Your headshot is working for you around the clock — on LinkedIn, your company website, casting submissions, email signatures, and everywhere else your professional identity lives online. A great headshot opens doors. A mediocre one quietly closes them.

After photographing hundreds of professionals, executives, actors, and entrepreneurs at Megastar Photography, I've seen exactly what separates a headshot that commands attention from one that gets scrolled past. Here are the ten tips I share with every client before their session.

The most important headshot tip has nothing to do with the camera — it's about clarity of purpose. A LinkedIn headshot for a corporate attorney looks completely different from a casting headshot for a character actor. Before your session, ask yourself:

• Where will this headshot be used? LinkedIn, company bio, casting submissions, speaking engagements, social media?
• What impression do you want to make? Approachable and warm? Authoritative and polished? Creative and bold?
• Who is your audience? Clients, casting directors, hiring managers, potential partners?

When you know the answers, your photographer can tailor the lighting, background, expression, and framing to serve your specific goal. A headshot without a clear purpose is just a photo.

Wardrobe is one of the most common places people go wrong. The goal is for the viewer's eye to land on your face — not your outfit.

What works:

• Solid colors in jewel tones, navy, charcoal, burgundy, forest green, and classic white or black
• Well-fitted clothing with clean lines
• Blazers and structured tops that frame the shoulders well
• Subtle textures (fine knit, linen) that add visual interest without distraction

What to avoid:

• Busy patterns, stripes, and large logos — they compete with your face
• Bright neon colors that cast unflattering color onto your skin
• Overly casual clothing (unless your brand is specifically casual)
• Trendy pieces that will date the photo quickly

Pro tip: Bring two or three outfit options to your session. Different looks give you versatility — a polished blazer for corporate use and a more relaxed top for social media, for example.

Timing matters here. Book your haircut 5–7 days before your session. This gives your hair time to settle into its natural shape after the cut, so it looks polished but not freshly barbered. The day-of haircut often looks too sharp and stiff in photos.

For women, if you color your hair, schedule your color appointment 1–2 weeks before the session so roots are fresh but the color has had time to settle.

You don't need a full skincare routine to photograph well, but a little preparation goes a long way.

• Night before: Moisturize well. Hydrated skin photographs significantly better than dry skin — it reflects light more evenly and minimizes the appearance of fine lines.
• Morning of: Use a light, non-greasy moisturizer. Avoid heavy foundation that can look cakey under studio lights.
• Avoid: Trying new skincare products right before your session. Reactions and breakouts are real risks.
• Men: A close shave or well-groomed beard the morning of the session. If you wear stubble, make sure it's intentional and even.

Professional retouching handles minor blemishes — don't stress about imperfections. Focus on showing up hydrated and rested.

This one sounds obvious, but it's genuinely one of the most impactful things you can do. Eyes that are tired look tired in photos — no amount of retouching fully corrects the flatness that comes from a poor night's sleep.

Aim for 7–8 hours the night before. Avoid alcohol the evening before your session, as it causes puffiness around the eyes and face. Drink plenty of water in the 24 hours leading up to your session.

The single biggest difference between an amateur headshot and a professional one is the eyes. Specifically, it's the tension around the eyes.

Most people, when asked to smile for a camera, engage only their mouth. The result is a smile that looks forced and disconnected. A genuine, warm expression involves the whole face — especially the muscles around the eyes (what photographers call a "Duchenne smile").

How to get there:

• Think of something that genuinely makes you happy right before the shutter fires
• Slightly squint your eyes — just a touch — to add warmth and engagement
• Relax your jaw and let your lips part slightly rather than pressing them together
• Take a breath, exhale, and let your shoulders drop before each shot

A good photographer will coach you through this in real time. Trust the process.

Two posture adjustments make an immediate, dramatic difference in headshots:

Chin forward and slightly down: Push your chin slightly forward (toward the camera) and angle it very slightly downward. This elongates the neck, defines the jawline, and eliminates the double-chin effect that appears when the chin is pulled back. It feels awkward in person but looks excellent in photos.

Shoulders back and down: Roll your shoulders back and let them drop away from your ears. This opens up the chest, improves posture, and makes you look confident and composed rather than tense.

Slight body angle: Rather than facing the camera dead-on, turn your body 15–20 degrees to one side. This slims the silhouette and creates a more dynamic, three-dimensional composition.

One of the most useful things you can do before a headshot session is collect 3–5 reference images of headshots you love. They don't have to be of people who look like you — they can be examples of lighting, expression, framing, or mood that resonates with you.

Reference photos give your photographer a clear target and eliminate guesswork. They also help you articulate what you want even if you don't have the vocabulary to describe it technically.

Save them to your phone and share them at the start of your session.

Many people feel self-conscious in front of a camera, especially at the start of a session. This is completely normal. The first 10–15 minutes of a headshot session are often a warm-up — you're getting comfortable, the photographer is learning your best angles, and the energy is settling.

Don't judge the session by how you feel in the first few minutes. Trust that your photographer has done this many times and knows how to guide you. Ask questions, communicate what you're looking for, and let yourself relax into the process.

The best headshots almost always come in the second half of a session, once the initial nerves have settled.

After your session, you'll receive a gallery of images to review. Here's how to select well:

• Look at the eyes first. Sharp, engaged eyes are non-negotiable. If the eyes aren't right, move on.
• Check the expression. Does it match the impression you want to make? Warm and approachable, or confident and authoritative?
• Ask for a second opinion. We often can't see ourselves objectively. Ask a trusted colleague or friend which images they find most compelling.
• Don't over-select. For most professional uses, 1–3 strong headshots are more valuable than 10 mediocre ones.

A great headshot is one of the highest-return investments you can make in your professional presence. At Megastar Photography, every headshot session is designed to make you feel comfortable, confident, and genuinely excited about the results.

We serve professionals, executives, actors, models, and entrepreneurs across the greater Seattle area — including Mountlake Terrace, Edmonds, Lynnwood, Shoreline, Kenmore, and Bothell.

Book your headshot session today and let's create images that work as hard as you do.