10 Essential Tips to Nail Your Professional Headshot Session

Picture this: You're about to step in front of the camera for your professional headshot, and suddenly, you're overcome with nerves. Sound familiar? 

Don't worry, you're not alone! 

A staggering 92% of professionals admit to feeling anxious before their headshot session.

But here's the good news: with the right preparation, you can transform that anxiety into confidence and nail your professional headshot. 

We'll walk you through 10 essential tips to help you look and feel your best on photo day. 

Let's turn that lens anxiety into confidence!

Choose the Right Outfit

• Dress for success, but make it you! Pick clothing that not only fits your industry but also reflects your personal style. If you're in finance, that might mean a tailored suit, while creatives can opt for something more colorful and expressive.

• Keep it simple and classy with solid colors. Think of it as letting your face do the talking, not your clothes. Busy patterns can be distracting and may not age well in photos.

• Give your outfit some TLC before the big day. A wrinkled shirt or ill-fitting blazer can be a real confidence killer. Iron those clothes, and make sure everything fits just right – if you feel good, you’ll look good!

Groom Yourself for Success

• Book that haircut about a week before your shoot. This gives you enough time for your hair to settle into its best look, but it's still fresh and fabulous.

• Gentlemen, decision time: beard or no beard? Whatever you choose, make it intentional. If you're going clean-shaven, get a close shave on the morning of the shoot. Rocking facial hair? Give it a neat trim to look sharp and well-groomed.

• Ladies, think 'you, but on your best day' when it comes to makeup. Go for a natural, professional look that enhances your features without overshadowing them. Think defined eyes, a touch of blush, and a neutral lip color.

Practice Your Pose and Expressions

• Channel your inner model and have a mini photoshoot with your mirror. Find those angles that make you feel confident and look your best. It's all about feeling comfortable in your own skin!

• Work on that million-dollar smile! Practice makes perfect, so spend some time finding a natural, confident smile that lights up your face without looking forced.

• Don't be afraid to play around with different head positions. A slight tilt can add interest and personality to your shot. Just remember, subtle is key – we're going for "professional," not "America's Next Top Model"!

Get a Good Night's Sleep

• Treat yourself to a full 7-9 hours of beauty sleep the night before. Your skin (and your mood) will thank you for it.

• Skip the nightcap and salty snacks before bed. They can lead to puffiness and dark circles – definitely not the "fresh and ready" look we're going for!

Hydrate and Eat Well

• Water is your best friend in the days leading up to your shoot. It'll help your skin look plump and healthy, giving you that natural glow.

• Fuel up with a balanced meal before your session. You want steady energy, not a sugar crash mid-shoot. Think protein, complex carbs, and some veggies for good measure.

• Be kind to your digestive system. Avoid foods that might cause bloating or skin flare-ups. Save that spicy burrito for your post-shoot celebration!

Bring Touch-Up Essentials

• Pack a mini "glam squad" in your bag. A small grooming kit with a comb, powder, and lip balm can be a real lifesaver for last-minute touch-ups.

• Don't let lint or pet hair sabotage your look. A small lint roller can quickly freshen up your outfit right before the camera starts clicking.

• Consider bringing a backup outfit for variety or in case of any wardrobe malfunctions. It's always better to be over-prepared than caught off guard!

Communicate with Your Photographer

• Have a chat with your photographer before your session. Share your goals, any concerns, and what you hope to achieve with these photos. They're there to help you shine!

• Show and tell! Bring along examples of headshots you love. It's a great way to visually communicate the style you're after.

• During the shoot, be open to your photographer's suggestions. They're the pros, after all! Their guidance can help you achieve that perfect shot you're after.

Relax and Be Yourself

• Feeling nervous? Take a few deep breaths. It'll help calm those jitters and give you a more relaxed, natural look in your photos.

• Create your own personal hype playlist and listen to it before your session. Nothing boosts confidence like your favorite tunes!

• Remember, confidence is your secret weapon. You're amazing, capable, and totally ready for this. Let that inner awesomeness shine through!

Consider Your Background

• Chat with your photographer about background options. Whether it's a sleek office setting or a simple studio backdrop, make sure it aligns with the image you want to project.

• Choose a background that complements your industry and personal brand. A lawyer might opt for a more formal setting, while a creative professional could go for something more artistic.

• Keep it simple! Avoid backgrounds that are too busy or distracting. The focus should be on you, not what's behind you.

Plan for Different Shots

• Be ready to work those angles! Prepare for both horizontal and vertical shots. They'll give you more options for different uses, from LinkedIn profiles to company websites.

• Mix it up with a variety of compositions. Full body shots can show off your overall professional appearance, while close-ups capture those finer details and expressions.

