MORRIS COUNTY, NJ HEADSHOT PHOTOGRAPHER, MILLIE DEE PHOTOGRAPHY ON PREPARING FOR YOUR HEADSHOT

Can we talk headshots? I get lots of calls and inquiries from people needing head shots and most of them are calling last minute. Do you really want to invest in a quick session to show your face? OK I get it - a lot of us don’t like being in front of a camera and we’re probably doing it for our boss, however, let's be honest, how many selfies do you take before you save one? And when are you taking that selfie?  I'm betting not unless you look decent, right?  Photoshop and filters should only do so much and I encourage no filters or photoshop for these photos; it leaves the viewer with a feeling that you could be hiding something and you want to portray trust in your images.

One of the most asked questions I get is How do I prepare for my headshots?  I will tell you a few things you can do to prepare for your headshots.

The number one thing you can do to prepare for your headshot is to get into the right mindset.  Confidence is a word that everyone has used when decide on how they want to portray themselves in their headshot.  How do you get in front of the camera with a confident attitude?  Well, that is where your preparation comes in.

Let's talk grooming.  In preparing for headshots, your skin and hair show a big part of your personality.  Believe me when I say the men can be just as self conscious as women are when we're in front of a camera; we all have hang ups and we all have flaws because guess what, we're human!  I rarely photograph models who are in front of a camera for a living and know how to give 'the look' and pose themselves.  It starts with the grooming; do you need your hair trimmed or colored?  Get it done.  If you need a shave, if you get skin treatments, are you due?  Get it done.  Don't we all feel better after a trip to the salon or barbershop?  I'd say usually, yes.  Do you want to do this the day of your headshot session?  No, absolutely not.  Give yourself a few days from a grooming session before putting yourself in front of the camera.

Another question I get about preparing for headshots is what if I have a shaving nick or a pimple or blemish the day of my photo session?  I'd say don't cancel.  Discuss anything that you're feeling self conscious about with your photographer before getting in front of the camera.  When I tell you, I can see in your eyes if something is bothering you, it will come across in your photos; so a seasoned, professional photographer will help you feel confident in front of the camera about these issues.  I'd say photoshop is good for this, a blemish, a pimple or something that will not live on your body for longer than a few weeks, let's discuss what photoshop is for.  Photoshop is not for smoothing your skin so much that you don't have wrinkles, or making you look so thin that noone will recognize the true you.  Life happens, we can't usually control when a pimple or blemish will choose to show up on our face, and a professional photographer can certainly work with this.  

What if I don't feel comfortable with my looks? is another popular question.  As for headshots, again, we're going to discuss what you're not feeling confident about before your session.  If you're working with a professional, seasoned photographer, then they've heard about alot of hangups.  We know that people are all perfectly imperfect.  I for one, don't like my nose or my hooded eyelids, other people have told me they don't like their nose, their chin, their hairline, or perhaps they have a lazy eye, have gained some weight, have been through trauma, don't like their smile, etc, the list goes on.  Whatever you say to your photographer will stay between you.  We want you to love your photos, this is not a mugshot, this is a headshot.  If you are concerned about something, don't be afraid to mention it during your headshot consultation.  If your photographer doesn't offer that, and there's something you're concerned with, I'd think about finding a photographer that can listen to you and help you with your needs.  I personally feel I am a team member to every one of my clients; I'm here to help you look and feel your best; your success is my success.  

Professional Hair and Makeup.  I offer it;  I have the best hair and makeup people to offer my clients whom I work very well together with and they understand what I'm looking for but moreso who know how to listen to my clients to offer them the best look for their personal style.  

Speaking of personal style, let's talk clothes.  Do you have an outfit and shoes that fit?  Do you love the outfit you're planning to wear? If no, then either buy or borrow some clothing that you'll love.  Do I photograph shoes and pants?  In short, yes.  I photograph some full length along with those closely cropped headshots; but arriving dressed for success is a key to looking confident in your pictures.  Arriving for your session "picture perfect"  is something I ask every client to do.  Some clients would rather change when they arrive at the studio, and that's fine by me, whatever is going to help you look and feel your best.  

I can’t stress enough that when you have time to prepare and when we have time to create a vision, it makes all the difference. when my clients walk through the door they are READY, CONFIDENT and ON FIRE! It is not by chance that they look all put together.  This "put together" is a look and an idea that we have created. I want you to have your "GQ, VOGUE, Entreprenuer", or whatever magazine cover you choose cover experience.  Where do you see yourself in five years? that’s what I’m going ask you and that’s what these pictures should represent; this is about how you see yourself as in the future.

So, please, take a couple of weeks to prepare yourself; make that hair or nail appointment, try on different outfits, to get yourself groomed, drink lots of water to help brighten and clear your skin up.  I have a guide that I send to my clients along with speaking to them about plenty of things that they can do to help them be as confident and gorgeous as possible when they walk in the door and they get in front of my camera. Have I had people show up with donut powder on their jacket or dog hair or expect me to Photoshop coffee stains out of their clothes? Hell YES! I photograph real people however, if you choose to take this session seriously you will see serious results.

Check out our headshot page:  https://www.milliedeephotography.com/headshots.html
I'm happy to invite you to my studio for headshots, I also offer corporate headshots for businesses and will travel to your location.   Please call for details:  973.805.FOTO.  Millie Dee Photography is located at 172 Landing Road, Landing NJ 07850.  

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