Most clients arrive at a headshot session slightly nervous and unsure whether they have prepared correctly. This guide is designed to resolve that uncertainty. Follow these steps and you will arrive ready — and the images will reflect it.
Clothing choices have a significant effect on how headshots read. The general rule is to wear solid colors or simple patterns in tones that complement your complexion. Avoid large logos, bright white, busy prints, and anything you would not normally wear to an important meeting. For professional headshots, the clothing should feel like you at your most put-together — not like a costume.
We recommend bringing two or three outfit options to your session. Changing outfits takes less than five minutes and gives you more variety in the final gallery. Our studio has a changing area with a full-length mirror. If you are unsure whether something works, bring it anyway and we can make the call together before the session starts.
For clients who wear makeup, we recommend applying it slightly heavier than your everyday look. Camera lighting can flatten and wash out subtler application, so what looks natural in person can look minimal on camera. If you normally use foundation, use it. If you normally skip it, a light powder to reduce shine is all you need.
Hair should be styled as you would wear it in a professional context. Avoid dramatic changes — a haircut the day before a headshot session, for example, rarely ends well. If your hair is naturally variable, come with it in the state you find easiest to style, and plan for some extra time at the start of the session.
Get enough sleep. This sounds obvious, but the camera picks up fatigue in ways that are difficult to correct in editing. If possible, avoid heavy sodium the night before, which can cause puffiness around the eyes. Stay hydrated. These are small factors that collectively produce noticeably better images.
Our photographers at Livy Zoe Photography will direct you throughout the session. You do not need to know how to pose — that is our job. What helps is arriving without an agenda for how the images should look, and giving us a few minutes at the start to calibrate the lighting and test a few frames. Most clients relax significantly after the first five minutes once they see how the process works.
If something does not feel right — if a pose feels uncomfortable or a look is not landing the way you hoped — say so. We would rather adjust mid-session than deliver images you are not satisfied with.
Your edited gallery will be delivered within 48 hours via a private online link. You will be able to download any or all images, share directly, or place print orders. If you have questions about your gallery or would like to discuss additional editing, contact us at hello@livyzoe.com.
Ready to book your headshot session? Fill out our inquiry form and we will confirm availability within one business day.