• If it fits your profession, consider bringing some relevant props. A chef might bring a favorite knife, or an artist their brushes. Just keep it subtle and professional – we're not going for a costume party vibe here!

Preparing for your professional headshot doesn't have to be a daunting task. By following these 10 tips, you'll be well-equipped to showcase your best self in front of the camera. 

Remember, your headshot is often the first impression you make, so it's worth investing the time and effort to get it right. 

Embrace the process, let your personality shine through, and you'll end up with a headshot that not only looks great but also authentically represents you and your brand. 

Ready to face the lens with confidence? 

It's time to schedule that photoshoot and put your best face forward!

Contact us to chat more about your Headshot Session

The 12 Most Popular Los Angeles Wedding Venues

The Loft on Pine in Long Beach, CA

Here is a list of wedding venues in Los Angeles, California. Some are intimate and some are very popular. We’re lucky to have beautiful hotels and country clubs, social clubs to dedicated event spaces and private gardens. There’s pretty much any type of venue that would fit your wedding style. We have photographed at almost every one of these and if there are any missing that you would like to see, please leave a link to the venue in the comments below. 

I would love to provide input or answer any questions you may have regarding the type of venue that you’re thinking about. Please contact me for more info.

Our free wedding resources will also help you in your planning. 

A few of our favorite intimate wedding venues near Los Angeles: The Loft on Pine, Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden, Maravilla Gardens and Calamigos Equestrian. 

1. Bel-Air Bay Club

2. Four Seasons Westlake Village

3. The Langham Huntington, Pasadena

4. Skirball Cultural Center

5. Noor Pasadena

6. Pacific Palms Resort

7. Ebell Long Beach

8. La Canada Flintridge Country Club

9. Sportsmen’s Lodge Hotel

10. Loew’s Santa Monica Hotel

11. Royal Palace Event Venue

12. Palos Verdes Golf Club

Los Angeles Hotels for Getting Wedding Ready: 

• Malibu Beach Inn

• Hotel Bel Air

• The Beverly Hills Hotel

• The Westin Pasadena

• Embassy Suites Glendale

• The Westin Long Beach

• Terranea Resort

Here’s a slideshow of a wedding at Old Ranch Country Club:

Weddings at Old Ranch Country Club are intimate and the perfect place to hold your ceremony and reception as everything you need is in one place.

Couple Romantics at Calamigos Equestrian in Burbank, CA

5 Tips to Help You Prepare For Your Engagement Session

Fun, urban Engagement Session with Monica and Jhanisus at Angel’s Flight in Downtown Los Angeles

Engagement sessions are so much fun and we love photographing them because our couples are relaxed, they’re looking good, we’re at a fun location and the time we have together allows them to just be themselves and enjoy each other. Did I mention we get to have fun?!!

Kimi and Daniel in Switzer Falls for their adventurous, romantic engagement session

Tip #1: Why should you book your Engagement Session?

Yes, it allows you to get comfortable with us, in front of our camera and as nerve-wracking as it sounds, at the end of each session our couples always tell us how much fun they had. It’s also a really good time to test out your hair and makeup artist that you’re thinking of using for your wedding.

I may be getting ahead of myself, but if you think about it, most of our engagement sessions are finished by evening on a weekend so since your hair and makeup are done, you’re dressed fashionably casual, it usually makes for a really nice date night!

As with everything we do, whenever we photograph we look at our sessions and weddings like game days. We plan and prepare beforehand and then we rock it out and play as much as we can. We want you to look your best, feel the most joy and be blown away when we show your photos to you!

Silhouette of Sabrina and Leo for their wilderness Carbon Canyon Engagement Session

Tip #2: How should you use your engagement photos?

Sometimes couples ask us if an engagement session is necessary and I always let them know that a lot of our couples use their engagement session photos for Save the Date Cards to let their friends and family know ahead of time to set aside their wedding date. This always gets everyone really excited!

You can also use your engagement session photos for your wedding guestbook so everyone can sign in and leave their best wishes for you. This is always a good idea as you can use it as a wedding keepsake to look back on.

We’ve also had our couples create a canvas to use at the reception table and it also doubles as beautiful wall art to display in their home. If anything at all, we encourage engagement sessions to balance out their gorgeous wedding photos with some casual and fun engagement session photos.

Melissa and Adam in Santa Barbara for their romantic beach engagement session

Tip #3: When should I book my engagement session?

The best timeframe to book your engagement session is about 6 months before your wedding date. You can definitely book it earlier or later but if you’re planning on using them for Save the Dates you want to book your session at least 2 weeks ahead of when you’re planning on sending them out.

Jandy in her red dress and Wilson in Downtown LA for their urban engagement session near Vibiana

Tip #4: Where should we go for our session?

