The Short Answer
The most important preparation is practical: choose solid-coloured clothing that fits well, bring two or three outfit options, get a good night of sleep, clean your glasses, and give yourself enough time to arrive without rushing. You do not need to know how to pose. Before we start shooting, I sit down with you, go through reference headshots, and walk you through what to do with your body, head, chin, and eyes. By the time the camera comes out, you already know what we are working toward.
Quick Headshot Prep Checklist
Bookmark this and run through it the night before your session.
- Bring 3 to 5 outfit options
- Choose solid colours over patterns, logos, or bright prints
- Iron or steam everything — creases show up clearly in close-up photography
- Clean your glasses (smudges catch studio light)
- Avoid transition lenses and blue-light-blocking lenses if possible
- Get a good night of sleep
- Drink water in the days leading up to the session
- Bring a few reference photos you like — for expressions and angles, not outfits
- Leave enough time to arrive without rushing
The Week Before Your Session
A week out is the right time to handle wardrobe decisions and any appointments that need to happen before the session.
- Look through your wardrobe honestly. Lay out what you might wear and consider how it photographs rather than how it looks on a hanger or in a mirror. Solid colours and good fit matter more than anything else.
- If you're getting a haircut, aim for 3 to 7 days before the session. A cut done the day before can look too fresh and slightly unsettled in photos. A few days of wear is better.
- Book professional hair or makeup now if you're planning to use either. Confirming the appointment early removes a variable from the day itself.
- If this headshot is for a company website or employer, confirm any dress code or background colour preferences in advance. Some employers have specific requirements.
For a full breakdown of colours, fit, jackets, glasses, and what to avoid, read What to Wear for Professional Headshots.
The Day Before
The night before your session does not require much, but the small things here make a visible difference.
- Get enough sleep. Tired eyes and skin are visible in photos in ways that editing can only partially address. This is the most important item on the day-before list.
- Drink water. Hydrated skin photographs differently than dehydrated skin. Staying hydrated in the two days before helps.
- Avoid heavy alcohol, very salty food, or anything that causes overnight puffiness. The effect is usually most visible around the eyes and jaw.
- Do not try new skincare products. A product that causes a reaction has nowhere to go before your session the next day. Stick to what you know.
- Review a few photos of yourself that you're happy with. Notice what worked: the angle, the hairstyle, the expression. One or two references on your phone are useful to bring along. Not required, but helpful for the pre-shoot conversation.
If something comes up before your session, please get in touch at least 48 hours in advance and I can find a new time that works. Rescheduling requests made with less than 24 hours notice are subject to a $50 rebooking fee.
The Morning Of
A few small things done well on the morning of the session make a visible difference in the final photos.
- Wear the clothing you plan to shoot in, or bring both options if you're still deciding. Having everything with you removes that decision from the session itself.
- Iron or steam everything. Creases from a hanger or folded clothing are clearly visible in headshots, particularly around collars, lapels, and sleeves.
- Trim or shave facial hair. Whatever your preference, make it intentional rather than in-between. Stubble that reads as unfinished in a photo is a common outcome of not addressing this the morning of.
- Keep makeup natural and non-shiny. Products with visible shimmer or oil finish work against the studio lighting and create more work in retouching. Natural coverage photographs better.
- Do not try anything new today. Not a new hairstyle, not a new product, not a foundation shade you have not tested before. Today is not the day for it.
- Leave enough time to arrive without rushing. Rushed energy comes through in photos. A few minutes to settle in before the session starts is worth more than it might seem.
For hair, makeup, grooming details, and how to handle shine, read How to Look Polished for Professional Headshots.
Five Minutes Before the Session
- Check your hair in a mirror
- Check for shine and use a blotting sheet if needed
- Clean your glasses one more time
- Check your collar and neckline for lint, creases, or anything out of place
- Straighten any jewellery
- Take a breath and arrive ready, not rushed
What to Bring to Your Session
Pack this the night before so nothing gets forgotten on the morning of.
