GETTING READY FOR BUSINESS & DATING SITE HEADSHOTS

TIPS FOR THE PROFESSIONAL WOMAN

STRUCTURE

A structured, neutral outfit translated well on camera. Make sure to get a well-fitted one as you don't want to look like you are wearing a man's jacket. A cardigan can work as well for a slightly more casual office environment. 

COLOR

Try a blouse or top of a different color than the blazer. Don't be afraid to try a fun pattern, as only a little bit will be showing under the blazer or cardigan in a tight head shot. A bright pop of color can also be nice.

ACCESSORIZE

A fun way to add some femininity to your corporate look is with jewelry, such as a necklace. Perhaps even try something a little bolder than you might normally wear. Earrings can be a nice touch, but may or may not show up depending on your hair length. Don't go too crazy, you do not want distraction.

WEAR GLASSES

If you sometimes wear fun glasses with personality, you may want to bring them to your shoot. They can make for an interested, yet still professional accessory.

MAKE-UP TIPS

Wear a little more make-up than you would normally wear to work. Nothing crazy, but a pop of color on your lips and some blush can add a lot of vibrancy.

TIPS FOR MEN

SHIRT

Style

Collared shirts are imperative for a professional look. Non-collared shirts (tee shirts) can work in certain scenarios and usually work best in conjunction with a sport coat. Turtlenecks are also acceptable.

Pattern

A plain, non-patterned shirt always works best. If patterned, a very subtle one is acceptable.

Material

Shirts that work best do not easily wrinkle and bounce back when scrunched.

Color

An off-white or color shirt is much preferred over white. However, white shirts are acceptable, especially when covered by a dark jacket or sweater. Regardless, if a colored shirt is available, it's your best option.

Fit

In general, a slightly looser fit is preferable over a tight fitting shirt. Choose a snug fitting shirt only when there are no weight concerns. If not, the tight fit can easily add about 20 extra pounds of "visual" weight. The main concern is for collared shirts with buttons to the neck. The top must button easily, allowing for a loose fitting collar (i.e. skin must not be pressed tightly), making head turns a breeze.

JACKET

Style

Think "professional" and you should do just fine. Again, simplicity is the key. Also keep in mind the audience you wish to attract and narrow your focus to speak to your target market. 

Pattern

We recommend keeping patterns simple and colors subdued. Again, the idea is to keep the viewer's gazed fixed upon your eyes/face, not an abundance of colors and patterns.

Colors

Colors to avoid are orange, pink, and iridescent hues.

TIPS FOR BOTH WOMEN & MEN

Expression

Bring a happy heart and your smile will take care of itself. Remember, your session should only take a few minutes. It's a short enough time to turn off the outside pressures of the day and simply be present. 

• Smile challenged? If so, practice in front of a mirror, remembering the feeling of a natural smile.

• Also, a helpful technique is something we call "lifting your apples". The roundness of our cheeks are referred to as "apples". In those instances where a smile is required, but it's challenging to do so on cue, simply lift your "apples" while placing your tongue in the roof of your mouth and a smile will emerge. 

• We will not only capture a range of expressions, from wide smiles to soft, but also capture both sides of your face. This way you can not only evaluate which expression you prefer, but from which side of the face you feel best expresses it.

Eyeglasses

ALL glasses present two essential challenges: 

1. Glass glare

2. Distortion (eyes and temples)

BOTH aberrations can be remedied with judicious retouching and can is included with our pro retouching. However, for best possible results, we recommend wearing either non-glare glasses or arranging with your optometrist to remove your lenses prior to your session. Eye/temple distortion is much easier to restore than eyes being obliterated by glass glare. 

• Glasses without non-glare coating are problematic, and therefore we do not recommend regular glasses for portraits. The resulting glare can be light (easy to remove) to severe, which may require a complete digital rebuilding of the eyes.

• Non-glare glasses work wonderfully and generally are no problem. However, non-glare can still present a challenge depending on the degree and where the soft green glow appears, as well as distortion of eye, face and temples caused by thicker lenses.

• Contact lenses work well, though they can cause a bluish ring to appear around the iris.

DATING SITE PICTURE CONSIDERATIONS

Nowadays, most people think of selfies when they hear the word "headshots," but the weird angles often distort your face. (Here are some other mind-blowing facts about selfies you should know.) For the best headshot results, swap out the selfie stick for a best friend or professional photographer to snap the picture for you. The formula for the most desirable headshot is quite simple: look straight into the camera with a nice smile, stand under natural light, style your hair nicely, a groomed face for men and a minimal, natural make-up look for women (that is if you wear make-up), and a simple background like a brick wall.

"Everyone wants someone who is approachable and smiling is the cheapest way to do that,” says Maria Avgitidis, CEO and head matchmaker at Agape Match in New York City. “Looking into the camera shows you're ready to go and the eyes are the window into your soul.” Your picture should look like your best friend took it because you don’t want a photo that looks like you're posing at a cheesy mall portrait studio.

As for picture faux pas, sunglasses, baseball hats, and a stone cold face don't make you look mysterious. If anything, they make you look hard and unapproachable with a hidden agenda. “These profiles are one-dimensional,” says Michelle Frankel, founder of NYCity Matchmaking in New York. “No one is finding a reason to go out with someone when they look at other people. But they are finding a reason not to go out with someone.”

Don’t be afraid to use the headshot as an opportunity to embrace who you are. If you have curly hair, let those ringlets run wild or if you wear glasses, throw them on for your picture. A little bit of acceptance and self-love can go a long way in finding true love.