Styling Yourself for your Personal Branding Photoshoot
Styling yourself for your business headshot can be a daunting prospect but it doesn’t have to be. I spoke to personal stylist and author of Look Like The Leader You Are, Lizzie Edwards who shares her expertise and insight.
What, in your experience, is the impact of getting your business head shot right?
First impressions count!
Having a great picture and making a great impression can be the difference between someone deciding to hire you or not.
Headshots should be authentic and an accurate reflection of you, not a ‘dressed up only for the photo’ you.
How you stand, your body language and facial expression can help you communicate your personal brand, and make people warm to you, or put people off.
For example, a serious face and arms crossed in a suit does not always say ‘warm, and approachable,’ so be really clear on your personal brand and what you want people to know you are like in person before you decide on the style of pictures, what you wear, how you stand and your expression.
You want people to recognise you when they meet you from the photos they have seen on your website or on your social media profile. If you change your appearance drastically, a big change or hairstyle, or weight gain or loss, then be sure to update your photos too. If you are very smart and business-like in your photo, it should reflect what you are likely to be wearing for a business meeting
What are the common mistakes that you see in headshots in terms of styling?
The biggest mistake is wearing clothes that are too fussy or distracting. You need to consider the framing of the photo when deciding what to wear. For example, wearing a dress that you love, but when the frame is close up as the next is wide it looks like you have nothing on! Equally you don’t want to wear anything too current or trendy. You want your shots to be an investment that you can utilise for a few years at least, so it is better to wear something quite neutral. The other issue is wearing clothes that don’t reflect who you are, how you want to be seen, or what you do so that when people meet you, you are not what they imagined. Ideally, from your photo you want people to say, ‘’you are exactly how I thought you’d be,’ after meeting you!
How important is wearing colour in your headshots and what advice do you have for getting the colour right?
It is not important to wear colour, unless you wear colour a lot and it’s your personal style. Many people who have headshots done for a new website choose to wear one of their business brand colours, so the photos are in harmony with their overall brand identity, and it works really well. If you are unsure about a colour and if it suits you, make sure you test it out in photos before the day of the shoot. I would advise against anything too strong and bright, unless it is part of your personal brand and something you are known for wearing. Mid-tones and neutrals are more flattering and less overwhelming. Remember, you want to be the focus of the photo, not what you are wearing.
Could you share with us your top styling tips to make sure you get the perfect business head shot?
Plan ahead. Make sure you have tried the items on and see how they look in photos, in the frame and position you intend to be using for your shots.
A loose-fitting top that my look great in real life, can look shapeless and frumpy in photos.
There is nothing more frustrating that getting photos back that are perfect except for one wisp of hair sticking up, your earring is caught behind a collar, a collar that is sticking out!
Therefore, if you can, try to have someone at the shoot aside from the photographer. A friend, a stylist, or the makeup artist if you have booked them to stay for the whole shoot. They need to watch, and check clothes are sitting right, and your hair is in place. This is essential if outside and you especially if have the wind to contend with, as the photographer will be looking out for other things.
Take a selection and try a few different looks out. What works can be surprising. You may want to have different looks on your various social media channels and for specific target audiences, so it’s best to have some looks that are similar, but that cover a few different styles.
Lizzie Edwards is a personal stylist, brand image consultant and author of Look Like The Leader You Are.