Preparing for you Headshot - Men
How to Prepare for Your Headshot: A Guide for Men
Men tend to under-prepare for headshots, usually because the assumption is there’s nothing to prepare. There is. It’s not complicated, but the difference between a man who thought about it for twenty minutes and one who didn’t is visible in the file.
Get the haircut timing right
This is the single most common mistake, so it goes first.
Get your haircut five to seven days before the session. Not the day before. A day-old cut photographs sharp-edged and obviously fresh — you can see the line the clippers made. A week lets it soften into looking like how you normally look, which is the goal.
Same principle for beards. If you keep one, have it shaped about a week out and maintain the neckline yourself the morning of. A crisp, deliberate neckline matters more than the length.
Shaving, if you shave
Shave the morning of, not the night before. Five o’clock shadow is real and it photographs. If you’re prone to irritation, shave two to three hours before rather than immediately before, giving redness time to calm.
If you’re growing something, commit. Two-day stubble is the one length that consistently reads as “forgot” rather than “chose.”
Wardrobe: bring more than one shirt
Bring three to five options. Shirts, a jacket or two, ties if your industry uses them.
What works:
A well-fitted jacket. Nothing else does as much for the shoulder line. Fit at the shoulder seam matters more than price — a $200 jacket that fits beats a $2,000 one that doesn’t.
Solid shirts in mid-tones. Medium blue is close to universally flattering. Charcoal, deep green, and burgundy work well too.
Collars with structure. A collar that’s gone soft and curled at the points is distracting in a way you’ll notice only afterward. Steam or press them, and consider collar stays.
Ties, if worn, in simple patterns. Solid, subtle texture, or a wide stripe. Skip the busy repeating micro-pattern.
Press everything. Studio lighting is directional and finds every wrinkle. This is genuinely the highest-return five minutes of your preparation.
Grooming details that show up on camera
Eyebrows. Nobody wants to hear this, but stray hairs between and above the brows are visible and easily handled beforehand.
Ears and nose. Trimmed. Directional light finds these.
Skin. Bright light shows shine on the forehead and nose. A little translucent powder is standard for men in photography and nobody will ever know. I keep some at the studio.
Teeth. If you’re whitening, finish a few days ahead rather than the day before.
Hair product. Go lighter than usual. Heavy product turns glossy under strobes and can look wet.
What to bring
Outfits on hangers, a comb, a lint roller, and an undershirt if your shirts are light-colored. If you wear glasses, bring them — reflections are manageable and your frames are part of how people recognize you.
On the day
Arrive a few minutes early. Don’t practice expressions in the mirror beforehand; it makes things worse, not better. I direct the entire session — jaw position, shoulders, eyes, everything — and shooting tethered means you’ll see it working on the monitor as we go.
Book a time. Sessions are by appointment, almost anytime. Call or text 602-619-9366, or reach me through the contact page. Read what not to wear next, and see recent work under hea
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