Headshot Tips for Women in the Corporate World

Getting your headshot taken soon? Not to worry, as we are here to guide you through getting that shot! Achieving the perfect headshot in this day and age is vital to one’s ability to put themselves out there. Presentation is key and it is something people use as a first impression when you press send on your job application or when featuring company websites. We understand how nerve-racking it can be to have a camera right in front of you while having to pose at the same time, so here are some Headshot Tips in getting yourself the best headshot possible.

Headshot Tip #1- Hair is a girl’s best friend

Hair is the first most noticeable part of a woman's appearance. It definitely enhances her personality when meeting someone for the first time. It is a reflection of someone’s self-esteem and individuality; it is directly associated with the beauty and youthfulness of women, hence it being an asset. The saying goes, " A bad hair day equals a bad day."

If you are unsure of what hairstyle frames your face, try identifying your face shape. There are 6 categories that you can differentiate and from there make a decision that you favour. Click on this video for a thorough explanation by Makeup professional Atiqah, Beauty without Filter.

Once you've decided on how you’d like your hair to look, ensure that the overall appearance is natural-looking and neat. With hair flying around your face, it will neither benefit how your shot comes out nor for your photographer to make you look good. A tip to looking slimmer around your face and neck is to have your hair up. When you pull your hair up, your hair is more on a diagonal in line with your cheekbones, drawing others' eyes upward and instantly creating the illusion of a different face shape.

Headshot Tip #2- Makeup looks good on camera (taken from the video)

Indeed, makeup does enhance how someone looks, especially on a professional camera. To ensure that you do just enough, here are some tips to get you prepared the night before.

Mask up and exfoliate

Mask up and exfoliate the night before to get that glowy skin. Recommended products: The IInkey List Kaolin Mask, Paula’s Choice Super Hydrate Mask, Tatcha Clarifying Mask.

Wear a foundation

Wear foundation and set it in place with setting powder to present flawless and healthy skin. It will help even out your skin tone and provide a flawless complexion. Recommended products: Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless foundation, Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Makeup, Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation, Fenty Pro Filtr Soft Matte Long Wear Foundation.

Put on the blush

Don’t miss out on blush, colour definitely helps when taking such upclose photos. Don’t be shy to add more than usual to make it more visible on photos as it may be washed out. Recommended products: Glossier Cloud Paint, Rare Beauty Soft Pink Liquid Blush, Colourpop Super Shock Cheek, Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush.

Put on your lipstick

Choose the right lipstick, if you’d like a more natural look, you can opt for one shade darker than your original lips. If you’d like to experiment with looking more bolder, try a red lip or any dark colour. Recommended products: Etude House Fixing Lip Tint, Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick.

Do some contouring

Contouring jawline, cheeks and the temples of your face will help with definition and looking ‘snatched’. Recommended products: Fenty Beauty Match Stitch Matter Skinstick, Benefit Hoola Bronzer, Anastasia Beverly Hills Pro Series Contour Kit, Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Contour Wand 

Things to avoid

Avoid shimmer and metallics like highlighter, blush with shimmer and glittery eyeshadow as it might overpower certain areas of your face which would look unbalanced and harsh.

Additional tip

Bring along some dry shampoo and blotting papers as a last minute touch up. The humid weather could affect how your makeup looks and can create unnecessary grease and blotches on your face or your hair looking too flat. These two items are definitely something you would like to bring around even on a daily basis. 

For more makeup tips, check out our previous post on Simple Makeup Tips You Need To Prepare For Your Next Photoshoot.

Headshot Tip #3- Get Ready to Pose

Bad posture is one of the reasons why you’re not getting that shot.

Knowing to relax and look natural definitely helps when you’re in front of the camera. But with hunched shoulders, a curved back, and a slouchy appearance, this could lead to appearing unattractive and timid. A quick tip if you’re getting tense is to exhale when the shot is being taken. Simply breathing freely allows you to keep yourself relaxed.

Ditch that double chin 

They say the camera adds 10 pounds. Having the camera so close to you is like imagining having an object placed under your chin, try drawing your chin forward like you’re lying on top of it. 

Knowing your angles

It is key to know which angle suits you when posing for your headshot. Everyone has a flattering side to their face when they discover it. This is something that you can’t copy from someone as it varies for everyone. Try standing in front of a mirror and figure out what your good side is and how you’d like to be presented during the shoot. (Models who are great at posing know how to see themselves from an outside perspective and don’t get caught up in obsessing over what they consider to be their flaws. They know that emphasising their best features is much more important than trying to hide their less-than-perfect features.) Try using your body to help loosen up and incorporate movements like your stance and hand placements to make yourself look friendly.

Headshot Tip #4- What should you wear

In this day and age, the fashion scene has endless options when it comes to what women wear, be it for day or night. With the intention of getting your headshot, you would want to consider wearing something that reflects the audience targeted.

Solid colour tops

Light neutral shades like white and cream and dark shades like navy and dark grey are some of the go-to options when going classic. These timeless colours practically look good on anyone. Avoid busy and small patterns along with vibrant colours as headshots need to be drawn into the face and not get distracted by the outfit choice. Also avoid colours that blend in with your hair colour, otherwise it could look washed out.

Well-fitted clothing and blazers

Clothes that fit oversized/loosely tend to make you look larger. Proper tailored clothing would seem much more flattering and professional. Avoid clothing that makes you slouchy as it will hinder appearance. 

Avoid low cut tops and turtlenecks

As headshots usually cut halfway into the chest, wearing a low cut top could be distracting and take the main attention away from your face. Similarly for turtlenecks, it could make you appear closed and cut off. 

A long sleeve can never go wrong

Long sleeves are better when taking headshots compared to short sleeves as it avoids unnecessary skin showing if the shot is being cropped at your arms. Short sleeves can also sit funky when not steamed properly.

Headshot Tip #5- Go to a trusted photographer

Like how one goes to a nail parlour or stylist, this shows the connection created between a client and a professional being built in the long run. There are many reasons as to why this happens, but reflecting on choosing the right photographer, this will ensure your ideal finished product will turn into reality. Here are some considerations when selecting the best person for the job.

Do your research

Ask your friends, family, scour websites and check if there’s a portfolio to view and reviews given. Consider each carefully, what is your vision, will this photographer be able to give me what i want. look at the way they edit be in composition, colouring, anything really as long as it suits your palette and trust your gut!

Assess your degree of comfort with them

Talk to your photographer and check your comfort level. Before confirming who will be taking your photos, try texting them or talking to them to have a sense of how they would be like as a person. Check your photographers' personality, are they a people person? Do they work well in groups?  You should be ensured and comfortable being around your photographer as they are the ones making you look your best. You wouldn't want an unsatisfactory photo would you?

Find someone who has the same sense of style

Style isn’t only for fashion, but also for photography. It is a form of art which means everyone has a differing opinion when it comes to how they shoot. Know what their expertise is as each photographer prefers to specialise in one or even two areas so do take note! You wouldn't want to go to someone for a corporate shoot when they tend to do bridal. At Minto, we tend to focus on corporate portraits and studio shoots, it’s what we do best hence providing our customers the best of our ability.

CONCLUSION

Having these tips on hand would certainly help you in any stage of life when it is time for you to engage in getting your photo taken. Being in front of a camera doesn't have to be scary when you find the right photographer to assist you. Overall, you should feel good and, most importantly, enjoy the process! It’s always better when you let loose and have an open mind during the whole session. If you're still looking for a suitable photographer, check us out! We would love to work something out with you, contact us or book a session.