Headshot Session Prep!
Have I told you yet that I can’t wait to photograph you?
(HEY, I can’t wait to photograph you!)
To help you prep for our shoot, I’ve put together a lil guide that’ll help ensure we get a batch of beautiful images.
Overall vibe
The first piece of our shoot to nail down: what kind of vibe are we going for?
It’s helpful to brainstorm 3 words you want your dream clients to associate with you.
For example: creative, energetic, personable.
Once you’ve got ‘em, share these with me! It’ll be the foundation of our shoot, from the location, clothing, and posing to follow.
If that feels too open ended, have you seen a certain shoot or photo in the past that’s given you the good feels? Can we incorporate pieces of it into ours? If you’ve got a Pinterest board with a vision, send it my way.
Overall objective
Let’s chat about why you want some updated headshots!
Will these images be an extension of your current branding, or are you branching out with a new look?
Where will your images ultimately end up? Is it a website? Profile icons, like an email avatar? Your Insta grid?
Is the focus more of a general freshening up of your online presence?
Location selection
Your photos should look and feel like you, and the same goes for our backgrounds.
Does outdoors make sense for the vision? Does that translate to a manicured city park or bering surrounded by wilderness?
Does an urban feel resonate more? Does that look more like sleek downtown or a quaint small town?
Maybe indoors is best for what we’re trying to convey? Does that mean your home, your office, a studio rental, a coffee shop?
Location isn’t everything, but the effect a place has on your mood will translate in our final product.
Need some ideas on rental spaces? Drop me a note! Please also note that any rental rates are not included in the session fee.
Outfit selection
Keeping both vibe and location in mind, let’s plan your outfits accordingly.
1. Make sure everything fits! If you’re constantly tugging something up or down, or your shoes are too tight as we’re strolling along, it’ll be harder to confidently relax into our session. Bonus points: make sure it’s all wrinkle free!
2. For shorter headshot sessions, I’d recommend sticking to one outfit. For longer branding sessions: one to three.
3. A quick way to add variety: bring a blazer to throw over your top, wear your glasses for the last few, or add a fun necklace for a couple.
4. Statement pieces keep images feeling personal and interesting. Although try to limit statement pieces to 1-2. For example: red lipstick and large earrings pair best with an understated outfit. Similarly, a show stopping top with wild print can stand alone with minimal makeup and jewelry.
5. Although the focus will be your head and shoulders, dress head to toe. Nails, jewelry, shoes, hats and other accessories are all welcome even if they won’t show in every shot. It’s all about elevating confidence! (And giving us options for more full length photos.)
6. Your make-up won’t look quite as dark as you think on camera. It’s especially true for blush and other contouring.
7. If you’ve got your heart set on a wrap dress outdoors, bring a back-up option in case it’s windy.
8. Pockets should be *completely* emptied to avoid bulky phones, wallets, and keys peeking through. If you need me to carry them in my camera backpack, I’m happy to offer it up.
9. A blazer is an easy + instant way to make anything a lil more stylish (especially for guys) whether it’s paired with casual jeans or a full on formal look. Try to skip fleece as outer layers if you can, or anything else that features a prominent logo.
10. If we’re including team shots, pretend you’re all dressing for a specific event. (A fancy Sunday brunch?) It’ll make it easier to get your outfits feeling cohesive in style. Prints and patterns are great (stick to no more than 2-3 colors) and the tonal range should be similar across the board, e.g. everyone in darker colored outfits. I’d avoid getting too matchy, unless it’s a scenario that makes sense, like lab coats in a dental office.
11. Ultimately, I think you should pick what you feel good in! But if you’d like an extra set of eyes on something specific, send me some pics of what you’re thinking and I’ll message you my thoughts. I love seeing outfit snaps!
Shoot structure
For branding sessions, I like to divide our focus between all of the following sections.
For shorter headshot sessions, we’ll focus mainly on the first—
Headshots
Some classic head-and-shoulders close ups.
Let me know if you work in a team; we can get a group shot as well.
Portraits
A more laid-back look than a headshot. These are more candid, personal, and may include more than your head and shoulders.
In-Action Shots
Let’s show you doing your thing. (Or at least an elevated version of it.) If you’re a cake baker, let’s go in the kitchen and put the finishing touches on one of your creations. If you’re a realtor, let’s show you setting up an open house sign.
Maybe it’s not feasible to show you in your groove? Perhaps you’re a make-up artist that would rather show a selection of your brushes rather than a direct application?
When in doubt, bring a laptop, a phone, and a beverage! It usually makes sense for businesses to include shots in a digital environment.
Stock photos / flat lays
This will be more applicable for product rather than service based professionals.
Prep your state of mind
Got all the where/when/what details settled? Hooray! Then all you have left to prep is the most important piece: your mindset.
Tips that may help you get there:
1. Are you nervous to be in front of the camera? (I think just about everyone is.) It may help to tell me about any insecurities you may have. If there are features you’d like highlighted or downplayed—or you just want some reassurance—it’ll help us both get you images you adore.
2. Consider getting your hair and make-up professionally done. The experience will relax you and the confidence will elevate everything else.
3. Have faith in the final product! I’ll guide you with gentle directives through the whole shoot. If something isn’t feeling quite right, we’ll navigate around it as it comes up. I got you!
4. And while it’s less of a state-of-mind thing, please take care of your skin 1-2 weeks before our session to avoid sun burns and funky tan lines!
What to expect afterwards
Within the first few days following our shoot, expect a preview to pop up in your inbox and/or on social media! (Here’s my IG!)
The next goodness to be delivered: your proofing gallery. In about 2 weeks from the date of the session, a link will be hitting your inbox directing you to your proofs. You’ll see a minimal amount of editing on these, with differing amounts of images depending on whether it’s a headshot or a branding session.
Once you’ve selected your allotted amount of favorites, send me a note and I’ll begin the final editing process. Light blemish retouching is included and distracting elements per my discretion are modified and/or removed. Beyond the included level of retouching, I’m able to accommodate most requests, with rates quoted on an individual basis. If you’d like additional proofs to undergo the final edit+retouch process, you may purchase more from the gallery at $25 per image.
In another 2 weeks—it should be about a month or less from the shoot date—your edits will be delivered! From there they are yours to download, post, and enjoy.
Keep in touch!
Have more questions? Email me! (kimberly@studiokh.com) I prefer to keep correspondence all in one place in my inbox.
If you haven’t already, please send me your number in case we need to connect the day of the shoot. I’m at 507-259-3513. Although unless it pertains to immediate scheduling concerns, I may not respond right away to texts before 9am, after 5pm, or on weekends.
That’s it! Can’t wait to photograph you! Let’s make this the best shoot everrrr.
