How to Prepare for Professional Headshots

You booked the headshot. Now comes the part everyone overthinks: what to wear, what to do with your hair, and whether to smile with teeth.

Good news. Most of the work happens before you step in front of the camera, and none of it is hard. This is the same advice I give my own clients before their Modern Headshot session, so steal all of it.

What to Wear for Professional Headshots

Bring more options than you think you’ll need. Seriously. We’ll narrow them down together once you get here, and it’s way easier to cut than to wish you’d packed one more.

• Plan head to toe. A lot of headshot sessions now include full-length shots (mine do). Pants, shoes and socks count.
• Fit is everything. Clothes that skim your shape photograph best. Boxy or oversized pieces add bulk on camera.
• Texture over pattern. Texture adds interest without stealing the show. Busy patterns, bold prints, logos and graphics pull the eye off your face. Guys, ties are the exception. A great print tie works.
• Layer it. A fitted jacket, blazer or v-neck sweater adds polish and gives you a second look without a full outfit change.
• Sleeves. Three-quarter or long sleeves flatter almost everyone and look more polished than short sleeves.
• Necklines. Scoop, v-neck and cowl are great. High necks can shorten the look of your neck.
• Undergarments. Think ahead. Strapless bras, seamless underwear and shapewear in the right colors keep lines and straps out of your photos.
• Show up steamed. Bring everything on hangers, pressed and ready. It saves real shooting time.

Outfit ideas that photograph well

For women:

• A suit or tailored jacket. Cropped, fitted or a full suit, they all look sharp.
• A vest with pants. Super current and so good on camera.
• An elegant blouse with pants. Classic, and it works in almost any color.
• A dress, or a skirt with a blouse. Solids are easiest. A small pattern can work if it fits your brand.
• One casual outfit. Great for showing your relaxed, approachable side.

For men:

• Business formal. Suit and tie. Timeless and confident.
• Business casual. Blazer, open collar. Polished but approachable.
• Smart casual. A sweater over a collared shirt, a quarter zip, a crisp white button-down.
• Relaxed casual. A knit henley or a button-down with the sleeves rolled. Perfect for personal branding.

No tie reads relaxed and approachable. A tie reads more formal. Bring one and decide on the day.

Best Colors to Wear in Headshots

My formula: pack one light, one dark and one pop of color.

• One light. It doesn’t have to be white. Ivory, gray, beige, blush and baby blue all look beautiful on camera.
• One dark. Think beyond black. Navy, charcoal, dark taupe and rich browns photograph polished and sophisticated.
• One pop of color. Something that loves your skin tone and eyes, or ties into your brand colors. Bold jackets and shirts bring out energy and personality. Go for it.

How to Prep Your Skin

Great photos start with great skin, and the prep is easy. Give it a few days of TLC.

• Drink plenty of water in the days leading up to your session. Your skin shows it.
• Exfoliate and moisturize a day or two before.
• Stick with products you know that week. A surprise reaction is the last thing you need.
• Arrive with a clean, moisturized face.

Hair

Your hair should look like you on a really good day. Polished, and still you.

• Get your cut or color at least a few days before so it has time to settle.
• Long hair: a soft blowout with volume at the root.
• Updo: a sleek low bun or loose twist.
• Short hair: light texture and a clean neckline.
• Hold: flexible, brushable hairspray, so it still moves when the fan hits it.
• Flyaways: smooth with a little cream, or a spoolie and hairspray.

Makeup

Neutral tones that suit your skin, hair and eyes photograph best.

• No SPF. It leaves a white cast in flash. This one surprises everyone.
• Base matched to your neck, with a soft matte finish.
• Concealer light, under the eyes and around the nose.
• Brows soft and natural.
• Eyes: a neutral crease, curled lashes and mascara. Short lashes? Add a few wispy individuals. Skip full strips. They cast shadows.
• Blush and bronzer a touch more than your everyday.
• Contour soft at most. Skip the highlighter.
• Powder on the T-zone.
• Lips natural or one shade deeper. Satin over matte.

Working with a hair and makeup artist?

