The finest headshot photograph cannot guarantee success, but a poorly done headshot photograph will most certainly hinder your chances."

CLOTHING?

You must dress the part. Your clothes should be professional but not glamorous. Similarly, your style should reflect your market. Armani suits in a flannel-clad market can make you look out of touch or, worse, pretentious.

Choose solid color clothing of the same tones. Classic and timeless clothing that doesn't date the portrait. Dress to bring out your personality. Your wardrobe should complement and enhance your portrait, not overpower it. Wear clothing you like that make you look and feel your best.

Avoid wearing white. If you want to wear something light, pastel colors are a better choice. Dark-colored clothing is generally preferable.

Long-sleeves are preferred – for men and women.

For women, a high neckline emphasizes their faces better than a more revealing one.

Textures in sweaters or jackets can add an interesting quality.

JEWELRY

Jewelry like clothing are the reflection of who you are.

Jewelry and other accessories should be simple. Avoid large, heavy pieces of jewelry.

Avoid also small or thin gold or stone jewelry which may look like a spec of dust on a small size picture.

HAIR /MAKE-UP

Next to your smile, clients will notice your hair. Women: Pick a contemporary style, not one your sported 20 years ago. Men with thinning hair should adopt the old barber's tip: lose the comb-over and go for a shorter style. However avoid radical hair style changes, as well as perms or haircuts immediately before your portrait. Give them at least a week.

Wear your hair in style that complements your facial features.

If you use a base color, remember that the camera not only sees your face but your neck as well. Blend the colors softly and evenly so as to avoid deep looking shadows.

Avoid wearing heavy applications of makeup. Keep it natural and fresh.

Use a good coverage base foundation and loose powder to diminish flaws and blemishes and control shine. Apply your eye and lip colors in darker tones than you usually wear to counteract the bright lights used in photography.

Men should examine their skin and if they have red spots or blemishes, a make-up base should be applied to help hide any flaws.

In applying make-up for color photography, the operative word is “subtlety.” Blending is critical to ensure that colors and tones are properly evened out.

GLASSES

If you always wear glasses, you should wear them in the photo. Not doing so can create a difference in your facial expression. Don’t worry about the reflection in the glass. We can take care of that!

CONCLUSION

The problem with photography is that it tends to capture a person’s flaws as well as his or her better attributes. Some say a photograph will even exaggerate less desirable attributes. But thanks to my digital expertise, I can easily identify and define the flaws in the first place, and make a person look less heavy, make their skin look smoother, remove blemishes and skin flaws, and downplay unwanted facial features.