How to Prep for Your Headshot Session (And Feel Confident on Camera)

Most people who come in for a headshot session have never done one before. Or they did one years ago, it felt stiff and rushed, and they’ve been quietly dreading doing it again. Either way, the anxiety usually comes from the same place: not knowing what to expect, and worrying that the result will look nothing like them.

Here’s the truth. The difference between a headshot session that produces something you’re proud of and one that produces something you’ll avoid using isn’t talent — it’s preparation. A little planning in the week before the session means you walk in relaxed, ready, and actually looking like yourself. And that’s when good photographs happen.

This guide covers everything you need to do between now and your session at our Eden Prairie studio, organized by when to do it.

What You’ll Find in This Post

• The week-before checklist
• Two days out: wardrobe and logistics
• The morning of: what to do and what not to do
• What to expect during the session itself
• How to get natural expressions on camera
• After the session: proofs, selection, and delivery
• Frequently asked questions about headshot session prep

The Week Before: The Decisions That Matter Most

The biggest preparation mistakes happen in the week before the session — usually by waiting until the day before to handle things that needed more time.

Haircut timing. If you’re getting a haircut before your session, do it seven to ten days out, not the day before. A fresh haircut looks sharp on your head but often reads as too neat and severe in photographs. After a week, natural movement has settled the cut into something that photographs as clean and intentional without looking like you just left the salon.

Wardrobe. Pull your clothing options and try them on in front of a mirror. Look for fit issues — anything that pulls, gaps, or bunches — and check for visible wear: pilling, fading, loose threads. Steam or iron whatever you’re bringing. Putting this off until the morning of the session is where the stress comes from. Two to three solid-colored options in different tones give you real variety without overwhelming the session.

Skin. If you have a skincare routine, stick to it. Don’t try anything new in the week before a session — a reaction to a new product is real and possible, and it’s the worst timing. Stay hydrated.

Rest. Eyes photograph exactly as rested or unrested as they actually are. A solid night’s sleep the night before your session is more valuable than almost any other prep step.

Two Days Out: Logistics and Final Wardrobe

Confirm your session time and address. Our Eden Prairie studio is at 19145 Pheasant Cir., Eden Prairie, MN 55346. Knowing where you’re going means you’re not navigating and anxious when you arrive.

Finalize your wardrobe bag. Your two to three options should be clean, pressed, and hanging — not stuffed in a bag where they’ll wrinkle in transit. Bring a lint roller. Think about your goals for the images: LinkedIn, a firm website, a speaking bio, marketing materials. Having a clear sense of what these images need to do helps you and the photographer make better decisions during the session.

The Morning Of: Keep It Simple

The morning of your headshot session is not the time to experiment or make new decisions. Everything important was handled in the week before.

Eat a normal breakfast. A light, normal meal keeps your energy steady. This is not the morning to skip eating — low blood sugar will show in your face and your mood.

Grooming. Arrive looking the way you’d look walking into an important client meeting. Makeup, if you wear it, should be your normal professional level — maybe one notch above your everyday look, but not a dramatic departure from what you actually look like.

Give yourself time. Rushing through traffic and walking in breathless is the fastest way to look tense in a photograph. Build in ten minutes of buffer. Arrive, sit for a moment, let your heart rate come down. That calm carries into the images.

Leave your expectations at the door. The best headshots are the ones that look exactly like you at your best. Walking in open rather than fixed on a specific outcome produces better results every time.

What to Expect During the Session

A standard headshot session at our Eden Prairie studio runs about an hour. We start by looking at your wardrobe options together and making selections. We talk about what you need the images for and adjust the plan accordingly.

We’ll move through two or three setups — different backgrounds, different lighting — to build variety. We direct posing throughout. This is our job, not yours. Most people feel stiff in front of a camera and relax significantly within the first ten minutes once the process has a rhythm. You don’t need to come in knowing how to pose.

Toward the end of the session, we’ll often review a selection of frames together on the monitor so you can confirm we have what you need before you leave.

How to Get Natural Expressions on Camera

A natural expression is not a posed expression that happens to look natural — it’s an actual expression that occurred in a real moment. The best headshots happen when the subject is engaged in a real interaction, not performing neutrality at a camera.

Talk to us. We’ll ask you questions about your work, your clients, what you’re using the images for. Conversation produces expression. A genuine response to something funny produces a genuine smile. Don’t try to hold a specific expression — the moment you lock a face into position and hold it, the muscles tighten and the expression dies.

If something feels off during the session, say so. We’d rather know in the room than have you leave with images you’re not happy with.

After the Session: Proofs, Selection, and Delivery

Turnaround for proofs is typically one to two weeks. You’ll receive a gallery of edited selections to review. For most headshot clients, we recommend selecting two to four final images — enough variety for different platforms and contexts.

Final retouching takes another few days to a week. Delivered files are sized for digital use — LinkedIn, websites, email signatures — and print. The full-resolution file is yours to use without expiration. We keep a backup on file on our end.

Why Twin Cities Professionals Choose Our Eden Prairie Studio

Professionals from Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Edina, and across the Minneapolis west metro choose our studio because they want a real session — a conversation about what the images need to do, a human behind the camera who’s paying attention, and a finished product they’ll actually use for the next few years. The one-hour format gives us enough time to move through a real range, troubleshoot anything that isn’t working, and leave with something genuinely useful.

Frequently Asked Questions About Headshot Session Prep

How long before my session should I get a haircut?

Seven to ten days is the sweet spot. Fresh haircuts can look too neat and architectural in photographs until they’ve had a few days to settle. Don’t cut it the day before.

Should I get professional makeup done for my headshot?

It’s a personal choice. Professional makeup can look great, but it’s not required and it’s not the norm for most of our clients. Arrive at your normal professional grooming level — maybe slightly elevated — and the lighting will do the rest.

What if I’m just terrible at having my photo taken?

Most people say this, and most people are wrong about themselves. Being uncomfortable on camera is normal and it goes away within the first ten or fifteen minutes of a session that has good energy and direction. If you’re genuinely very nervous, let us know when you book — we can talk through what the session looks like so there’s less unknown going in.

Can I bring someone with me to the session?

A supportive person in the room can help some clients relax. It can also be a distraction. Our suggestion: come alone unless you know you’ll genuinely be more relaxed with someone there. If you want to bring someone, just let us know.

How do I prepare for a corporate or team headshot session?

For team sessions, the preparation is the same for each individual. For visual consistency across the team, it helps to discuss wardrobe in advance — same level of formality, harmonious tones — so the company page doesn’t look like four different sessions photographed in four different years.

What if I don’t like the proofs?

If you review the proofs and nothing is landing for you, let us know specifically what isn’t working. In most cases there’s a fix — a different crop, a different image from the same setup, a retouching adjustment. We want you to have images you’ll actually use.

Come In Ready to Do Good Work

The preparation is on you. The session is on us. Walk in a few minutes early with your options pressed and your expectations open, and you’re already set up for a good result.

Written by Dale Studios, serving Eden Prairie, Minneapolis, and the Twin Cities since 1983.

Related reading on our blog:

• What to Wear for a Professional Headshot: LinkedIn, Corporate, and Creative
• How Often Should You Update Your Professional Headshot?
• What Does a Professional Headshot Cost? A Plain-English Guide