How to Prepare for Your Headshot Session: A Practical Guide to Showing Up Looking and Feeling Your Best

There's a moment most people have in the days before a headshot session. You're standing in front of your wardrobe, holding up two tops, second-guessing everything. Will this photograph well? Is my hair okay? If that sounds familiar, you're in exactly the right place. This guide is here to take the guesswork out of getting ready - so that when you walk through the door, you can simply relax and let the session do its thing.

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First, Think About Your Industry and Your Goals

​Before you think about what to wear, it helps to think about where you're headed professionally.

A corporate headshot looks very different from an actor's headshot. A creative freelancer might want something warmer and more relaxed than a barrister would. So before your session, have a think about your industry and what feels "normal" there - and make sure to share that with your photographer.

Also consider the roles you're ambitious to pursue, not just the ones you hold right now. A headshot is an investment in where you're going.

Gather a few inspiration images you genuinely love and send them through beforehand. That kind of visual reference is genuinely useful and helps your photographer understand your aesthetic and your goals.

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What to Wear: Keep It Simple, Keep It You

Clothing choices make a bigger difference than most people expect - and the good news is that simple tends to win every time.

Colours and patterns

• Solid colours paired with neutrals are your best friends for headshots.
• Pattern can add visual interest but make sure you still remain the hero. Avoid stripes - they're genuinely tricky to edit and can pull attention away from your face, which is what the photo is really about.
• If you're wearing more than one colour, lay the pieces out together before your session and take a good look. Do they work well together? Trust that first instinct.
• If you can bring a couple of clothing options, even better - it gives you variety in your gallery and more to choose from.

Fit and finish

• Tailored clothing photographs beautifully. A blazer in particular gives a polished, professional look that works across most industries.
• Pay close attention to your neckline. How is your collar sitting? How do your clothes sit around your collarbone? Are any undergarments visible?
• A belt is a great idea to make sure your pants and shirt sit well and stay in place.
• Iron everything. Use a lint roller if you have one (your photographer may have one).

​Jewellery

• Keep it simple. Statement jewellery can work, but understated pieces tend to let your face take centre stage.

The practical stuff

• Get a great nights sleep the night before.
• Before you step in front of the camera, take your phone, keys, and anything else out of your pockets.
• If you wear hair ties on your wrist out of habit, pop them off before the session starts.​

Hair, Makeup, and Grooming: The Details That Make a Difference

This is the part that often gets left until last - but it genuinely shapes how your headshots look and feel.

Hair
Hair makes a huge difference to your headshots. If you can get it styled on the morning of your session, it's absolutely worth doing.
If you're having your hair cut or coloured beforehand, let your hairdresser know you're being photographed. That way they can make sure any stray pieces of cut hair are properly brushed away and that there's no colour residue on your skin.
If you're styling it yourself, hair products will help keep everything in place and tame flyaways throughout the session.

Makeup (for those who wear it)
Apply your makeup a little heavier than you normally would - a touch more on the eyes and blush. The camera can soften things slightly, so a little extra goes a long way.
That said, be careful with foundation. Too much can cake under studio lighting, so keep it light and blend well. Face powder is excellent for reducing shine.
The night before, exfoliate your lips - it helps lipstick go on smoothly and last longer if that's part of your look.
If you'd prefer to have your makeup done professionally, a makeup artist can come to most studios. Some of my clients also get their makeup done at Mecca beforehand, which can work beautifully and they may allow you to put the fee toward a product purchase.

Eyebrows and facial grooming
If you usually get your eyebrows done - or any other facial grooming - a day or two before your session is the perfect time. That gives things time to settle without leaving it so long that they grow back.

Skincare
Drink plenty of water the night before and moisturise well. Your skin will thank you for it, and it shows in photos more than you'd expect.

Why All of This Actually Matters

Here's what I want you to hold onto as you're preparing: these tips are designed to help you show up as a polished version of yourself - not a different version of yourself.

You are perfect as you are. You deserve a beautiful headshot. And the best headshots are both polished and authentic - they're not about pretending to be someone you're not.

When you arrive prepared, you free yourself up to actually enjoy the experience. You're not distracted by wondering if your collar is sitting right or whether you should have ironed that shirt. You can just be present.

And if you feel yourself tensing up in front of the camera - which happens, and it's completely normal - here's a little trick I share with my clients: think about the people you love and why you work so hard. That thought softens your expression almost immediately. It's a small thing, but it works every time.

Your photographer will guide you through every moment of the session. You don't need to know how to pose. 

Ready to Book Your Headshot Session?

If you've been putting off getting your headshots done - or if you've been quietly dreading the process - I hope this has made it feel a little more manageable and a lot less intimidating.

A headshot session doesn't need to be stressful. It can actually be a lovely experience when you feel prepared, looked after, and genuinely at ease.

I'd love to help you get there. If you'd like to chat about your session, find out what to expect, or just ask a few questions before you commit to anything, please get in touch. I'd be happy to help.

More info... Juliette Scott Photography Headshots | Branding in Perth, WA

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