9 Tips to Look Great in Your Professional Headshot
Expert tips from a Winnipeg headshot photographer. Follow these tips to look confident, sharp, and professional in your session.
Tip 1: Get a Good Night’s Sleep
A solid sleep reduces under-eye circles and helps your skin look fresh. You will also feel more relaxed and confident in front of the camera, which always shows in your professional headshots.
Tip 2: Wear Clothes That Reflect Your Brand
Choose clean, well-fitting outfits that match your personal or corporate brand. Solid, neutral colours photograph best. Avoid busy patterns, stripes, neon tones, and visible logos. Bring two or three options and we will help you select the strongest look for your professional headshot.
Tip 3: Minimize Shine for a Polished Look
Studio lighting can highlight oily skin. A light translucent powder keeps shine down and helps skin look natural. If you are unsure, we will make simple adjustments in the studio so your photos look clean and professional.
Tip 4: Align Your Headshot With Your Professional Identity
Think about the message you want your headshot to send. Are you aiming for corporate professionalism, creative energy, or friendly approachability? We'll capture that during the session through expressions, posture, and wardrobe choices.
Tip 5: Bring Your Best Expression
Expression is everything. We coach natural smiles and confident serious looks so you appear approachable and trustworthy. You do not need to know how to pose—just follow a few cues and breathe.
Tip 6: Hair, Grooming, Glasses, and Accessories
Schedule haircuts, beard trims, eyebrow touch-ups, and simple makeup a day or two before your session. If you wear glasses, bring them. Anti-reflective coating is helpful, but we can adjust lighting to reduce glare. Keep jewellery and accessories subtle so the focus stays on you.
Tip 7: Posture, Hydration, and Skin Care
Stand tall with a straight spine and relaxed shoulders. A slight forward lean toward the camera adds presence. Drink water the day before and the morning of your session, and use moisturiser to reduce dry patches. Healthy, hydrated skin photographs better under professional lighting.
Tip 8: Wearing Glasses? That’s Totally Fine.
If you wear glasses daily, wear them in your headshot. If you’d like both looks—with and without—just let me know. Remove them 15–20 minutes before your shoot to reduce marks on your nose.
Tip 9: You Don’t Need to Be a Model — Just Choose the Right Photographer
The good news is you don’t need to be a model to get a great headshot. All you need is the right photographer. With more than 15 years of experience and the most 5-star Google reviews of any headshot photographer in Winnipeg, I’ll guide you through every step so you look confident, approachable, and professional — without the stress of posing.