What should I wear for my headshot?

How do you decide what to wear for your professional head shot? This is a question that I get ALL the time.  I usually answer it with another question or two…

First, what do you do and who is your market?

Professional business head shots are first and foremost to sell your services to the customer.  You want to appear confident, approachable, professional and trustworthy.  That said, achieving that will look different for different markets. If you are an artist or author or stylist, you will have a different look than a financial advisor or lawyer.

So first tell me what you do and then tell me who your market is.  If your business clientele consists mostly of conservative 50 to 70 year olds you will dress differently than if you cater to 20 to 30 year olds.

What colors look great on you?

What to wear for your professional head shot may be dictated by corporate guidelines. Some companies want you to stay within their branded logo colors.  In other words, it may be a black suit, white shirt and red tie. Please do check with the marketing people or your boss and take a look at the current company website.  You will want to coordinate with the images of associates that you see there.

If there are no corporate guidelines that you need to follow regarding colors or style, you will want to wear something that you feel comfortable in and that makes you shine for your professional head shot. Stick to solid colors and pay attention to the neckline.  Most headshots will be realistically from the shoulders up.  Stay with a clean look near the neckline.

Jewelry, yes or no?

If you wear jewelry often, then of course wear it for your  headshot session.  Be aware that you will perhaps be using this image for several years and try to stay away from trendy items so as to not date your headshot image too soon.

Really, do consider your market.  First impressions count.

Consider this example.  Joe came in about a year ago and had his first professional headshot done for his new job as a realtor.  I praised him on his bold use of color and style.  The look fit his personality and it was definitely professional.

But it did not connect with his target conservative market.

Interestingly, he came in a little while ago and changed everything up.  Even though this new image is not really his personal style, he recognized that his clientele were more conservative and he needed a new look just for them.

He looks good in both, but most importantly, they are quite different for different markets. He knew he needed to change his online image to attract online clients.  The image of him that really showed his personality did not bring in the clientele that he needed for where he was in his marketing.

Two very different looks on the same man.  Both professional.  One more conservative and one more trendy.  What he wore for his professional head shot makes a world of difference in first impressions.  Pay close attention to the market that you want to attract and the clients that you will be working with.

What to wear for your professional head shot.  Two different looks, both professional, but distinctly different.
What to wear for your professional head shot. Two different looks, both professional, but distinctly different.

Editorial images to boost business.

Designing a new website to boost business entails many facets, including headshots and editorial images. 

Editorial images give a sense of the business and help to encourage new clients to want to work with your business.

When a local spa contacted me about working with them to design their new website, I was delighted to assist them.  We sat down in her studio in Tarpon Springs and worked out a plan for her brand.  She already had her business cards printed and was working with a web designer on the layout.

Her color scheme was chosen from the decor colors at her studio and from her business card.  Besides photographing her working with a client at that location, we also decided to incorporate some beach-side images to really kick it up a notch.  Clothing choices and design ideas just flowed between us and it really shows in the end results!  I do so love when a plan comes together! Images for a new website for skin therapy

Although business portraits and corporate headshots are a large part of my business, I also do a lot of editorial work for businesses and websites.

Talk to me about your vision and see what we can make of it together!

727-787-9655

Strong headshots to convey a business message.

Corporate Headshot of a man by Kathleen Hall Photography Each type of business needs a slightly different type of headshot to convey the message of the business.

This particular business shows individuals and companies the best way to protect themselves and their companies. So they definitely needed strong headshots to show strength and confidence when promoting their company.  Without an in-your-face military vibe.  They both are ex-military and showed that through the way they carried themselves.

I thought of them recently as Pearl Harbor Day approaches this weekend.

Headshot of a man by Kathleen Hall Photography

As we sat down to review the images on the in studio monitor, the one guy said, “what about my scar?” I said, “what scar?”

Assessing facial features for headshots

You see, when a person comes into be photographed, I always assess facial features, body movements and make sure to catch any odd blemish that may have come up at the last minute.  (only happens when you are doing something important, right?)  So, when a person has a scar, I notice it, then dismiss it.  It is part of the person.  Unless they cut themselves shaving that morning, I never really notice it again, because it is usually something that is just a part of that person.

Retouching headshots is an option.

So after he asked, I showed him what we could do with retouching, and yes, we could remove it completely, but I suggested not to do that.  If someone saw the scar when meeting him and had not seen it on the images on the website, it would immediately be a topic of conversation, like he had just gotten it.

But it is in reality a battle scar.

And he told me the story.

He was in the …ahem…porta-potty, when a missile strike came in.  His helmet was off as he came out and he couldn’t put it on fast enough.  You see, apparently, when a mortar comes in, by the time you hear it, it’s too late.  It hit right near him and a piece of shrapnel partially sheared off his scalp.

His buddies later said it was as if he had been scalped like in an old western. With blood dripping down his face, he went to the medics and they slapped the flap back on and did a real quick wrapping of his head to keep it in place.  They checked his ears to see if they were leaking fluid – this signals a concussion? and no fluid.

So he slapped back on his helmet over the wound and ran to the truck with his buddies and took his position.  He heard someone saying “all the wounded get down”, and when he didn’t respond, they told him “that’s you!”.  After getting out of the thick of things, and getting to  where he could get real medical attention, they stapled the skin back on!

Since I have never been in the military and not having any real close friends or family that had been in the military seeing action, (my dad served in the Army for two years stateside and my uncle served in the Navy during peacetime) it was a real eye opener for me.

I have nothing but respect for the young men and women who literally sacrifice their lives, their time and all the comforts of home to give me and those around me the freedom to live as I do.

So, today, I say thank you.

I cannot say it enough or with enough energy to convey my gratitude.  So…thank you.

Whether you have visible scars or invisible scars, thank you for making the sacrifice.  Thank you for enduring the mud, and the dirt, and the heat and the cold and the hours of boredom and the hours of battle.  I cannot comprehend what a toll this takes.  Thank you.