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Headshot and Portrait Photography Sessions: What to bring and what to wear

If you’re getting your first professional headshots taken, or if you’re having a professional photographer do a portrait session for you, here are a few things you might find useful to know in advance…

WHAT TO BRING:

1- Bring a comb or brush and a light hair-spray. Heavy sprays and gels make your hair look unnatural and stiff, so something with a light hold is a better idea.

2- Bring a light face powder (yes, also for men) and a powder applicator – a brush is best – to reduce any shine on your face that may build up during your shoot. Make sure the powder is a good match for your skin tone.

3- Moisturizer. Men and women; before you apply any makeup or powder, put a light layer of moisturizer on your face. This prevents your face from looking dry and it gives your skin a fresh, smoother texture.

4- Lip Balm. For men (or women who prefer not to wear much or any makeup), bring a lip balm. Dry lips show up very badly in photos. A non-shiny, non-waxy, no-color lip balm is essential! Avoid chapstick, as it tends to leave a white residue.

5- If you normally wear makeup, bring it with you. Blush, concealer, eye-shadow, mascara, lipstick etc. Be sure to bring a few different shades of eyeshadow and lipstick, as some colors may not look as well on camera as others. Avoid high gloss lipsticks or very shiny lipgloss. These often look too unnatural and reflect too much light in photos.

DO NOT OVER APPLY! You may think that you need a heavy application of foundation on your skin, but this is actually a terrible idea. Even slightly uneven foundation will show very clearly (and very badly) in your pictures. It’s much better to just touch up individual blemishes rather than putting on a layer of foundation.

6- Bring deodorant. If your session is indoors or in a studio, you can usually expect to be under warm lights for quite some time. You don’t want to have perspiration stains in your photos, so remember to apply an extra ‘layer’ of deodorant right before your session begins.

7- Bring a toothbrush or dental floss, just in case you have the remnants of your last meal stuck in your teeth!

8- Eyedrops. Sitting for a photo-session means a lot of not blinking. Which can be irritating to your eyes and if you’re under bright lights, it’s even worse. Right before your session, put in some drops.

WHAT TO WEAR

For headshots, it’s usual to have at least two or three different ‘looks’. These tend to be 1: Casual and informal. 2: Elegant and slightly formal. 3: Edgy and/or unusual. This means you should bring the following clothing choices:

1- Casual and informal clothes. A simple shirt (or sweater) and jeans, is always a good bet here. Do not wear t-shirts with logos, brand names or any obviously printed words on them. These draw the eye away from your face, which is the last thing you want in a headshot! Do not wear work-out clothing or sweats, although a plain hoodie is fine. Make sure your jeans are basic as well. No applique, no artfully splattered paint or bleach marks and if there are rips or holes, make sure they’re small and fairly unnoticeable.

2- Elegant and slightly formal clothes. A well tailored jacket and a well tailored shirt is a very good choice for men and for women. For women, a fashionable, figure-flattering top, dressy sweater or dress is also a good choice. You don’t want look as if you’re going to a job interview. You do want to wear what you would for a nice dinner party or event. Dark colors are best for this look.

3- Edgy and unusual clothes. Particularly for actors, musicians and entertainers who have a unique look or play a broad range of performances of any kind. For this ‘look’, bring the clothes that define your particular style. If you are from a specific ethnic background and have traditional clothing (saris, kimonos, sarongs, etc.), bring those! If you prefer to dress in vintage clothing, bring your favorite vintage suit or dress. Whatever your style, bring the outfit, accessories and makeup that you feel really exemplifies your individuality.

As for what to wear for a portrait session, the range is a bit broader. It depends entirely on what type of portraits you’re getting.

A FEW BASIC RULES FOR ANY PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION:

1- Colors which look great on almost everybody: white, black, grey, earth-tones (reds and browns) and jewel-tones (greens and blues). Warm colors or monochromatic tones are almost always best. For most people, pastels, khakis, oranges and yellows are not flattering to the skin and should not be worn for photos. (However, if you are an exception to that rule, by all means, bring the colors that suit you best.)

2- Clothing choices to avoid: Large, bold prints, logos or patterns. Again, these draw the eye away from your face, which is not a good thing. You don’t want your outfit to dominate your photos. Don’t wear clothing that is too loose or too clingy. Very loose clothing and very tight clothing both have the effect of unflatteringly altering the appearance of your body shape. Shiny fabrics should generally be avoided as well. A simple satin is fine, but anything with a lot of shine will reflect light and tends to overemphasize the figure.

3- Do not over-accessorize. Keep it simple. If you have one particular piece of jewelery you’d like to wear, don’t wear any other pieces with it. A big, bold necklace can sometimes look really wonderful, but not if it’s also worn with big, bold earrings. Again, too many extra visuals will detract from your face, which should be the only focal point in your pictures.

4- Go light on the perfume or cologne. Heavy application of perfumes or body-sprays before your session is not a good idea. If you must wear a scent, wear much less than you normally would. Many people have allergies to scents, and you don’t want a photographer who is trying to take your photo through watering eyes and sneezing fits.

5- Bring something special .Even if you don’t plan on wearing or using it during your photo-shoot, bring along your very favorite article of clothing, just in case. You could also bring a decorative blanket or scarf. The blanket or scarf can sometimes be used as your backdrop, which guarantees your photos will be very personalized, just for you.

About the Author

Tamea Burd is a professional, eco-friendly photographer based in Vancouver BC. She specializes in portrait photography, headshots and wedding photography. www.tburdphotos.net

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