Headshot tips for your business photos

General Tips

Tell us your expectations and intentions. Let us know what kind of look you want.
Tell us how and where the photo will be used (so we can be sure it's appropriate).
Drink lots of water and be well-rested (so your eyes will not have dark circles)
Your skin/eyes might not look their best after drug/alcohol use. Try to abstain from these before your shoot.
Arrive on time. Please do not arrive more than 10 minutes early (we may have other clients scheduled before you).
Please call if you are running late or arrive early.

Bring at least 2-3 clothing variations so we can pick the best options at the shoot.
Wear clothes that are comfortable and that make you look great
Make sure your jacket and shirt fit you well. A poor-fitting jacket or shirt will be obvious in the photos (especially around the neck)
Don't overdress
Turtlenecks are almost always a bad idea (since they crowd the face)
Clothes should be neatly pressed and should look new or like new
Avoid busy patterns and large lines/stripes
Blue/green/turquoise shirts/blouses or accents can help emphasize blue/green/hazel eyes.

The standard business look is a suit jacket, dress shirt and tie.
A casual business look is often a jacket and open-collar dress shirt, shirt and tie (no jacket), or dress shirt on its own.
Polo shirts are an OK casual look for some businesses. However, be sure the shirt is in good condition and fits properly.
For a no-jacket casual look, bring colored shirts - ideally darker than your skin tone.
A white dress shirt by itself is a bad idea (too bright) - unless you plan to wear it underneath something (jacket or sweater).
Bring a few different jackets, shirt colors and ties so we have choices for the photo.

Avoid big prints and busy patterns.
Bring a variety of shirts/blouses with different necklines. The neckline will influence the apparent shape of your face.
For a no-jacket casual look, bring various colored blouses - ideally darker than your skin tone.
Be stylish and fashionable, but remember the picture is about your face and not your clothes or jewelry.
Sleeveless tops/dresses can draw attention to your shoulders/arms. Consider bringing items with a variety of different sleeves.
A white shirt/blouse/sweater by itself is a bad idea - it draws attention away from the face. Better to wear white under a jacket or sweater.

Remember: Select and wear clothes that make you feel comfortable. Select something that makes you look and feel good

Keep jewelry extremely simple - small is better.
Avoid jewelry that would distract from your face or that looks dated.
Consider if facial piercings or multiple ear piercings are appropriate for where your photo will be displayed.

Remember: the picture should be about your face, not your jewelry.

Check your eyebrows - have your hair stylist or barber trim them when you get a haircut.
Check for stray nose hairs - trim as needed.
Men - check for chest hair peeking out when wearing an open-collar shirt.

Make-up should be clean and natural.
Wear a heavy layer of translucent powder - your face will appear flawless in photos. Shine disappears, pores seem smaller, skin looks even, and blush is smoother.
Line lips before applying matte lipstick, then reline. Don't overdo it. Dip a cotton ball in powder and run it along the lip line to prevent color from bleeding
Avoid shimmers or products with lots of sparkle or shine.
Avoid frosts or overly-bright colors.
Don't get a new haircut just before the shoot (you may want to let it grow in a bit or get used to styling a new cut).
Do not try/use any new product on your hair, face or body the day before or a few days before your shoot. In case you have a bad reaction to the product.