After having my Happy Hour Headshot, I thought back on what made it such a good experience, despite having arrived home from Australia less than 24 hours earlier and being someone who doesn’t enjoy getting her picture taken.
Let’s face it – some of us don’t naturally warm up and smile when a camera is pointed at us. That doesn’t mean we can’t take good headshots; we just have to approach the experience with a fresh attitude.
- Look at the photographer and imagine she is a long-lost friend. You can’t help but smile – you are so happy to see her again.
- Engage the photographer in conversation. Ask him or her what got them started in photography, or what their biggest challenge has been this year, or how they hope to change their business next year. Once you start chatting, you can relax.
- Take a break after 15 minutes. Very few people can stay “on” for longer than that, and you need a few minutes to let yourself relax and go limp before starting another round of shooting.
- When reviewing your shots, let the photographer make the first cut. It’s hard to look at lots of photos of yourself without obsessing about small imperfections, and a professional photographer can quickly identify the shots that best captured your genuine look.
You can see the shots I selected from my HappyHourHeadshot session here.