How to prepare for a photoshoot ?
You are going to invest in a corporate photoshoot?
That’s a big decision. Why not prepare well so you will get the best out of this shoot. Wether it is a private photo shoot for personal branding, or your boss convinced you to do this shoot for the business you work for, it’s worth preparing.
What you can do yourself:
The self-care you do before the shoot is your choice, so please just take the suggestions below that resonate with you. Hopefully this countdown to the shoot will help you to get prepared!
2-3 weeks before the shoot
– ensure you have communicated to the photographer what you think you want. Do research and look at examples you like. Show them to your photographer well in advance.
– you could even set up Pinterest board so we can share ideas
– shop for new clothes if you need them! Choose the best quality you can pay for. Quality of materials matters!
1-2 weeks before the shoot
– Book in for a haircut if necessary so it has time to settle before the shoot. Don’t cut or dye your hair right before the shoot. A new haircut looks its best after a week, and freshly colored hair can look too vibrant and unnatural on camera.
A few days before the shoot
– Avoid drinking alcohol and eating salty foods a few days before your session so your skin doesn’t look tired
– Drink lots of water and get plenty of sleep so that your skin is glowing for the shoot
Just make sure that you look after yourself before the shoot. If you feel good about yourself then you’ll feel more confident and it will show in the photos!
On the day of the shoot
– Allow enough time for you to get ready without feeling rushed.
– Bring all of your outfits, shoes, jewellery and the props that you will be using.
- Also please bring a hair brush, a compact mirror (if shooting out on location) and make up for top-ups.
– Try and stay relaxed and trust that I will get the best out of you. I promise we’ll have fun!
Here are some general tips and best practices concerning corporate portraits and headshots in the studio or even outdoors:
Wear clothes that are comfortable and that make you feel and look great.
Bring 2-3 changes of clothing to have choices on set.
Clothes should be neatly pressed and should be new or look new.
Avoid busy patterns, bold graphics, and distracting stripes and don't wear phones etc. in these clothings.
Cream, beige, pastels, peach or yellow colors typically don’t work well on camera.
Have a look in the mirror. Try to exercise with posing, where to put your arms, how to smile or not...
And if you still believe in gender:
Ladies
The standard corporate look is a suit jacket and blouse.
For a no-jacket casual look, bring solid colored blouses or collared shirts that are darker than your skin tone. Keep patterns to a minimum.
A white blouse by itself isn’t recommended unless you plan to wear it under something.
Don’t wear sleeveless tops or dresses unless worn under a jacket or sweater. Bare arms can be distracting.
Avoid shiny and sheer fabrics.
Keep jewellery simple – small is better.
Avoid statement jewellery that would distract from your face or that looks dated or too trendy. The picture is about your face, not the jewellery.
Gents
The standard corporate look is a suit jacket, dress shirt and tie
A casual business look can be an open jacket and shirt, collared shirt under a thin sweater, or button-down shirt with rolled cuffs.
Short sleeves are typically not recommended for guys, even for casual looks. Exception to the rule are branded company polos or t-shirts.
Wear solid colored shirts or small darker patterns.
A white dress shirt by itself doesn’t work well on camera unless you plan to wear it underneath a jacket or sweater.
Bring a v-neck undershirt or no undershirt at all so it doesn’t show.
Make sure your jackets and shirts fit you properly. Not too tight. Not too loose. A poor fitting jacket or shirt will be obvious in the photos especially around the neck and shoulders.Don’t wear shiny ties or fabrics.
The best rule of thumb for facial hair is to commit to your look- either a beard, moustache, or nothing at all. Anything scruffy or stubbly in between is not advisable. If you have a beard, trim it evenly so it’s nicely groomed. If you’re going clean-shaven, get a good shave the morning of your headshot.
After you’ve checked all of these pre-photoshoot to-do’s off your list, you’ll be ready to take professional company headshots that make you look amazing.You may want to get really creative and break some best-practice rules for headshots. We’re all for breaking rules. Just make sure the results are better off for it.
Most importantly – have fun with this. If you do this at the office for the entire team: It’s a great way to get your team bonding!
