preparing for a creative headshot session

In today’s job market, the best way to stand out from a crowd of business competitors or fellow job candidates is with a creative headshot. Rather than posing in front of a plain backdrop in a studio, creative headshots can show you in your element — whether that’s selling real estate, writing for marketing campaigns, or painting a mural.

Designer Viviana Duron

 You might know to wear business attire and your best smile for a traditional professional headshot session, but how do you prepare for creative headshots? From how to pose to what to wear, here’s everything you need to prepare for your creative headshot photography session.

creating a mood board for a photography session

Mood boards are a great way to set the expectations for a photography session, from background tones and textures to outfit inspiration to posing. Photography sessions can feel daunting, but if you want to look natural and relaxed for creative headshots, preparing ahead of time with a mood board helps you determine what outfits, hairstyles, makeup, and locations will all look great together.

When you book a creative professional headshot, your photographer may work with you on a mood board, offering up cool location ideas and outfit colors or silhouettes that will pop. As a photographer myself, I’m more than happy to work creatively with you to bring your headshot visions to life.

The sky’s the limit, so start by drafting up a mood board either on your own or in collaboration with your photographer to prep for a creative headshot session.

creative headshot locations 

Whether you’re in a big city (hello, fellow Angelenos!) or a small town, there are plenty of cool locations nearby to consider for your creative headshots. A grungy wall of a random building, your home office, or even your favorite walking trail can all work for your photography session.

But thankfully, if you’re not sure where to start, your headshot photographer will have plenty of locations in mind. You can share any ideas you have for the shoot as well as your career and how you’d like to use the photos (are you looking for resume photos, or do you need headshots for your professional website?) to help determine what type of background will work best.

As a photographer and director in Los Angeles, I’m constantly dreaming up photoshoot ideas and scouting out unique locations that aren’t already all over Instagram or LinkedIn. If you’re looking for photo shoot locations in the L.A. area, I’ve got you covered.

what to wear for creative headshots

You’ve put together a Pinterest board of ideas, contacted a photographer, and scouted some cool locations. Now, it’s time to determine what to wear for the creative headshot session.

Ultimately, your outfit will depend on your business, but if you’re looking for creative headshots rather than traditional, in-studio photos, you can get a little more playful.

Start by talking to your photographer for suggestions. If you’ve chosen a background with bright colors or lots of greenery, the photographer may suggest simpler outfits that aren’t too distracting. Posing up against a neutral-toned wall? The photographer might suggest sharp silhouettes or vibrant tones to pop. 

You can also consider working with a stylist to find outfits that make you look and feel your best in your creative headshots. Your photographer might even have suggestions for the best stylists in your area. As a fashion photographer, I’ve worked with some of the top stylists in Los Angeles, and I’m happy to connect with you! I can also provide my own expertise to narrow down your outfit options to what will look best with our locations.

Most importantly, choose something that makes you feel, well, YOU! You want to be comfortable and authentic in creative professional headshots, so choose your favorite clothing pieces and talk to your photographer about how to make your go-to outfits work with your locations.

hair and makeup for creative headshots

Do you go full glam in your day-to-day business? If like many of us, you do not, then there’s no need to stress about going all out on hair and makeup for headshots. Again, you want your final photos to feel true to you, so there’s no need to stray too far from your daily look.

To put your best face forward, consider keeping your hair and makeup simple. With makeup, opt for neutral tones of eyeshadows and lip products, simple eyeliner and mascara products (heavier applications may look too harsh in photos!), and a light touch on concealer and/or foundation. For hair, you might consider touching up roots or freshening any hair color about a week prior to the photo shoot, although this is certainly not necessary. All in all, your hair can be styled as it usually is for your work days, whether that be au natural, polished updo, or soft curls.

If you’re not sure how to approach the hair and makeup for your shoot, talk to your photographer for recommendations, and consider working with a hairstylist and makeup artist to achieve the look you want for your photos.

how to pose for creative professional headshots

Your photography session should be comfortable, and creative headshots should show you in your element. Rather than smiling forcefully and staring down the camera, your headshots might show you looking off into the distance, laughing, typing away on the computer … the possibilities are endless!

You don’t have to be a professional model (although hey, you might be!) to nail the perfect pose. In your headshot session, your photographer should make you feel at ease, even if that means shaking out the nerves at the start of the shoot.

When you book a creative headshot with me, I’m here to help you find out where to place those hands (why do we never know what to do with our hands?!) and how to really tap into your creativity and showcase your authentic self.

how to book a creative headshot session

Actress & Model Aylya

If the thought of prepping hair, makeup, outfits, and locations for your headshots sounds overwhelming, don’t worry — I’m ready to help you make the most of your creative professional headshot session. 

As a lover of photography, fashion, and interior design, I’m constantly scouting unique locations around Los Angeles for future shoots, so I can help you find just the right background to meet your vision. Together, we can also create a mood board of locations, outfits, hair, and makeup ideas that look cohesive and show off both your originality and expertise, no matter what industry you’re in.

On the day of, we’ll work one-on-one, so you can feel comfortable in front of the camera as we walk to shoot locations and get creative together.

Ready to upgrade your website, resume, or LinkedIn with professional headshots?

michelle@michelleterris.com

to book a creative headshot with me today!