You open your work email and at the top of the inbox is the message you dread: your company’s marketing department has hired a photographer to do business headshots for the sales team and your number has come up. Memories of toothless school pictures in front of musty, mottled backgrounds come rushing in, with visions of bad passport pictures racing through your head.

Have no fear. Business and corporate headshots are easier than you think if you follow these simple tips.

Preparation

1. Get some sleep. 

That’s right: our first suggestion is laying down and doing nothing. Preferably, though, you do it at home the night before and not at your desk that morning. 

You want a good night’s sleep before doing a photo session for the same reason you want to be rested before making a big presentation: you’ll look sharper, feel sharper and perform better.

(Pro tip: hand-in-hand with being well rested is staying hydrated. Your skin is 64% water so give it plenty of what it wants.)

2. Plan your time.

In most cases, your marketing manager will book a block of time with the photographer and parse out 10-15 minute sessions to each person. So, the time of day when you shoot may be out of your control. If not, ask to be scheduled when you’re at your best, whether it’s first thing in the morning, right after lunch or at the end of the day.

Regardless of when you shoot, leave yourself 20 or 30 minutes of prep time to take a breath, check your hair and straighten your tie. You won’t do yourself justice rushing from a conference call to the photo shoot with 30 seconds to spare.

3. That outfit looks great on you (or what to wear for business headshots).

Unlike an acting or modeling headshot, where there’s room for personal clothing styles, your type of business (and the vision of your marketing manager) will play a big role in determining what you wear. 

Whatever their direction, pick something within their vision that works well with your complexion and brings out your eye color (e.g., blue eyes and blue shirts go well together.) It’s always good to wear an outfit that’s fairly new (because newer looks fresher) and to bring a couple of variations, ‘cuz spills happen.

At The Session

4. Remember why you’re there.

You’re not making an acting headshot for Phantom of the Opera. You’re not creating a modeling portfolio. No one expects you to photograph like Matt Damon or Margot Robbie.

You’re there to link a “face to a name,” to show your clients that you’re warm and engaging and trustworthy so they’ll ink that $1M deal you’ve been working on. 

Being warm and engaging doesn’t mean having a fake smile. It means being open and accessible.

5. How to be open and accessible.

Look at the camera like it’s someone you care really care about, who makes you smile, who gives you a warm feeling. If you look at the camera that way, the viewer will pick up on your “affection” and feel you’re a warm and engaging person. It’s pretty simple.

6. Now, about those poses (or, what a business headshot should look like.)

Business headshots, more than any other type of portraiture, are all about the introduction. The way you would approach someone and make an introduction in-person is how you should approach the camera.

Generally that means right shoulder forward, as if you were reaching out to shake hands, but there are variations on that theme that might work better for your body type and face shape. An experienced photographer will point you in the right direction so trust their expertise.

(Pro Tip: contrary to what a lot of photographer’s suggest, don’t bother practicing in front of a mirror. What you see in the mirror is backwards so it won’t look like your picture anyway. And it’ll probably make you ore self-conscious. Better you spend your time doing breathing exercises.)

7. Remember to breathe.

Breathing is a good idea. Doing it keeps you alive. Breathing deeply while in front of a camera is an even better idea. It will relax you. 

8. When all is said and done.

Hopefully, your marketing manager will have picked a photographer with considerable experience and expertise, who makes you feel comfortable, who captures a wonderful picture of you that makes you think “yeah, maybe that modeling contract is a possibility.” But, regardless of whether there’s a Men’s Health cover in your future, if you follow these guidelines you’ll insure your business headshot will be warm and engaging and worthy of your company’s website.

Now get back to your desk and close some business.

Michael Verity is a Portland-based photographer specializing in professional headshots, modeling portfolios and fashion editorial photography. The husband of an acting coach and father of two young adult actors, he’s been photographing successful actors, creatives and business professionals for more than a decade. If you are in the Portland, OR or Vancouver, WA area you can book a session with us.