headshot photo session tips

The very best thing that can happen at your photo session is that you are well prepared, there are no surprises, and you feel like the best version of yourself! This will ensure you look relaxed, your smile is natural, and that you have a great experience at our session!

If you’ve never had your photo professionally taken before, it can be nerve wracking. But a little preparation can help you feel calm, confident, and ready to knock it out of the park!

hi there!

I’m Sheri and I can’t wait to meet you in person. I’m looking forward to working with you to capture some amazing headshot photos that you’ll be proud for colleagues and friends to see.

Whether you’re already one of my clients, or your new to Trinity Lane Photography, I’m so glad you’re coming to see me!

Over the next few pages, I’ll give you all the info you’ll need to be well prepared for your session so that you can feel confident and look your very best.

Let’s get started!

what’s in this guide

business-y stuff to know about your session

consultation call

rescheduling our session

After you review this guide, let’s jump on a short call in the next few days to go over everything, ask and answer questions of each other, and make final plans for the session. You can schedule a call directly in my calendar my clicking here, or on the link I sent in your email along with this guide.

I’ll shoot you a text if I don’t see a the booking come through - I know you’re busy!

You’ll receive a Photography Agreement in the booking process that summarizes our plans for the session. I know … not the fun stuff, but my ‘boss’ makes me follow the rules. Ha. Please read the agreement and sign it electronically so we can get the boring stuff done and have some FUN! Thank you!

You’ll also receive a deposit request due upon booking. This will hold your session date in my calendar. Your balance is due on your session date.

I send a reminder for final invoice payment by email the day before our session. You’re welcome to pay any way it’s convenient for you - credit card, cash, check or Venmo. I pass along the credit card processing fee to my clients, so if you pay in a form other than credit card, you can remove that line item! That’s a win-win!

our agreement and session payment

Outdoor sessions will be rescheduled if our shoot location has rain or snow/high likelihood of rain or snow. Cloudy, foggy, or hazy days will still go on as planned.

If you (or any of your immediate family members) becomes sick, please don’t continue with the session. Let me know ASAP. Likewise, I will contact you to reschedule if I become sick.

I photograph a lot of families, small children, and newborn babies, so I’m really careful about exposing myself and others to illness.

In the event rescheduling becomes necessary, I’ll reschedule your session for the very first day full health is returned and schedules allow. I will also make editing and delivering your final images my top priority so as not to cause further delay.

headshot prep essentials

DON’T FORGET

  • Schedule a manicure

  • Get a facial or give yourself one

  • Whiten your teeth

  • Bring a toothbrush and toothpaste to your session

Nails

Hands are naturally a major point of focus in photographs. While they don’t always show, particularly in a close-cropped headshot, having a clean, manicured set of nails goes a long way and it’s a good idea, just in case.

I highly recommend a professional manicure, even for men. Your cuticles will be trimmed, nails clipped and filed, and hands moisturized (you’ll maybe even get hot wax)!

Schedule your manicure for the day before or day of your session to ensure your nails look their best. For women, I recommend a French manicure or just a clear coat of polish so that your hands and nail don’t stand out in photos.

Shoes

It’s true that shoes can make an outfit. This can often be overlooked in headshot photos. But wear the whole outfit - not just the “top half”. You’ll look better, more put together, and guess what - that makes you feel better and more confident. Plus … we might take a full-body shot! Be prepared.

Skin

I recommend a facial about a week prior to your session if your acne-prone or have dull skin that could use a refresh. You don’t have to use a professional service - just an exfoliating scrub at home will do wonders! Most importantly, don’t pick at your skin. My services do cover skin retouching and blemish removal; however,

Teeth

Use a whitening toothpaste in the weeks leading up to your session to make your smile even more beautiful!

I can easily whiten teeth in post production editing, so if stained teeth are a concern, please let me know.

Bring a toothbrush and toothpaste to your session so you can give your teeth a last-minute clean before we start photographing.

styling tips for women

Wardrobe Styling

I find that most women already have a few outfits in their closet that they love, but if you want to shop for something to wear and need some recommendations from me, I’m happy to talk through that when we have our consultation call. Downtown Bend has many great women’s boutiques where you can get something perfect!

