We know that opinions about someone’s attractiveness, likeability, trustworthiness, and competence within just 100 milliseconds of seeing a face (Princeton). Also, according to research from Linkedin - profiles with a professional headshot are 14x more likely to be viewed and 36x more likely to receive messages. What does all of this mean for you? It means that you should have a headshot that reflects exactly who you are. Headshots don't have to be taken in front of a static backdrop (they can!) or solely taken indoors (they can!) - what they need to be is an accurate reflection of what you hope to convey in a photo and that's where I come in!
“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” -Dr. SEUSS
WHAT TO (AND NOT TO) WEAR
No matter the reason you've landed in front of the camera - the best thing you can be is yourself. When you allow yourself to just be in the moment you look more confident, more relaxed and more like YOU.
This means wearing colors and clothes that make you feel good. Adding color or pattern can really take the feeling of a photo to the next level. If you're a person who loves dresses/skirts - ones that have movement can make photos feel dynamic and interesting. A quick tie/jacket change can make it so that your photos don't all feel the same which gives you more flexibility in their usage.
Generally speaking - patterns that are overly busy or very small stripes should be avoided and clothes that constantly need to be adjusted or can be fussy won't do you any favors!
I always tell my clients to think about making small changes that don't take a lot of effort. This is important when time is restricted! So, starting with your hair in a ponytail and then letting it down (or vice-versa), wearing a hat or even changing your accessories (going from a large, bold earring to studs) can make a pretty big impact and keep all of your photos from feeling exactly the same. Necklaces are fine to wear but be careful not to wear something that constantly needs to be adjusted or where the pieces can flip backward! Scarves can be great as well as bracelets!
THE SMALL THINGS!
If time/budget allows please try to get a manicure or just file your nails so they're nice and neat! I have no real preference with regard to color but find that for photos neutral is most flexible (Essie Ballet Slippers, Essie Topless & Barefoot, Essie Sand Tropez, Essie Marshmallow, OPI San-Tan-Tonio, OPI Tickle Me Francey) - they can even be a neutral glitter (silver/gold/pale pink/white family) but just be careful because those are slightly more prone to chipping! If you really want to do color - GO FOR IT!
If you're wearing any makeup - please make sure you bring it along with you in case you need to touch it up while we work! I'm a HUGE fan of a bold lip color but always note that unless you're planning on wearing it for the duration of your session, it's better to start with a gloss/lighter color and then switch to something bold!
LAST BUT NOT LEAST - rest and hydrate as much as you can before your session. Don't overthink things - it will be fun and over in the blink of an eye! If you have any questions about your session or you're interested in booking one - shoot me an email!
