The Importance of a great head shot and how to prepare

The head shot or profile pic has become a representation into who we are, what we do and the first impression we make of ourselves. As a business professional, actor, model or someone in search of a new career, you might not always have the opportunity to make that in-person first impression, and you could be quickly judged based on your head shot. This makes having a great head shot all that more important.

You also need to keep in mind, a quality head shot can be a worthwhile investment. Regardless of what people want to believe, first impressions are still extremely important. It could be the difference between landing a dream client, or a lost opportunity. In addition to how others might perceive you based on having a great head shot, it can also instill confidence in your own professional capabilities and overall presence.

I typically consider three key things when it comes to a good head shot…

1. It needs to be a professional, high quality head shot. With today’s technology, it’s much easier for just about anyone to snap a decent photo… but there are some things that come along with having a professional photographer capture your head shot. A good photographer will be able to adjust for issues and know how to pose and light someone in a manner that is suitable to achieve the best end result.

2. The head shot needs to work for its intended use. Sometimes this one can be a little tricky. I’ve seen phenomenal head shots, that were technically perfect, but the environment or “look” didn’t fit the person or what they’re using it for. Using a head shot taken for a part-time modeling portfolio, might not be a suitable option for a day job as an investment banker. Although the head shot might look amazing, is it sending the right message about the person and what they do?

3. The person in the head shot needs to look approachable. For some professional head shots, a big smile might not be the desired option… but the individual still needs to look inviting and friendly. Again, this is an area that a good professional photographer should be able to coach or direct someone to accomplish this goal, to pull out the perfect facial expression or pose.

If you’re still on the fence and not totally sure it’s time for you to update your head shot, below are a few indicators that you might be ready.

If your current head shot is of poor quality (poor exposure, out of focus or blurry, bad lighting, etc).
If you’ve had a substantial change in appearance. (change in weight, hair styles, facial hair, etc).
If you’ve had a career change, and your current head shot looks a little out of place.
If your head shot is not versatile enough to be used for all intended applications.
If your head shot is several years old, and you look nothing like it anymore.
If you’re using a pic that was shot at an event and you tried cropping in tight, but you still see people in the background.
Just about any selfie, especially if you took it using the bathroom mirror reflection… you’re definitely ready for an update.

Head Shot Pricing:
Head shots can vary greatly in price depending on the photographer and what will be involved. If your only deciding factor is based upon price (and getting it super cheap), then there are plenty of “budget friendly” options out there. This is one of those areas where you could end up with what you paid for, and the results might be less than desirable.

On the other end of the spectrum, a quality head shot from a full-time professional photographer that’s invested in their craft, has a studio, proper equipment and the experience to navigate a session successfully will command a little more investment depending on what might be involved or what’s included. There might also be additional charges for having several looks captured, multiple images delivered, retouching, etc. In addition to paying for the photographers time, experience, postproduction and the final product, you will most often receive a better quality of customer service with the higher budget head shot.

Preparing for your Professional Head Shot

If you’ve decided to move forward with your head shot, it’s important to be prepared. Although the majority of the head shot falls heavily on the photographer’s ability to capture a great image, there is still a little preparation on your end. Showing up to your head shot session completely disheveled because you hate having your photo taken, is not a good excuse. Even if you’re totally fine having your picture taken and eager for your new head shot, there are still a few things you can do that can make the difference between getting an ok head shot and one that people will want to remember (in a good way).

A few things to help the head shot / photo shoot go smoothly…

In General:

Getting a new head shot can still be a stressful process for some people. Being a little more prepared for the photo shoot, can definitely help ease some of the anxiety and produce a more desirable result.
Get a good nights sleep prior to the photo shoot. If you’re not feeling energized or refreshed, it could have an effect on the outcome of the images.
Show up on time and ready to go. Showing up late and having to rush through your head shot session to get to your next appointment, will only add additional stress to the whole process.
During the photo shoot, be attentive and follow the direction of the photographer.
Turning off cell phones will also help avoid distraction, for you and the photographer.

