Subject: How to Look Your Best in Corporate Headshots… What to Wear ?… and what NOT to wear 😉

Ladies…

You probably already know all that there is to know in terms of foundation to cover any possibly shininess and skin imperfections so, no need for any suggestions from me in that regard but if you needed any help, using a friend’s or a professional’s help, is also a good approach. Headshot
In terms of your hands/nails, if at all possible, a natural, soft colored or French manicure look might be preferable – this is also only a suggestion, if you have a bright color that you are used to and is part of your personality, by all means, just keep it that way.

Also please choose jewelry that does not overpower your face (except of course if this is your signature look and you absolutely love it, in which case of course go for it 🙂 ).

Make-up: Please bring some along for touch-up purposes.

Gentlemen…

If you know that your skin has a tendency to easily get “shiny”, please do not hesitate to bring to the shoot some foundation matching your skin tone.  You can buy it or even get a sales person at most department store’s cosmetic counters to make for you a small sample that will match your skin color (please don’t forget to get a small foundation brush to apply it), or you can also borrow some from your wife/partner/girlfriend/co worker etc.  It can be useful for group shots but it will be most needed for your Headshots if your skin has a tendency to get “shiny” and so as to avoid possible “hot spots” on your final photos.  That is just an option/suggestion and only of course if you are comfortable with that – it is not a “requirement” at all … only a suggestion and trick of the trade to share with you  (just to let you know, all professional male actors, models etc. always wear light to heavy make up/foundation on all their professional photos to specifically avoid this problem as well as to cover any skin irregularities as we all have).  If you choose to do that, feel free to practice applying it with someone’s help on the day before the shoot.

• Clean-shaven: If you want to appear clean-shaven for your Portraits/Headshots please be so kind as to shave or touch up right before your Photo Shoot.  Sadly we cannot remove five o’clock shadow in Photoshop 😉  (we wish we could but just can’t! )

For BOTH Women and Men…

If you are concerned about any specific skin irregularities/scares etc. that would be of a particular concern to you, we will be more than happy to do our best to “fix it/improve it” digitally in Photoshop, if at all possible, in the post production of your final headshot.  Please feel free to contact me personally by email about any requests or questions pascal@pmtraders.com and I will be more than happy to let you know what is “possible” or not, depending on your concern, and I will also discuss with you any possible related additional retouching costs.

Overall, just know that there are only very few things that just “can not be done”…  otherwise, the post production capabilities available today are extremely powerful and they do literally combine the highest skills of the very best plastic surgeon, hairstylist and cosmetologist available!  It is mainly always a simple matter of how much time will be required in post production to achieve just about anything that you might wish ….

If at all possible, please try to avoid “heavy pattern” shirts and suits (as well as well as hounds tooth/busy patterns) as not only they might not be ideal to the overall visual quality of your photos but also, some heavy patterns can create a “photographic defect” called “moiré” that will end up making your fabric look very strange on the final photo and which is something that is often not possible to correct digitally (Photoshop) later on.

Dark or semi dark suits, jackets, blazers, skirts, shirts, slacks etc… are all good choices.

Solid colors in a medium-to-dark shade are recommended. 

Please try to avoid flesh-toned colors or colors that are too bright.

• GLASSES… In case you do wear GLASSES and are OK having your Headshot taken WITHOUT them it is always much easier as we won’t have to struggle with the reflections of the lights and strobes in your lenses and it will allow you to be done much quicker with your Headshot and let you return very quickly to your day and work … but it you wear them all the time and/or absolutely prefer your Headshot with your glasses we will of course allocate the extra time to find a way to make it work for you.

(and in case you are indeed OK to NOT wear them for your Headshot, please be so ind as to try to not wear them for the ½ hour to 1 hour before your shoot… simply to AVOID MARKS on your nose to show up on your photos…)

• Hair…Right before your Photo Shoot is not the best of times to … try a new hairstyle! 😉  Please wear your hair as you always normally do. And don’t forget to bring your hairspray, curling iron, etc. should you wish to touch up your hair and make it all perfect J right before your Photo Shoot J

• Tan… It’s okay to be tan, but please don’t get sunburned right before your Photo Shoot J! We can make you look more tan than you really are, but we cannot take the sunburn away 😉  –  same guidelines with spray tan!

And finally in terms of your actual Photo Shoot, please do not worry about anything, as all you will have to do is relax and I will help you to find the very best pose for you as well as direct you as needed.
We will take all the time necessary to create great Headshot for you and of you! 🙂

I will be looking forward to meeting you personally and creating all these photos for you and your business…

Should you have any questions before our Photo Shoot, please feel free to contact me personally by email pascal@pmtraders.com or on the phone at 919 638-4436.  You can feel free to call 24/7… I sleep as rarely as possible 😉 Life is too beautiful and too precious to be missed 😍

As a little last final suggestion, please try to stop smiling between now and the day of your Photo Shoot so that you can save ALL of your smiles 😀and bring them to our Photo Shoot together … we will very much appreciate them, cherish them, and capture them !

With my kindest thoughts to you 🙂

pascal

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