What to Expect In Your Headshot Session

“I am not photogenic.” “Good luck getting a good one out of me.” “I will probably be the hardest person you ever work with.”

I hear things like this all the time when people come to the studio for their professional headshot session. Most people equate having their photo taken to the dreaded elementary school picture day, where you were handed a cheap comb and forced into an awkward smile.

Let me shatter that notion for you right now. I can’t speak for other photography studios, but I can give you a clear idea of what to expect in mine.  So what should you expect in a headshot session? Here’s a step-by-step guide to what happens during a session with me.

One of the biggest concerns I hear is, “I’m not photogenic.” Let me tell you right now—you don’t need to be. That’s my job. I’ll coach you through the entire session, and before you know it, you’ll forget the camera is even there. We’ll work together to get real, genuine expressions, so you walk out with headshots that truly represent you.

When you first arrive, you’ll be greeted by me. If you’ve brought extra outfits (and I recommend that you do), we’ll hang those up and get you settled. I like to take a few minutes to chat and learn about how you plan to use your headshots—whether it’s for business, acting, or personal branding—and what “vibe” you want to convey. The more I know, the better I can tailor the session to your needs.

Next, we’ll take a look at the clothes you’ve brought and decide on your wardrobe for the session. I always aim to capture a wide range of looks. If you’re working with my makeup artist (and you should!), she’ll also be checking out the clothing to make sure the makeup complements your outfits perfectly.

For those who wear makeup,and decided to work with one of my trusted makeup artists, you’ll head to the makeup chair.  For actor headshots, we’ll start with a natural look and build up as needed. For business and professional headshots, we’ll begin with something that fits what you’d wear to a job interview or big presentation.

Once makeup is done and the first outfit is ready, we’ll start with a quick lighting test. Every face is different, and I’ll adjust the lighting specifically for you. I shoot all of my headshot sessions tethered, which means that seconds after I take the shot, the image appears on a computer screen. This gives us immediate feedback, so we can see what’s working and make adjustments in real time. It’s also helpful for the makeup artist to see how everything is coming together under the lights.

Here’s where the fun really begins. Forget the awkward school photo days—this session is going to be a completely different experience. I’ll guide you the whole time, helping you make a real connection with the camera. My approach is all about capturing confident, approachable images, without ever needing to say the “S” word (you know the one—smile).

As we go through each look, we’ll pause to review the images together. This way, there are no surprises at the end of the session. You’ll know exactly what’s working and feel confident in your final choices.

After we’ve captured a variety of looks, we’ll sit down together to review the images from your session. This is where you get to pick your favorites. Many clients choose several images to use for different purposes—one for LinkedIn, another for personal branding, maybe even a different expression for social media.

The key here is that there’s no guesswork. You’ll leave the studio knowing exactly what you’re getting, and you’ll walk away with images that make you feel proud.

Once you’ve chosen your images, I’ll edit them to perfection. Then, you’ll be ready to share them with the world! Whether you’re posting on LinkedIn, Instagram, or your company website, your new headshots will represent the best version of you. It’s always a great feeling to see the likes and comments roll in—and to have a headshot that makes you stand out.

We’ll laugh a lot during your session. Many clients tell me as they’re leaving how much fun they had, and that’s always my goal. Your headshot session shouldn’t be stressful, and if you work with me, it won’t be. Together, we’ll create images that make you feel confident, and we’ll have a good time doing it.