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Surrey Headshot Photographer
Session Guide
So, you've got a headshot photoshoot coming up! I'm here to help make it as relaxed and as fun an experience as I can. So grab a coffee (or a gin) and have a scroll through this guide. Any questions, just pop me a message or give me a call.
What You Need to Know
WHAT TO EXPECT
As a Surrey headshot photographer, my sessions vary according to each client's needs but typically take around 20 minutes. This gives me plenty of time to capture different poses and angles and for any outfit changes you might want to make. My sessions are relaxed and informal and if we need a little longer then that is fine. I'll spend the time capturing some gorgeous images of you, giving you gentle direction as needed.
WHERE
If you have somewhere in mind for your session, great! If not then I am more than happy to help you find the perfect place. Please download <What3Words> before your session - this will make it really easy to find each other.
WHEN
I do my headshot photoshoots on weekday mornings during term time. Morning light is softer and more flattering. A strong sun high in the sky casts harsh shadows and makes everyone squint which is never a good look!
BRITISH WEATHER
Well, we are in England so let's face it, there's a very real possibility the weather won't be on our side! Blue skies and wispy clouds are of course lovely but don't be put off by cloud cover. I actually much prefer a cloudy sky for my photoshoots. The clouds act as a giant diffuser, giving us soft, pretty, flattering light. Whatever Mother Nature has in store for us, I will take a call the day before. If we're rained off I will reschedule.
What Happens After the Shoot?
After your headshot photoshoot, I will spend some time choosing the very best photos from your session. Each one is carefully hand-edited in line with my editing style. I will touch up little scratches or blemishes and apply light softening to the skin, but I don't completely remove things like wrinkles. If you require this level of editing please let me know in advance. When they are ready you will receive an online viewing gallery of beautifully edited images. This will typically take around a week. You can then decide which images you would like.
What to Wear
Dressing yourself in the morning can be hard enough when you don’t have to stand in front of a camera and be your best self. Choosing what to wear for your headshot photoshoot can be stressful, but don’t worry. This is very normal! As a Surrey headshot photographer I know what works and what doesn’t. Scroll on down...
All About You
Headshots are about making that all-important first impression a good one. About making you stand out. And that is true whether you are running your own business, applying for jobs, networking or looking to refresh your social media presence.
So the right outfit for you to wear is very personal to you. But there are a few things that you might like to keep in mind when choosing what to wear for your headshot photoshoot. These are just suggestions though - take on board the advice that chimes with you, ignore the rest!
What You Should Consider
Firstly and somewhat importantly, make sure the colours you wear suit you and that the clothes fit you well. Consider asking a friend whose judgement you trust and who you know will tell you the truth, even if it's brutal! The wrong colours can wash you out and ill-fitting clothes that too tight or too lose can make you look larger than you really are.
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If you are a business owner, choose colours that go well with your brand and will work on your website. This doesn't mean you have to match your brand palette, but the colours do need to be complimentary.
Layers are a great idea if you want to capture a few different looks. Removing a jacket or adding a scarf can give your images a bit of variety. You are welcome to bring outfit changes but keep in mind there won't be any changing rooms so something you can easily pop on and off would be ideal.
Wear shoes that you are comfortable in. You want to look like the best version of you, but you do still want to look like you. So whether that's glitzy heels, ballet pumps or trainers, just make sure they go with the rest of your outfit.
This is not essential by any means, but wearing trousers, skirts or dresses with pockets can help with getting some variety in the poses.
.And What You Should Avoid
Don't wear something you wouldn’t normally wear or something that you feel uncomfortable in. You want to feel confident and relaxed, and if you're not it will show in your photos.
Try and avoid anything that creases too easily as this will show up in your images. This can often be fixed in editing but is time-consuming and will cost you extra.
Avoid large, bold patterns as they often dominate the photograph and detract attention. Whilst we're at it, you should also avoid logos as well.
I would suggest avoiding neon colours and solid black or white tops. Neutrals such as cream, navy and shades of grey work better. A black jacket with a coloured top underneath is absolutely fine though.
Some Other Top Tips
MAKEUP
Some of my clients get their makeup professionally done. If you choose to do this just make sure you do a trial run first to make sure you like it. If you are doing your makeup yourself, I would advise you to wear as much as you would for an evening out so it shows in the images. How much this is depends on you and what makes you comfortable.
HAIR
When it comes to your hair, up-dos are fine, especially if you wear your hair up all the time, but when it comes to capturing a moment, hair down is the way to go. With your hair down you get movement and interest.
NAILS
Don't forget your hands as they will likely feature in your images. Either treat yourself to a subtle manicure or make sure your nails are neat and tidy before the session.
GLASSES
If you wear glasses all the time then having photos without them might mean that you just don't look like you. And we don't want that so it's fine to keep them on - we'll just need to keep on eye on glare. But ditch the sunglasses. And the transition lenses. We will seek out the shade where we can and transition lenses often end up looking like sunglasses. Switch them for a pair of normal lenses if you can.
Tips for Men
Men often carry their phones, keys or wallets in their pockets. They really show up in the photos, so pop them to one side out of the way.
Men's watches tend to be quite large and can be a bit distracting. A nice dress watch is fine but, and this is a personal choice of course, I would ditch the smart watch.
For shirts, a think stripe pattern often distorts in photos, so opt for plain instead.
Need Some More Inspiration?
If you're looking for a little more inspiration, check out my Pinterest board for some ideas on what to wear for your mini lavender field photoshoot.