How to Prepare for your Photoshoot

Believe it or not, a lot of the things we do for self care can be applied to getting ready for a photo shoot. Here are some of the tips I recommend to all my people who will step in front of the camera:

  1. Get plenty of rest. Rest can help you feel your best and energized for the photo session. It will help you focus on letting yourself go and listen to my coaching!

  2. Stretch and take a walk! Yes! I know you'll just be standing or sitting there, but stretching and walking every day for at least 30 minutes to loosen your body and get your blood flowing freely will not only make you a little more limber and stronger each day, but it'll also help you focus and feel better. Getting some sun is great, but not too much sun. You don't want to look like a lobster on photo day! (Unless that is what you're going for)

  3. Moisturize. If you're already doing this, you are way ahead. If you're not, please start now. Your skin is the biggest organ the body has and helping your skin feel soft, nourished
    and moisturized will make you feel so good! Besides, having dry lips and skin during a photo shoot will really show.
    While we are on the subject of moisturizing, are you drinking enough water? My sister in law kept telling her kids during Thanksgiving, "Drink more water!" It's in my core memories now. Not juice, not coffee, not alcohol. Just water.

  4. What should you wear? I like to say, "Dress as the version of yourself that you want to be." I think headshots and portraits can be great tools to not only showcase your genuine self, but to be a reflection of the better version you're working to become. Wear something that fits well, appropriate to the field you are in or want to be in and makes you feel confident. Confidence is the key. But keep in mind that this is mostly about you and your gorgeous face. Simple is best. Nothing to distract from your face or fights for attention. This is also a great opportunity to see what colors really compliment your eyes, skin and hair. For my longer sessions, feel free to bring at least 3 different outfits so we can see what works best.

  5. Practice your look. Yes! Look at yourself in the mirror so you can know what you look like. This is great practice in mindfulness when it comes to learning more about your body mechanics and facial positioning. How does my body feel when I position it this way? Does it make me feel and look confident? What is my face doing to make me look so damn good?
    It may feel a little silly at first to pose in front of a mirror, but that's your inner child wanting to come out and play. So be goofy, serious, mysterious, and have fun with it. Feel how your mind and body are reacting to this exercise.

  6. Hair and Make up. Planning on getting a haircut before your photo session? Try to have it done a few days to a week before your session. It'll look healthy and fresh and not too different from what you're used to. If you wear make up, keep it light and natural. No hiding that beautiful face of yours please! Prepare a travel kit of your favorite hair and make up products to touch up as you need during our session.

  7. Treat Yourself. Go on, have a cookie. Go shopping for a nice outfit. Indulge yourself with a delicious meal. Watch that movie you've been wanting to watch. Get a massage. Take a long bath or a nice soothing shower while listening to music. You deserve good things in your life, just like a new headshot.

  8. Journal. Have you ever taken 10 minutes of your day to write in a journal? I didn't before... never even thought about it until my BFF suggested it to me. What do I even write about? Write about your day, about how you feel, about what your goals are and how you plan on achieving them, about how much you loved working with Ken (Actually, write about that in my Google Reviews! lol). Eventually, you'll notice you're letting your honest thoughts and feelings out and being expressed in a safe space for you to look back on and grow from.
    Plus you are giving yourself time for you and that's always worth the time!

  9. Wake up early. You are investing time and money into images that represent you at your very best. Waking up late and rushing to get to where you need to be isn't going to help showcase that. So wake up early, have a good and healthy breakfast with tea and come over relaxed and happy.

  10. Celebrate you. You are so important to so many people and worth being visible and seen. You're beautiful and radiant! Your community sees you shine all the time. Accept and embrace it. Come in with your gorgeous smile and let's laugh and have a great time. I'll show you what I'm talking about.