Tell them:

• What the photos are for (LinkedIn, company site, acting).
• How you wear your hair and makeup day to day. Bring a selfie.
• Two or three reference photos of looks you love.
• That you want natural, camera-ready skin with no SPF.
• Your skin type and any allergies.
• What you love and what you’d rather keep soft. Say it before they start.
• What you’re wearing, and whether you’ll wear glasses.

Wear a button-up shirt to your appointment so nothing goes over your hair after it’s done. And check the mirror before you leave the chair.

Grooming Tips for Men

Guys, this is your version of hair and makeup. Small stuff, big difference on camera.

• Haircut about a week before. Enough time to lose that fresh-cut look. Trying a new style? Test it well before your session.
• Color your hair? Touch up your roots.
• Clean shave? Do it the morning of, with a sharp razor and a good shave cream.
• Beard? Trim and shape it a day or two before. Clean up the neckline and cheeks, then a little beard oil or balm.
• The small stuff. Trim stray brow, nose and ear hairs. The camera finds them.
• Style your hair the way you wear it every day, with your normal amount of product.
• Hands. Nails short and clean. Give your watch and rings a quick polish.

Should You Smile in Your Headshot?

Yes. Also no. Do both.

A big smile reads warm and approachable. A softer, closed-mouth look reads calm and confident. Different jobs call for different moods, so I shoot a range and you pick the one that feels like you.

The secret to a real smile is to stop trying so hard. Fake smiles live in your mouth. Real ones show up in your eyes. That part is my job. I handle the posing, keep you talking, and catch the in-between moments.

Hands, Glasses and Accessories

• Nails. Neutral polish, a clean buff or a simple French manicure. If bold nails are part of your brand, lean in and make them a feature.
• Glasses. On, off or in your hand. Holding them adds personality.
• Jewelry, watches, cufflinks. All personal. Subtle or bold, whatever feels like you.

What to Bring to Your Headshot Session

Pack this the night before so the morning of is easy.

• Outfits on hangers, steamed
• Coordinating shoes and socks
• Pressed powder or blotting papers
• Your lip color
• Concealer
• Comb or brush
• Travel hairspray
• Bobby pins and a hair tie
• A lint roller and a glasses cloth

Your Headshot Prep Timeline

Spread it out and nothing feels last minute. Here’s how I’d plan it.

One to two weeks out

• Pull outfits and try everything on. Sit, lean, reach.
• Book your haircut or color, and your hair and makeup artist if you’re using one.
• Guys: get your haircut about a week out.

A few days before

• Color touch-ups.
• Exfoliate and moisturize.
• Trim and shape your beard.

The night before

• Steam everything and hang it up.
• Pack your touch-up kit, shoes and socks.
• Drink water. Go to bed.

The morning of

• Clean, moisturized face. No SPF.
• Shave or tidy your beard.
• Wear a button-up if you’re getting hair and makeup done.

Studio or Outdoor?

For headshots, the studio wins. Controlled light, clean backdrops and the same great result whether it’s sunny or sideways snow.

Outdoor and on-location shoots shine for branding sessions: your office, your team, your neighborhood, the places that tell your story. Chicago weather just gets a vote.

What Happens After Your Session

You pick your favorites. I retouch them: color correction, skin cleanup, stray hairs, and crops sized for wherever they’re headed.

Then use them everywhere. LinkedIn, your website, your email signature, speaker bios, business cards, socials. Swap them all at once so you look like the same person on every platform.

Headshot Prep FAQ

How many outfits should I bring?

More than you think. Aim for at least one light, one dark and one pop of color, plus a casual look. We’ll narrow it down together.

Can I wear my glasses?

Yes. Wear them on, take them off, or hold them. Mix it up.

Should I wear sunscreen?

Not that day. SPF leaves a white cast in flash photos.

What if I hate photos of myself?

Most of my clients say that walking in. I handle every pose and keep it moving, so you never have to guess what to do with your hands.

Ready to Book?

My Modern Headshot session is one hour in my Skokie studio, built for professionals around the North Shore and Chicago. Multiple looks, multiple backdrops, full-length shots, and I handle the posing. You just show up prepped (and now you know how).