Wardrobe:

The outfit you choose for your head shot, should be an appropriate choice or a good representation for what you do or for the preferred outcome. For example; suits would typically be the desired choice for men working in finance, legal, insurance, and so on. While someone working as a welder, might look a little out of place wearing a suit and tie in a head shot. For individuals working in trades or more casual environments, but still in need of a business head shot, dressing down is fine… as long as it still looks appropriate. Polo shirts, button-down shirts (ironed) or even a blazer will work. If the head shot or portrait is to be job / career specific, uniforms are also good options. There are always exceptions to the rules, but you definitely want to make sure that you represent yourself in a manner that will not turn people away when viewing your head shot.
You can choose clothing options that are somewhat stylish, but be careful with items that might be a little too trendy and that will look outdated in a year. Clean, simple and time tested looks are always good options.
Try to avoid improper fitting clothing items. Having something like a suit jacket or blazer that is too large or too small, can definitely have an effect on the overall appearance of the head shot or portrait.
If you’re somewhat undecided on your outfit or not totally sure, it doesn’t hurt to bring an additional option to the photo shoot.
Try to avoid extremely bright and electric colors for primary clothing items. Bold colors can be fine for accent pieces, but might not always be the best option for a shirt or jacket. The same goes for patterns that are very busy (cloths with very pronounced floral patterns, animal prints, or some stripes, etc). You don’t want your clothing to be a distraction from you.
Don’t over do it on the jewelry. A little goes a long way. As with extremely loud colors or patterns, you don’t want viewers to become distracted.
Avoid low cut or open tops if the head shot is for professional use. Although these might be fine for a model or actor’s head shot, showing too much chest (male or female) might not send the best message.
If you have questions regarding wardrobe, please feel free to ask!

Makeup and Grooming:

Trying out cosmetic products that you have never used prior to the photo shoot is not recommended. If you have a bad reaction to anything, it could show up in the images.
Avoid having a facial or a steam, a day or two prior to your photo shoot.
Contrary to popular belief, it is best to not go too heavy with the makeup. Keep the look clean, natural and fresh.
Try and avoid going super dark and heavy with eye shadows and lipsticks.
It’s a good idea to bring a little makeup for touch-ups or to add if needed.
Your hair should be clean, styled and ready to go.
If you are scheduled on having a “hair up” and a “hair down” look, have your hair down when you arrive.
Have some hair product on hand… fly-away hairs are difficult to “fix” in postproduction.
It’s also a good idea to have a hair brush / comb with you. If things get a little out of place, you’ll want to be able to quickly fix it.
For males: don’t get your head shot taken directly after having a fresh hair cut. Our experience has been to wait a day or two after going to the stylist or barber. There are exceptions to this, and those would be if you keep your hair cut extremely close to your scalp or if you typically have a shaved head.
For males: you definitely want to be clean shaven and/or have facial hair well groomed and tidy prior to the photo session.
If you are getting a portrait where the image will be more than just head & shoulders (and hands might be visible), you will want to make sure your nails are clean and neatly manicured. For nail polish, wear neutral colors if possible. Very bright colors can be distracting in the images.
** If you scheduled a makeup artist for your shoot, you will want to follow their recommendations for hair and skin care prep, etc.

Hopefully the above info has helped put your mind at ease and made you more prepared to get your new head shot. If you’ve scheduled your head shot (or are planning to) with Don Bensman Photography, please feel free to reach out prior to your session with any questions and/or to go over what might be expected.

For head shot sessions that take place at Don Bensman Photography (studio), images can typically be reviewed directly after the session. However, some circumstances might make it necessary for online reviews. In this case, a proofing gallery will be set up for you to make your final selection(s).

For head shot sessions that take place on location, images will automatically be uploaded to a proofing gallery for review, unless prior arrangements have been made.

Turnaround times for head shot images will vary based on schedule and any included retouching, etc… but we try to get everyone’s head shot out to them as soon as possible. We understand you’ll be excited to put them to work!

Head Shot Session Inquiry

CONTACT
info@donbensmanphotography.com
440.364.1679