Getting Started
I’m so excited for your headshot session! I want you to know that I’m honored to be your photographer and humbled that you’ve trusted me with the responsibility of helping you capture you in this moment!
My goal is simple: for your session to be as fun and stress-free as possible! That’s why I’ve created this guide just for you! The following pages will help you get the absolute most out of your photos. By the time you’ve read through it, you'll have all of your questions answered and feel ready and prepared for your session!
This guide is packed with my best tips, tricks and insider secrets for scheduling and styling your portrait session –– and everything in between. Your only job is to be yourself, laugh a lot, have fun and let me do the rest! I can’t wait to get you in front of my camera and I’m so excited to see you soon!
My goal is simple: for your session to be as fun and stress-free as possible! That’s why I’ve created this guide just for you! The following pages will help you get the absolute most out of your photos. By the time you’ve read through it, you'll have all of your questions answered and feel ready and prepared for your session!
This guide is packed with my best tips, tricks and insider secrets for scheduling and styling your portrait session –– and everything in between. Your only job is to be yourself, laugh a lot, have fun and let me do the rest! I can’t wait to get you in front of my camera and I’m so excited to see you soon!
Scheduling Your Session
I photograph sessions the way I like to be photographed myself: outdoors, in natural light, because I love images that are clean, bright, fresh and timeless. Images that look and feel like you! That’s why I begin all of my sessions 1-2 hours before the scheduled sunset –– during the magical “golden hour” –– when the light in the sky is the softest, dreamiest and most flattering.
Planning Your Time
When you’re planning "getting ready" time before your session (scheduling your hair, makeup, etc.) please give yourself a lot more time than you think you'll need. Make sure to account for things like traffic, getting lost, and parking, so you can prevent unnecessary stress, arrive a few minutes early to your session, and be ready to start on time. I’m only able to shoot when light is still in the sky, so we’ll want to take advantage of every minute we have together before the sun goes down!
Number of Outfits
Changing outfits during a session always takes more time than clients expect, so in order to maximize shooting time and give you the highest number of photos possible, I recommend two to four tops for headshot sessions to keep stress low and the number of photos in your final gallery high. Changing pants/skirts/dresses can sometimes be more challenging, but we can absolutely make it happen if you want to!
Style Tips For Her
Keep it Casual
Headshots are typically used to highlight you & your face! I highly recommend wearing solid color tops that compliment your hair and/or eyes. This really helps make you pop! (For example, I have green eyes and brown hair, so I typically lean towards a dark green top so it pulls out the green in my eyes!) If you have a shirt you absolutely love that has a pattern, bring it! After all, once you have your photos, you're the one choosing which to use! Simple jackets are always a fantastic way to change up your outfit just slightly without having to do a total outfit change on location.
I always recommend bringing a few different tops or full outfits to headshot sessions. Why? This way, you'll have a wide variety of options at your disposal when you need them. Be prepared to change clothes on location, sometimes there aren't easily accessible bathrooms and we want to make sure to use the most of your time for photos!
Make A Statement
Pairing an accessory or two with your outfit can really help bring some extra dimension to your images. Whether it’s a necklace, belt, bracelet, earrings, hat, or scarf, bringing an accessory or two can bring great visual interest to your photos, so choose one or two that don’t compete for attention when paired together. For example, if you go with bolder earnings, you might want to choose a more humble necklace, or maybe even no necklace at all. Fresh florals in a crown or bouquet can be a really romantic touch as well! It's always a good idea to get your ring cleaned before your session, too! It'll give it an extra sparkle!
Go Pro: Hair & Makeup
Professional hair and makeup is on the top of most of my clients’ portrait session checklists because it looks amazing on camera and removes the stress of getting ready on your own. Whether it’s lash extensions or blown-out hair, professional hair and makeup will give you an extra boost of confidence in front of the camera, and it always photographs like a dream. If you’re working with a makeup artist, have them apply your makeup in natural light (if possible) so it looks fresh and not too heavy. Plus, that’s the type of light we’ll be shooting in, so it’ll give you the best expectation of how it will translate on camera. Most of my clients feel like their makeup is “too much” at first, since it’s more than they would wear on a normal day, so if you feel that way at the beginning, don’t worry! Good makeup artists know how to get it just right for the camera — and my clients always love the final result. My advice would be to make sure your makeup still looks like you!