Most importantly, make sure your clothing is relatively new (purchased in the last 6-12 months) in order to ensure fabric isn’t worn and that you’re wearing the latest styles.

Bring two outfits to wear during your session (for professional headshots). I recommend putting the outfit on at home, including all accessories and shoes. Once you’re happy with the look, pack it all up as you change out of it.

You will be sitting, standing, and posing for a period of time, so make sure your clothing fits well, is flattering to your figure, and you are comfortable moving in it. Just as important - does it make you feel confident and beautiful?! If it doesn’t, go on to the next option! Clothing choices make a huge difference in how the shoot goes and how the images turn out!

If you’re unsure what your style type is, stick to solid, muted colors in earthy tones, muted gem tones, monochrome, beige, and taupe. If your sessions is for a social media headshot, you can have a little more fun with your outfits!

Wrinkles do show up in photos, so please make sure all clothing is wrinkle-free when you arrive.

Accessories

Adding a subtle gold necklace or sweet, simple set of earrings can add a lot of character to your portraits. Same thing goes for nails! Hands are naturally a major point of focus in family photos and having a clean, manicured set of nails goes a long way! For dad too!

DON’T FORGET

  • Choose your clothing, accessories, and shoes now - don’t wait until just before your session

  • Try everything on to check fit, comfort, and ease of movement

  • Iron all clothing

Women’s Hair

Come with your hair ready the way you would like to present yourself. We want your hair in your photos to be as close as possible to the way you look on a fantastic hair day.

Having your regular hairdresser do a wash and style for you on photo day is a great idea and takes the stress off you!

Get your hair cut (and colored if you color your hair) one to two weeks prior to your session. Don’t drastically change it from your normal style in case you don’t like it.

If you’d like a little variety, have your hair stylist show you some easy styles you can do during outfit changes to switch it up a bit!

Makeup

Makeup for the session is not required but is highly recommended for all women. Apply a little more makeup than you usually do as makeup on camera looks different than it does in person. Use matte finish and avoid shimmery shadows.

If you’re not comfortable applying makeup for photos, I highly recommend a professional makeup artist. Most hair salons in Central Oregon have a makeup artist on staff and they’ll help you look your best. Make sure to mention at booking that makeup should be done for professional headshot photos and that you want a natural, clean, and simple look.

DON’T FORGET

  • Get a hair cut and color

  • Schedule a day-of-session hair styling appointment

  • Schedule an appointment with a makeup artist for day-of-session makeup

Men’s Hair

Get it cut! Even if you wear it long .... get a trim. Having a fresh and clean haircut, and your neck shaved is essential! Presenting a polished look makes a TON of difference in photos.

Skincare

I don’t recommend makeup for men, but I do recommend a facial about a week prior to your session if your acne-prone or have dull skin that could use a refresh. You don’t have to use a professional service - just an exfoliating scrub at home will do wonders!

Facial Hair

If you wear facial hair, please arrive at the studio with it detangled, neatly trimmed and shaped, with clean edges.

Bring a beard brush or comb to the studio with you so we can touch it up as necessary.

If you use beard oil for hydration and/or balm for styling, use it sparingly so the product doesn’t shine in photos. Again, bring it along in case you need to use it!

There are several highly-rated barbershops in Central Oregon, particularly Bend, that specialize in beard grooming and facial treatments.

styling tips for men

DON’T FORGET

  • Get a haircut and neck shave

  • Have your beard neatly trimmed and groomed

  • Get or give yourself a facial

DON'‘T FORGET

  • Choose your clothing, accessories, and shoes now - don’t wait until just before your session

  • Try everything on to check fit, comfort, and ease of movement

  • Iron all clothing

Clothing Tips for Men

We’ll talk about your clothing when we have our consultation call so don’t worry! I’m here to walk you through choosing your clothing, if you need me. I have found clothing choice to be the biggest barrier to men getting their photos taken.

