new right before the session. A clean, natural look usually photographs best.
If you wear glasses at work, plan to be photographed in them unless your firm has requested otherwise. Clean your glasses before the session and bring them even if you are undecided.
Before being photographed, check for small distractions such as lint, wrinkles, name badges, temporary accessories, loose threads, or pet hair.
What to Expect During the Session
You do not need to know how to pose. Direction will be provided throughout the session, including posture, angle, expression, clothing details, glasses, and small adjustments. Most people are not fully relaxed at the beginning of a headshot session. That is normal. A few minutes of direction usually makes a noticeable difference.
For some team sessions, you may review images during the session and select your preferred headshot before leaving. If that is part of your firm’s workflow, guidance will be provided on site.
Final Checklist
The checklist below is the most important part to review before your session.
- Clothing is clean, pressed, and comfortable
- Hair is styled the way you normally wear it professionally
- Facial hair is trimmed or shaped, if applicable
- Glasses are clean
- Makeup or skincare is familiar and comfortable
- Accessories are simple and not distracting
- A backup clothing option is available if needed
- Any wardrobe or brand guidance from your firm has been reviewed
When each person arrives prepared, the session moves more smoothly and the final image set becomes easier for the organization to use across websites, proposals, recruiting materials, leadership profiles, and internal communications.
Review Headshot Examples
For a clearer sense of how professional headshots can vary while still feeling consistent, you can review examples from past 517 Visuals headshot sessions.
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