So, why do you want or need to have a portfolio headshot taken? Are you an actor or aspiring actor? A model? Are you a musician or entertainer? Do you need pictures to market your new album or CD? No matter what your goal is, if your initial thought was to get one quick headshot in the studio, think deeply about what you would like to use your pictures for. Is this for your website or Linkedin Profile? Are you trying to create a brand, or advertise yourself in the right way for a callback? For parents, children and teens need to constantly keep their portfolios updated because they change all the time. If you are booked with an agency, your agent should give you direction on what they need in your portfolio. However, everyone needs a great headshot, so even if you don’t have an agent starting there can do nothing but help.  As you read on, truly think about what you want to get out of this shoot and what your long term goals are.

Plan Ahead 

A consultation and planning session before a shoot is very important. Just like a movie, your branded shoot will come out better if everything is storyboarded or planned out. Thinking about your clothing, makeup, and hair, and how they will all fit into your location ahead of time will only help make your pictures look as put together as possible. In the picture below, this individual’s light makeup and earth toned clothing helped to create an “earthy” look that complimented the grassy background. 

Choosing The Right Photographer

In looking for a photographer, go through their portfolio of work and individual lighting and posing styles. If you are looking for something simple, make sure to convey that information to your photographer. If you would like more of a fashion or stylized shoot, going through a photographer’s body of work to see if you like their style beforehand can do nothing but help. 

 Communication is key. Make sure you tell your photographer what you need. Whether it be clothing and makeup suggestions or prospective locations, your photographer can only work with the information that you give them. 

Location, Location, Location 

Your chosen location(s) are extremely important. They essentially tell the story of what you do. To get the best out of your portfolio headshot, give your photographer a good feel for what you are trying to portray. Specific goals will vary by the portfolio and brand you are trying to create, but make sure to give some thought to where you think being photographed would create the best image. If you lack in ideas, your photographer should also be able to give you some helpful pointers.

Clothing and Makeup 

Although the clothing you should choose to wear varies on what kind of portfolio you are trying to build there are a few rules of thumb. Stay away from busy patterns because strong patterns make the eyes go the the clothing instead of the person. Dark clothing will slim you down, so if you are concerned about weight stay away from whites and creams. 

 

Your photographer should talk about clothing ahead of time with you so that you don’t bring outfits that have elements that you didn’t think of like clashing with the location. It’s also advisable to bring a variety of clothing to the shoot or consultation and have them help you pick things out. If you need outfit inspiration Pinterest is a great place to find clothing you think would fit you best. It is also always a good idea to look at the individuals you look up to in order to see if there is something that  you could essentially do better.

Just like clothing, your makeup should compliment the look you are going for.  For your general headshot, go for a natural and even look. You don’t have to stick to super light makeup, but be sure that your face is even. In terms of eye makeup, these should be the main focus of the picture, so or every picture your eyes should be the main focus of the shot, so accentuate them more than you would. In contrast, make sure to stick to more neutral pink or red lipsticks so that you don’t distract from the eyes. For those with long hair, we usually like to keep it out of the face. You may also want to hairspray or gel to help keep everything in place.

Branded Headshots

Who are you? We have already mentioned thinking outside of the box in terms of locations and clothing for your portfolio headshot, but what exactly is your brand? Branded headshots should boldly state to the viewer what it is you aim to do. Everyone is different, so make sure to get as much from the shoot as you can and walk away with a better understanding of your vision and the images to support it.

The Cinema Headshot 

This type of portfolio headshot has become extremely popular. A “cinema” headshot has blurred out highlights in the background with the subject in front and center. This gives your picture a fresh new, star of the show type of look.

 

Get It All Done 

After the portfolio headshot is done, out of convenience, a lot of our clients use the “get it all done” approach. Consider getting some glamour shots or family pictures while you’re there. Since you already have hair and makeup done and clothing picked out, why not take some other types of images? In terms of marketing, a lot of creatives and entrepreneurs use different types of shots on their social media. Having a library of images to use for different purposes is beneficial so that you aren’t using the same pictures each time.