First of all, make sure your clothing is relatively new (purchased in the last 6-12 months) in order to ensure fabric isn’t worn and that you’re wearing the latest styles.

You can get exactly what you need at Men’s Warehouse (for professional, tailored menswear), or REVOLVR (for an on-trend and rugged, more casual look). Work with a sales clerk and let them know exactly what you want. They know the store inventory and they’ll do the searching for you and give you honest feedback.

Use these quick tips for the best results with your wardrobe:

  • Bring two outfits (for professional headshots).

  • Bring one extra shirt in case one gets soiled, you perspire excessively, or something else unexpected happens.

  • Solid colors photograph well and keep the focus on you and not your clothing.

  • If you wear a pattern, keep it subtle and small.

  • NO logos!

  • Don’t wear anything tight. Make sure shirts don’t gap when they’re buttoned - even when you’re sitting down.

  • IMPORTANT: Wrinkles do show up in photos, so please make sure all clothing is wrinkle-free when you arrive.

Clothing choices make a huge difference in how the shoot goes and how the images turn out!

Accessories

One or two subtle accessories that you wear frequently and are comfortable in add a lot to your portraits! (See the inset photo on this page).

Remove any other accessories, even if you wear them all the time. For example, an Apple watch (unless you’re a fitness coach and it is relative to your brand). A watch face can show the time the photo was taken, can reflect the studio light, and overall be distracting and draw the eye away from you.

IMPORTANT: Make sure your pockets are empty. Remove your phone, change, car keys, and wallet.

what to expect the day of your session

When you arrive we’ll do a quick look around the studio so you can see the spaces we will be photographing in. You can grab a water, have a seat in the lobby, and I’ll go over a few things before we start shooting.

  • We’ll look at your outfits together and make any final adjustments.

  • We’ll talk about posing and I’ll give you some direction ahead of time so you know what cues to listen for. I’ll model a few simple posing techniques so you can copy it.

  • We’ll make any final adjustments to hair and make-up, you can brush your teeth one last time (in case you grabbed lunch on the way over), and we’ll get started!

  • We will be looking at photos LIVE during the photoshoot. I’ll take several images and then invite you over to the laptop to review our images.

    The initial photos will give us a great idea of what is and isn’t working. We can compare notes and get back to work emphasizing what worked. It’s a collaborative process I will be there to work through it with you all the way. 

  • You’ll choose the final photos you want me to edit before our session ends.

info about your final images

image retouching

delivery of final images

Your selected images will be flagged during your session and then fully edited and finished before they are delivered.

Typical editing includes:

  • Removal of blemishes and any skin imperfections such as nicks and cuts.

  • Deemphasizing skin wrinkles and any other distracting skin imperfections that are often captured by today’s high resolution cameras and super sharp lenses.

  • Gentle skin smoothing (without losing texture).

  • Smoothing wrinkles in clothing that is distracting to the eye.

  • Stay hair removal.

  • Subtle adjustments to color, exposure, contrast, and shadows to create a clean, polished, and intentional final image.

Final images will be delivered to you in about a week. You will receive an email (and usually a text too) that your images are finished and available for download.

If you needs prints you can order from the Print Store right in your gallery. I use a professional printer with the highest quality papers and equipment. You won’t get quality, true-color images from anywhere local or online. Professional printers only work with professional photographers whose credentials they have screened.

Outdoor sessions will be postponed if our shoot location has rain or snow/high likelihood of rain or snow. Cloudy, foggy, or hazy days will still go on as planned.

If you (or any of your immediate family members) becomes sick, please don’t continue with the session. I will contact you to reschedule if I become sick as well. I photograph a lot of families, small children, and newborn babies, so I’m really careful about exposing myself and others to illness.

I will reschedule your session for the first day we’re returned to full health, so this won’t cause a big delay.

thank you!

Thanks for hiring me to take your headshots! I promise we’re going to have a relaxed session, we’re going to laugh and have fun! And, most importantly, we’re going to get some great photos that you’ll love!

We’ll chat soon for a consultation call, but don’t hesitate to reach out any time during this process if you need anything!

Chat soon,
Sheri
C: | 503-577-3787