Skip the Spray Tan
Although it might seem counter-intuitive, I recommend that you do not get a spray tan before your session (even a few days prior) because it tends to photograph orange even when it’s applied subtly and by a professional. Your actual skin tone will photograph most beautifully.
Headshots are typically used to highlight you & your face! I highly recommend wearing solid color tops that compliment your hair and/or eyes. This really helps make you pop! (For example, I have green eyes and brown hair, so I typically lean towards a dark green top so it pulls out the green in my eyes!) If you have a shirt you absolutely love that has a pattern, bring it! After all, once you have your photos, you're the one choosing which to use! Simple jackets are always a fantastic way to change up your outfit just slightly without having to do a total outfit change on location.
I always recommend bringing a few different tops or full outfits to headshot sessions. Why? This way, you'll have a wide variety of options at your disposal when you need them. Be prepared to change clothes on location, sometimes there aren't easily accessible bathrooms and we want to make sure to use the most of your time for photos!
Make A Statement
Pairing an accessory or two with your outfit can really help bring some extra dimension to your images. Whether it’s a necklace, belt, bracelet, earrings, hat, or scarf, bringing an accessory or two can bring great visual interest to your photos, so choose one or two that don’t compete for attention when paired together. For example, if you go with bolder earnings, you might want to choose a more humble necklace, or maybe even no necklace at all. Fresh florals in a crown or bouquet can be a really romantic touch as well! It's always a good idea to get your ring cleaned before your session, too! It'll give it an extra sparkle!
Go Pro: Hair & Makeup
Professional hair and makeup is on the top of most of my clients’ portrait session checklists because it looks amazing on camera and removes the stress of getting ready on your own. Whether it’s lash extensions or blown-out hair, professional hair and makeup will give you an extra boost of confidence in front of the camera, and it always photographs like a dream. If you’re working with a makeup artist, have them apply your makeup in natural light (if possible) so it looks fresh and not too heavy. Plus, that’s the type of light we’ll be shooting in, so it’ll give you the best expectation of how it will translate on camera. Most of my clients feel like their makeup is “too much” at first, since it’s more than they would wear on a normal day, so if you feel that way at the beginning, don’t worry! Good makeup artists know how to get it just right for the camera — and my clients always love the final result. My advice would be to make sure your makeup still looks like you!
Skip the Spray Tan
Although it might seem counter-intuitive, I recommend that you do not get a spray tan before your session (even a few days prior) because it tends to photograph orange even when it’s applied subtly and by a professional. Your actual skin tone will photograph most beautifully.
One Last Note
I know I just gave you A LOT to think about! Don’t panic :) Just take it one step at a time. If you have any questions at any point, please know I’m here for you! If you’re deciding between a lot of outfits and can’t commit, no problem! I’m here. If you love two locations but can’t make up your mind, no worries! I can help with that, too. If you need a recommendation of any kind, I’m on it! Remember, I’m just one email away :)
At the end of the day, though, the location you choose and the outfits you wear won’t matter nearly as much as the fun we have together and the memories you make. The style choices you make will definitely enhance your photos, but the most important accessory to bring with you is joyfulness –– which is the one that makes the biggest difference in your photos anyways. You don’t need to have prior experience in front of the camera. Just show up with a smile and I’ll take care of the rest :)
At the end of the day, though, the location you choose and the outfits you wear won’t matter nearly as much as the fun we have together and the memories you make. The style choices you make will definitely enhance your photos, but the most important accessory to bring with you is joyfulness –– which is the one that makes the biggest difference in your photos anyways. You don’t need to have prior experience in front of the camera. Just show up with a smile and I’ll take care of the rest :)