How to Prepare for a Headshot

May 2, 2025 | Headshot Photography, Uncategorized

How to Prepare for a Headshot Session (and Actually Enjoy It!)

We get it—having your photo taken can feel a little nerve-wracking. But we promise, preparing for a headshot doesn’t have to be stressful. At Front Room Studios, we create a relaxed, supportive environment so you can feel confident, comfortable, and maybe even have a little fun in front of the camera.

Whether this is your first headshot or your tenth, here are a few tips to help you prepare for your headshot session feeling your best.

1. What to Wear for a Headshot

Choose outfits that make you feel confident and comfortable. Solid colors tend to photograph well, and it’s best to avoid small patterns or logos. Bring a few options—we’re happy to help you decide what works best with lighting and background.

Glasses? No problem! If you wear them daily and they’re part of your look, definitely wear them for your session. We know how to handle glare, and we’ll make sure your eyes shine through clearly in your final images.

Quick tip: Think about your industry or brand. If you’re in a creative field, you might go a little more casual or stylish. In a corporate setting? Something more polished might be a better fit. Dress how you would if you were meeting a potential client for the first time or if you were attending a professional networking event.

2. Hair, Makeup, and Grooming

You don’t need to go over the top. The goal is to look like you on your best day.

    • Hair: A fresh trim or style is great, but don’t try anything drastic the day before. If you’re going to get a haircut, we recommend about 3 days  before the session.
    • Makeup: Keep it natural and true to your everyday look. If you’re hiring a makeup artist, let them know it’s for a headshot.
    • Facial hair: A clean shave or well-groomed beard can go a long way.

3. Get a Good Night’s Sleep (Seriously)

You’ll look and feel more refreshed if you’re well-rested. Hydrate, get to bed early if you can, and maybe skip that extra salty snack the night before.

4. Relax—We’ve Got You

We’ll guide you through every part of the process—posing, expression, everything. You don’t need to know what to do in front of the camera. That’s our job!

So you can ease into it, we’ll chat before we even start snapping pictures. Most people tell us they were surprised by how comfortable they felt just a few minutes in.

5. Bring the Personality to Your Headshot

Your headshot is all about you. So bring your energy, your smile, your serious side—whatever feels authentic. We want the final image to look like the best version of you, not someone trying to be someone else.

6. A Note on Headshot Retouching

After your session, we take a light and thoughtful approach to retouching. Our goal is to polish the image—not change how you look. We’ll smooth out little distractions like stray hairs or blemishes, adjust lighting if needed, and make sure the final photo feels clean, natural, and you.

We don’t believe in heavy editing or making big alterations. You should recognize yourself in your headshot—and feel great about it.

7. Ask Us Anything

Questions about wardrobe, makeup, or what to expect? Don’t hesitate to reach out before your session. We’re here to help every step of the way.

Let’s Make It Fun

We believe that getting your headshot taken can (and should!) be an enjoyable experience. Think of it as a little time to celebrate you and your professional story.

We’re looking forward to seeing you in the studio!

Schedule an Express Headshot with us here: Express Headshots

For more examples of full teams that we have done check out these sites:

Fiduciary Real Estate Development

HSA Bank

Bray Architects

Events by Design

Granular Marketing