The who, what, when, where and why…

Obviously the who is you… But if your company is more than just you, who else needs a new professional headshot? Consider if you need a group shot as well as individual photos, you might as well get all of the photos you need in one go!

What do you want your headshot to say about you? What message would you like it to convey? Confidence, friendliness, approachability, warmth, fun, trust, caring or even that you’re someone a little different, wacky, quirky…

Why do you need a professional headshot? A simple update, or is it for a new job, a new website, to accompany a published article, perhaps for use on a book jacket. There are many reason’s why you may need a new headshot, read this article about the importance of having a professional photographer take your profile photo

When do you need a professional headshot by? We do an Express headshot package that can be turned around the same day if necessary!

When do you want your shoot? Obviously lighting is important, so if you want your shoot to be outside it worth considering the time of day to ensure we make the most of the available light.

Where do you want to be photographed? In your office, the grand foyer of the office building, outside or perhaps in a café, restaurant or coffee shop?

You may want to consider the where alongside the ‘What you want your headshot to say about you’.

If you are an executive you may choose to have your portrait taken in your office overlooking the London skyline, whereas a fitness instructor may choose the relaxed environment of the local park where they train clients. We also have a full portable photographic studio and so can create a simpler, more traditional image if this is what you want.

Former Harvey Nichols Chief Executive photographed in store and Musical Director Rob Bettinson photographed in the rehearsal rooms and a classic studio headshot.

Where will you use your new photograph? Will one photo be enough or do you need a variety of different shots to use on different websites and in different publications?

At last count I personally had my profile photo on ten different social media and professional websites – that I can think of! Is it an important part of your brand that you have a recognisable photo on every website or do you need different images for different environments? For example, LinkedIn is a B2B forum but other social media platforms can have a more relaxed dynamic.

Think about what you are wearing

Dress for your headshot like you would dress for an important client meeting.

If we go back to The Importance of a Professional Headshot we discuss how the photo on your company website or social media profile is often your first introduction to prospective clients, so think about what would you wear the first time you met a potential client face to face or gave a presentation to your most important client? You never know who is going to view your profile online!

Solid colours photograph best, although stay away from light colours that mimic skin tones, whilst stripes, checks and dots can be confusing on the eye and are best avoided. Darker shades are more slimming but remember that black isn’t always the most flattering colour – solid black may photograph flat and may lack detail and definition.

Think about what your current brand colours are. Is your logo red or is red the dominant colour on your website? You might want to avoid wearing pink…

Long sleeves are much more flattering on arms than short sleeves. Ensure your clothes fit you well; a poorly fitting jacket or tie will be obvious in the photos.

Wear something that you are comfortable in, if you do not feel comfortable often this will come across in your photos. Plan your outfit(s) in advance so that you have time to dry-clean or iron anything that needs it – you don’t want a wrinkle in your shirt to spoil an otherwise perfect photo!

If you opt for our Premium Business Profile Photos package there is the option to change outfits so that you can get a variety of different looks and feels to your photos.

Think about your hair and make-up – Men avoid having a haircut immediately before the shoot – it will look like you just got a haircut – and shave early in the day to let any razor rash disappear. Women, do your make-up as you would for an evening out keeping your look natural. Try and avoid anything glossy or shimmery as it may catch the light and be distracting. You may want to bring a matte powder with you to touch up your make-up during the shoot.

Using these tips to talk to your photographer in advance of your professional headshot shoot means that you are both prepared and on the day and you are confident that you know what to expect, and that your photographer knows what you want. Being relaxed and confident in front of the camera will help you come out of the session with a fantastic set of images that meet your brief!

If you are interested in updating your profile photo, have a look at our business packages or give us a call to chat about your own requirements.