- Two or three outfit options (more is better than less)
- A backup shirt or jacket in a different colour
- A lint roller
- A hairbrush or comb
- Lip balm
- Makeup touch-up items if you wear makeup
- A glasses cloth if you wear glasses
- Oil blotting sheets if your skin tends to get shiny
- One or two reference photos on your phone (expressions or angles you like)
- Employer dress code or background instructions, if applicable
Nervous About Being Photographed?
Most people who say they are not photogenic have just never been properly coached before a shoot. That changes before the first frame is taken.
Before we start shooting, I sit down with you and go through a handful of published headshots. We look at how posture changes the result, how chin position affects the jawline, how to hold your eyes and face in a way that looks natural rather than performed. By the time the camera comes out, you already know exactly what we are working toward. You are not guessing.
The first few shots are always warm-up. That is completely normal. Most people settle in within a couple of minutes, and the best photos usually come after that initial period. There is no pressure to nail it on the first frame.
If looking natural in front of a camera is your main concern, there is more detail in How to Look Natural in Professional Headshots.
Preparing for a Corporate Headshot Day
If this session is part of a company or team headshot day, the individual preparation is similar, but there are a few logistics worth knowing in advance.
- Follow any instructions your employer has sent. Background colour, clothing colour, and image format are often specified for team consistency. If you have not received those instructions, ask HR before the session date.
- Confirm your scheduled time slot and arrive a few minutes early. Team sessions run on a schedule, and late arrivals can reduce the time available for your photos.
- Bring a backup shirt or jacket. Reshoots during a scheduled team session are not always possible, so having a second option with you is worth the extra effort.
For everything about team session logistics, employee preparation, and what HR should communicate in advance, read How to Prepare for a Corporate Headshot Day.
What Happens After the Session
You do not leave the studio without reviewing the photos first.
During the shoot, I review images with you as we go, so nothing gets through that you are not happy with. Before you leave, you choose which photos to have retouched. You are not sent a large gallery a week later and asked to decide on your own from 200 images.
For Express Business Headshot sessions, edited files are typically ready the same day. For full headshot sessions and other bookings, delivery is usually within 3 to 5 business days from the end of your session.
For details on the selection process, what retouching includes, file formats, and how to use your images once delivered, read What Happens After Your Headshot Session.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How early should I prepare for professional headshots?
- Give yourself at least a week. That is enough time to sort out wardrobe, get a haircut at the right point (3 to 7 days before is ideal), and take care of anything that might come up the day before. For corporate or team sessions, your employer will typically communicate requirements earlier than that.
- What should I bring to a headshot session?
- Two or three outfit options, a lint roller, a hairbrush or comb, lip balm, makeup touch-up items if you wear makeup, a glasses cloth if you wear glasses, and oil blotting sheets if your skin tends to get shiny. Reference photos on your phone are helpful but not required.
- Should I get my hair done before a headshot?
- If you are having it done professionally, book the appointment for the morning of or the day before. For a haircut, aim for 3 to 7 days before the session rather than the day before. A fresh cut that has not settled can look slightly stiff in photos.
- Should I wear makeup for professional headshots?
- If you wear makeup regularly, wear it the way you would for a professional meeting. If you do not wear makeup, you do not need to start. The goal is to look like yourself at your best. Avoid products with visible shimmer or shine. If you want your makeup done professionally before the session, I can point you to local options.
- Can I reschedule if I am having a bad day?
- Yes. Please get in touch at least 48 hours before your session and I can find a new time. Rescheduling requests made with less than 24 hours notice are subject to a $50 rebooking fee.
- What should I avoid the day before a headshot?
- Avoid heavy alcohol or very salty food, both of which can cause overnight puffiness. Avoid new skincare products you have not used before. Do not get a haircut the day before. On the morning of the session, avoid products that add visible shine to your skin or hair.