Portraits are not just for actors and models anymore; portrait photography covers a range of subjects, from seniors to families, to couples, to professionals. No matter what line of work you’re in, if you are promoting yourself you need professional business headshots. You need a strong set of photographs that encompasses you as an individual and represents your personality to help you make a good first impression. In this day and age of the digital world, a strong visual presence is everything from social media to online dating to your business headshot on your LinkedIn account, so it’s important that you don’t neglect this crucial element in your business.

On the flip side – I can’t tell you how many online dating profile shots make me wonder why they chose that photo to make a first impression on their potential new partner, but I digress. A general rule of thumb, is you attract what you put out there, so make you have a solid and professional business headshot photo.

For those of you who aren’t used to getting your photo taken on the regular, getting some professional photos done can be really intimidating! Anyone can take photos of you with a point and shoot and put them online after a quick edit. But will they really capture genuine expressions? Flattering angles with the camera? The right looks for the purpose of the photos? The right wardrobe choices? Probably not. And that’s why it’s always a good idea to have your headshot photos taken by a professional.

The goal of a great headshot is to look professional and refined. You want to look like the best possible version of yourself and that only comes with feeling natural and comfortable with your photoshoot and your photographer. It takes skill and talent to get the proper lighting, sharp focus, and expert composition. And let’s not forget the post-editing on your images. Color correction and retouching make a huge difference in the final product. But if you’re here, you don’t have to worry about any of that. My goal is that our session will be so fun and relaxed that you won’t even have to think about posing or anything else.

How Often You Should Get Professional Headshots

How often you should get new headshot photos taken depends on you and whenever your appearance changes substantially. It is important that your headshot looks like you on your best day so if you change hairstyles, gain or lose weight, or feel you’re looking more mature, it is probably time to update your headshot.

For creatives or other small business owners who are the face of their company and post regular photos on social media, it is best to update your business photos more regularly. I recommend at least once a year to ensure you have a fresh set of photos to rotate through.

Below are some tips and advice to make your portrait photoshoot go as smoothly as possible. The more prepared you are the better your photos will turn out and the happier you will be with the end result!

For additional inspiration, take a look at my Pinterest board on headshots for ideas on poses, looks, and what to wear!

General Tips for Your Professional Business Headshots

Before we get started taking your professional business photos, I’ll want to hear a little more about you and your intentions for the photos. Will they be used on a website or printed on business cards, book covers, magazines, flyers or brochures? This will help me know what types of images and orientations to focus on so they can be used appropriately.

What look are you going for in your photos? Business casual, professional, or laid back? Based on your vibe (or vibes) you will want to choose outfits that reflect the look you are going for and ones that are comfortable and make you feel confident! But more on that later.

Drink lots of water and be well rested the night prior to the shoot. This will help reduce puffy eyes or dark circles. Also, consider that your skin might not look its best after a night of drinking with friends, so try to abstain from wild nights before your photoshoot.

Above all else, select and wear clothes that make you feel comfortable! Choose outfits that make you look and feel good as well as ones that fit your desired aesthetic. What you’re wearing should not only represent your personal style but should also be a good fit for the intent of the photoshoot.

What is the difference between Business Professional and Business Casual looks?

Before we dive into what you should wear for your business portrait photos, let’s discuss the difference between the business professional look and the business casual look.

– Business Professional Look: The standard business look is a suit jacket and pants with a dress shirt and tie for men and a skirt or slacks with a button-down shirt and blazer for women. This is a traditional form of attire that is typically used for industries such as finance or law.

– Business Casual Look: The business casual look is taking over the business world. This look conveys professionalism and class while making you seem approachable and relaxed. A typical business casual look is slacks with a button-down or polo for men and a skirt or khakis with a button-down or blouse for women.

What to Wear for your Business Portrait Photos: Men

– Clothes should be neatly pressed and should look new or like new.

– Choose clothing colors that enhance your features and go well with your skin tone. Don’t be afraid to ask friends and family for their opinion.

– Ensure your jacket and/or shirt fits you well. A poorly fitting jacket or shirt will be obvious in the photos (especially around the neck.)

– For a casual look, bring colored shirts that are ideally darker than your skin tone. A white or light blue dress shirt by itself does not play well into the camera unless you plan to wear it underneath something like a jacket or sweater.

– Bring a few different jackets, shirt colors, shoes, and ties so we have choices for your session.

– Layer, Layer, Layer! Adding layers adds depth and makes your look more interesting and less one-dimensional. It also gives us more options and combinations to play with.

For more inspiration, take a look at this Fashion Beans article on doing it right.

What to Wear for your Business Portrait Photos: Women

– Clothes should be neatly pressed and should look new or like new.

– Avoid big prints, busy patterns, and bright, overpowering colors.

– Ensure your clothing fits you well as ill-fitting clothing can be exaggerated in photos.

– For a casual look, bring various colored blouses that are ideally darker than your skin tone. A white or light blue shirt by itself does not play well into the camera unless you plan to wear it underneath something like a jacket or sweater.

– Bring a few different jackets, shirts, shoes, etc so we have choices for your session.

– Layer, Layer, Layer! Adding layers adds depth and makes your look more interesting and less one-dimensional. It also gives us more options and combinations to play with.

– Different necklines will change the apparent shape of your face. Try a variety of different shirts/blouses to see what works best.

– Choose fabrics with textures like silk, knits, herringbone, and tweed.

Jewelry

– Keep jewelry extremely simple and minimalist. Clean and classic is better.

– Stick with all gold or all silver.

– Avoid jewelry that would distract from your face or that looks dated.

Remember: The picture is about your face, not your jewelry.

Hair and Makeup Tips

– Get a haircut/color at least one week prior to the shoot. This one is important. Getting your haircut at least a week before will allow you some time to relax into the style.

– Makeup should be natural. I have an amazing referral list of hair and makeup professionals who can take care of you the day of your session so you can relax and enjoy the day!

– Wear a heavy layer of translucent powder and your face will appear flawless in photos. Powder helps the shine disappear, makes your pores seem smaller, and gives your skin an overall smoother and even look.

– Line lips before applying matte lipstick, then reline. Don’t overdo it. Dip a cotton bud in powder and run along the lip line to prevent color from bleeding.

– Avoid shimmers or products with lots of sparkles or shine as they reflect poorly in the photos.

What to Bring to your Professional Business Photoshoot

– Photos from your previous session (if you have them) so we can improve.

– Sample photos to help communicate the look you want. Feel free to put together a Pinterest board or email me some examples.

– Various changes of clothing and shoes.

– Lip balm, hairbrush or comb.

– Makeup and hair products you prefer.

– A mirror, bobby pins, hair tie, and any other personal items.

– Mom or your best friend! Seriously. ;) They will put you at ease, fix/adjust as needed and help me get some genuine moments!

Well, that’s all for now. I hope this advice was helpful and gave you some food for thought. I want your shoot to be as fun and successful as possible so don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions!

Check out my other posts on Senior Portraits and Family Portraits if you have a senior graduating this year or are thinking about doing a family session!