How to Prepare for Your Headshot Session: 7 Simple Steps (Kitsap 2026)

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. So before your headshot session, let us make sure those thousand words are not “I forgot to steam my shirt.”

A headshot session is one of the most straightforward portrait sessions you will ever book, but it is also one where the small details matter most. Unlike a family session where movement and laughter can cover a multitude of wardrobe sins, a headshot puts you in the frame, clearly, usually from the waist up, sometimes just the face and shoulders. There is nowhere to hide a wrinkle, a tired eye, or an outfit that fights the background.

The good news: most of the prep happens the day before. If you spend twenty minutes getting organized the night before your session, the day itself will feel easy. Here is the checklist I send every client.

Choose your outfits the night before (not the morning of)

The single biggest mistake people make before a headshot session is opening their closet the morning of the session and deciding then. That is how you end up in a shirt you realize is wrinkled, a color that washes you out, or a jacket that technically fits but photographs tighter than it should.

Do this the night before instead. Pull out two or three options, try each one on, and do a quick mirror check in the lighting you will actually be in (natural window light is most honest). Then hang them in order. You are not choosing an outfit in the morning. You are just getting dressed.

What photographs well for headshots:

• Solid colors in jewel tones (sapphire blue, emerald green, deep burgundy, rich navy) or classic neutrals (charcoal, warm white, camel)
• Simple patterns like a fine stripe or a subtle texture are usually fine; large plaids, graphic prints, and logos compete with your face
• Structured layers: a blazer, a cardigan, or a clean button-down reads as polished and professional without being stiff
• A neckline that flatters you: V-necks and open collars tend to lengthen the neck; high necklines can work but avoid anything that crowds the chin

For full guidance on what to wear specifically for your industry, the professional headshot what-to-wear guide for Kitsap clients breaks it down by realtor, healthcare, small business, and creative professional looks.

Iron or steam everything the night before

Wrinkles are amplified in photos. A shirt that looks passable in person can look heavily creased once it is lit and in frame. The fix is simple: steam or iron your outfit the night before and hang it where it will not get re-wrinkled by a jacket or bag.

If you are bringing two outfit options, prep both. This also gives you time to notice that your second option has a stain you missed, and swap it out before the morning rush.

Plan your grooming three to five days ahead

Hair is the part most people underestimate. If you are getting a haircut before your session, book it three to five days before, not the day before. A brand-new cut sometimes needs a few days to settle and feel like yours again. The day-of freshcut look can read as slightly stiff or unfamiliar, especially around the ears and neckline where cuts can feel exposed.

For men: if you keep a beard, decide now whether you are trimming it or letting it be, and make that decision consistent with how you want to look in your headshot. Freshly shaped is great; half-trimmed or patchy is not.

For women: if you color your hair, a touch-up one to two weeks before is ideal. And if you want to get your hair styled for the session, doing a practice run in advance (not the morning of) removes the stress of trying a new style under time pressure.

Skin: basic hydration and rest matter more than any product. Drink water the day before, get a solid night of sleep, and use a light moisturizer the morning of. Shine is the enemy of a clean headshot; a light matte powder or a small oil-blotting sheet in your bag will handle any midday shine that develops.

Think about what you want the image to say

Before you even arrive, it helps to have a simple answer to: what do I need this headshot to do?

That answer changes everything about how we set up the shot. A LinkedIn headshot for a corporate role has different framing than a brand photo for a wellness practice or a realtor’s bio page. “I want to look approachable and friendly” is a totally different brief than “I need to look like the most capable person in the room.”

You do not need to overthink this. A one-line direction is enough: “Warm, approachable, like I’d be great to work with” or “Sharp, authoritative, I’m in a leadership role.” I will ask you a few quick questions when you arrive, and we will go from there. But if you come in with even a rough idea, the session moves faster and you walk away with images that actually match how you want to be seen.

What to bring to your session

Keep this simple. You do not need a lot:

• Your outfit options, on hangers, in order
• A lint roller (for pet hair, fabric lint, or last-minute stray threads)
• A small touch-up kit: lip balm or lipstick to refresh, a compact or matte powder, a small comb or hairbrush
• Any props that are relevant to your work (a portfolio, a meaningful tool of your trade, your product if it tells part of your brand story)
• Water and a snack if your session runs more than an hour

Leave the heavy bag in the car. You do not want to feel rushed or cluttered when you arrive. The lighter and more organized you are, the easier it is to settle in quickly and get into the flow of the session.

What you do not need to worry about

Here is the part people are always surprised by. You do not need to know how to pose. You do not need to figure out what to do with your hands. You do not need to practice smiling in the mirror the night before (actually, please do not do that).

I give clear, calm direction through the whole session. I will tell you where to put your hands, which way to turn your chin, how to stand so you feel and look natural. If something looks stiff, I will adjust it. If something is working, I will keep building on it.

The session is not a test. It is a guided experience, and my job is to make it feel easy. Most people are surprised by how quickly they relax once we get started.

If you want to read more about that side of the experience, the guide on how to relax and look confident in front of the camera covers the practical side of getting out of your own head during a portrait session.

The morning of your session

Do your usual routine. Eat a real breakfast, get your coffee, and give yourself a comfortable amount of time to arrive without rushing. Rushing raises your heart rate, makes you feel scattered, and shows up in the first few frames of a session when you have not had time to settle.

If you need to change when you arrive, there is time built in for that. Arrive in something comfortable if you prefer, and change once you are set up. Or arrive dressed and ready. Either way works.

When you get here, we will spend five minutes talking through what you are going for, confirm the setup, and then get into it. Most clients hit their stride within the first ten to fifteen minutes. By the end of the session, most people forget they were nervous.

While you are planning, you might also want why everyone feels awkward in photos and how we fix it.

Booking in the wet season? We keep a list of covered and indoor photo spots around Tacoma and Kitsap so weather never cancels a session.

Frequently asked questions about headshot prep

Do I need professional hair and makeup for a headshot session?

Not necessarily. If you wear makeup regularly, wear what you would on an important day at work, but a step polished. If you do not wear makeup, a matte moisturizer and good sleep will serve you well. If you want professional makeup and hair, absolutely go for it and schedule it for the morning of your session.

How many outfits should I bring to my headshot session?

Two to three is the sweet spot. One that is clean and classic, one that is a little more personality-forward, and a third if you want options. We will work through them in order during the session.

How long does a headshot session take?

Most headshot sessions run thirty to sixty minutes, depending on the number of looks. A single clean look can be done in thirty minutes. Two or three looks usually take an hour with time for changes and setup adjustments.

What background should I choose?

We talk about this before the session. Simple and clean is almost always the right answer: a soft neutral, an outdoor context with natural light, or an in-location background that matches your brand. I will give you a recommendation based on your industry and outfit colors.

What if I really hate having my picture taken?

That is probably the most common thing I hear, and it usually shifts within the first ten minutes. I do not put you in front of a camera and ask you to perform. I direct, adjust, and work with you until something feels natural. The people who hate having their photo taken often end up most surprised by what comes out of the session.

Can I bring a coworker or colleague to the session?

Yes. A familiar face in the room is great for genuine expressions. Just let me know ahead of time so I can plan the space.

Ready to update your brand photos? Send an inquiry here and we will get your session on the calendar. And for a detailed look at what the personal branding photography experience in Kitsap looks like, that page walks through what a full branding session involves from start to finish.