1. Be prepared and get a good nights sleep!
Be well rested for your portrait so you can arrive fresh & in a good mood. Great portraits show you at your best, jovial self. Knowing you have prepared well will make you more confident during your portrait session which translates to a better portrait and ensure that you are getting the most out of your investment.
2. Practice your smiles
Take a few minutes in front of a mirror prior to your photo shoot to discover your favorite expression. Each of us have unique facial features which change our look as we change our smile. Does your biggest grin cause your eyes to narrow into a squint? Then perhaps a medium smile is best. Projecting confidence and approachability tends to work best for a business portrait.
Business Portrait Classic style Muslin Background
3. Choose the right clothing
Think classic! Wear your favorite business attire that fits you well and is appropriate to the audience & environment in which your business portrait will be used. Generally it’s best to choose solid dark & mid-range colors which contrasts nicely with your skin tone. Avoid especially busy patterns that may draw too much attention or be distracting. Remember freshly pressed clothing is important as professional cameras capture high definition images which reveal micro details in your attire (like pet hair for example). If possible, bring a few clothing & accessory options to your session to have a variety of “look” combinations.
4. Attention to Personal Grooming
Plan to be very well groomed for your portrait session, as with clothing artifacts, the camera will capture skin & hair details in high definition. Beware of frizzy hair, untrimmed eyebrows and facial hair. Ideally you should schedule haircuts one week prior to your photo session. Remember to bring hair brush, make-up, and anything else you may need for on-set touch ups/clean ups.
5. Relax!
Most everyone is uncomfortable in front of a camera, but the best portraits are natural relaxed and confident expressions. Mindset matters, so have fun with it!