Ultimately we suggest booking your engagement session in a different season than when you’re getting married as it adds a different look to your wedding. If you prefer to use the same or similar seasons, we encourage you to think about holding your engagement session in a different location to balance your wedding day location.

Speaking of locations, if you ask us one of our favorite locations is in urban settings such as Downtown LA Art District, Downtown Fullerton, or Downtown Santa Barbara. If you love taking adventures, we can always head to the mountains or a wilderness vibe. And you can never go wrong with holding your session at the beach. Wherever you decide to hold your session we always encourage you to think about where you enjoy to hang out with your Love. Some might see us as being indecisive but ultimately, these will be your photos and we want you to be as comfortable as possible. You won’t be your best if we were to push a city vibe when you love walking barefoot in the sand. We want you to be as carefree as possible and just enjoy each other to the fullest so we can highlight your relationship in the best way!

Melissa and Adam at Arroyo Burro Beach in Santa Barbara for their beach engagement session

Before we give you Tip #5, check out more from Melissa and Adam’s romantic engagement session in Santa Barbara

Tip #5: What should I wear for our engagement session?

As far as fashion is concerned, we want you to look and feel your best. Think about what you would wear if you were going out to a nice dinner date. If a cute dress and heels are your thing while your love wears some slacks with a blazer then feel free to rock that out! If you like jeans and a cute top while your love is a collared shirt and jeans type, then show us what you’re working with! Haha! I think you know what we’re trying to say here. If you need some extra help, we always provide our Style Guide, so make sure to check it out once you book.

Lawrence just proposed to Melissa at the Hollywood Bowl Overlook in Los Angeles

How do I book our engagement session?

If these tips helped you out and want to check our availability for your engagement session, I encourage you to fill out the info below today and we can get the ball rolling for you.

We’re looking forward to highlighting your relationship and we’re excited for what’s in store!

Romantic engagement session in Pasadena with Michelle and Daniel

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Are you thinking about booking your Engagement Session?

Feel free to fill this out and get in contact with us to get the ball rollin’!

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Surprise Proposal in Los Olivos, CA | Sean and Gianna

When Sean called us to let us know he was planning to propose to his girlfriend, Gianna we couldn't be more excited to hear about his idea! When we showed him a few locations, he was so excited he wanted to go up and scout the area out. 

His general plan was to propose at a location that was pretty private as him and his girlfriend are pretty low key. Then we were planning on going into town in Los Olivos where the rest of their friends and family were waiting to celebrate the news!

After securing the location for him, we headed up and stealthily waited for him and Gianna to arrive. Usually I like to "hide" so I don't spoil the surprise, but I stepped out of my hiding spot and Gianna actually saw me! I was freaking out as I thought I ruined it for Sean! But she thought I worked at the vineyard and it didn't phase her that someone else was there! Whew!

When the time came, Sean did his part and the rest is history! As you can tell, Gianna was pretty excited and after taking some portraits around the area, we told them we were leaving and would be in touch. Since Gianna didn't know the rest of their families were waiting for them, she had no clue we actually left to go to the second winery to photograph the second surprise with their family! 

We couldn't be happier for them as their friends and family were so excited for them as emotions were running high both before and after the surprise! 

We're so excited to show you a few photos and we encourage you to show them some love in the comments below!

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Sean + Gianna's Slideshow

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Fullerton Community Center Wedding | Jessica and Johnny

When Jessica and Johnny reached out to us they let us know they were guests at another wedding we photographed a few years back. (You can check out Laura and Cory's wedding here: Laura and Cory at Malibu West Beach Club) 

When they told us they not only liked their photos, but also how we worked, they wanted to make sure we had their wedding date available so we could photograph their wedding at Fullerton Community Center and we couldn't be happier to be along the ride for their wedding. We teamed up with Robbie Dickinson from Dickinson Films and the wedding story that unfolded was absolutely wonderful. 

Jessica's sisters helped her get into her gown while Johnny's mom helped him get his coat on. Then their son, Jacob with his matching, wooden bowtie and wedding socks gave Johnny some last minute hugs and encouragement!

Their ceremony was unique and special to them as they got a bit of participation from the guests during the ceremony and was decorated with a nature theme with succulents in Jessica's bouquet, the boutonnières and also decorating the ceremony throughout. They definitely made it their own!

After we photographed their family portraits and romantics we started the reception off with some emotional dancing with Jessica and her dad, Johnny and his mom and of course, Jessica and Johnny as a couple for their first dance. It was truly special from beginning to end and the amount of love and warmth their families provided helped their day flow as smooth as possible. 

I encourage you to check out their wedding highlights and leave them a few words of encouragement!

Many blessings and we love you guys so much!

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-Wedding Film-

Wedding Vendors: 

Venue: Fullerton Community Center

Videography: Dickinson Films

Photography: Chris Holt Photography

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