Lately I have been receiving more requests for headshots, and with these opportunities I decided to share with you a few personal insights as to what might help you for your headshot shoot. For those of you who are looking to either update your headshot or get your first ones ever, here are a few important components to consider while preparing.
Color
You may notice that people in certain industries wear similar colors in their headshots. The color you wear has a lot of power in displaying the kind of energy which you give your viewer. The colors you wear affects the kind of energy which you give out, so it is recommended that you speak with your photographer about what to wear. In fact, if you want to discuss with me attire options I will most likely appreciate it. There is a lot more to discuss about color so I will follow up with another post to share with you more information about it.
Location
The location of where you shoot can add so much to your headshot. When choosing your spot, keep in mind the kind of vibe you want to present to your audience. Some photographers and/or clients enjoy the controlled aspect of studio shoots, and some prefer feeling the fresh breeze of the wind while shooting outdoors. Both are valid. From my experience shooting outdoors tends to invite a warm and comfortable setting, while indoors can carry a more serious vibe to focus directly on the task of photographing you. If shooting outdoors, make sure that your setting has colors that contrast well with your skin tone. Also, check hat the vibe of the location matches with the intention of your shoot.
Energy
Energy is emitted in a variety of ways, we can talk about this for hours, but for the sake of this post we will discuss energy only for headshots. The main question to ask here is this: What kind of vibe am I trying to send out? Calmness? Confidence? Seriousness? Welcoming energy? Depending on the energy that you want to portray, the components to create the photograph will be affected. Neat, right?
Some ways which energy is showcased is through attire, makeup, locations, and body posture. There are tips and tricks that I personally use to make the body emit the energy we seek. Every artist will have their own unique ways to make photographs work. Many times I start off with presenting this tips for clients to keep in mind and then oftentimes give direction for angles , body positioning, etc, to make my client look their best.
So to wrap it up, what we discussed today are three main components of photographing a headshot that fits for your needs. Don’t forget, color, location and energy. I hope it helps!
Cheers,
Asuka Visions