8 Tips for Rocking Your Next Professional Photoshoot

When I first launched my apparel company Bodyology, I was pushed to step outside of my comfort zone and begin personal brand building. That meant, giving real attention to my image, which started with fresh professional pictures.

Since then, I’ve been apart of at least a half-dozen business related shoots and learned a lot. Because I know the process can be fairly intimidating, I thought I’d share some of my favorite tips for nailing your own profession photo shoot. So, here we go!

#1: Go toward the light.

When doing a shoot, natural light is your best friend. If you have to use studio lighting, that’s fine, but natural light is always the best. This means shooting outdoors or in an indoor space with tons of windows. Though, you’ll want to avoid shooting outside midday, which will likely give you harsh shadows.

#2 Be colorful.

While I’m sure you look great in plaid, polka dots and paisley print, your professional shots are not necessarily the place to prove it. The camera generally doesn’t like patterns, and they tend to mess with people’s eyes. Find colors that really look great on your complexion and stand out. I’ve a dark complexion so white tends to look good on me. I can also pull off bright colors. Browns and earth tones tend to wash me out, so they never make the cut.

#3 Get styled.

Gone are the days when stylists are only for celebrities and entertainers. Most stylists I’ve come across are quite affordable and in a time when image is everything, I find it worth the investment. I’m lucky because my stylist is an all-around image consultant and hair stylist, so she was able to get me right from head-to-toe. I also asked her to be onsite for the shoot, which gave us an extra set of hands and eyes.

#4 Get beat! (your face, that is)

When doing professional shots, you want to look your best. And that means making sure that your makeup is flawless. If you don’t have a make-up artist that you use, ask others who they recommend. And if you still crap-out, find a makeup counter at your local mall and make an appointment. Most MAC stores will give you a makeover in exchange for purchasing $50 worth of makeup. Win-win.

#5 Hire a pro.

As a small business owner, I know that resources can get thin. But when hiring a photographer, you don’t necessarily want to go with the cheapest (or free) option. These images are a reflection of you, and whether you like it or not, people will make judgments about you based on those pictures. So, hire a real professional who has a strong portfolio and a style aesthetic that you love. Otherwise, you might get stuck with images that you don’t even want to use.

#6 Plan for multiple looks.

On my very first professional shoot, I only did one look. On my second, I did two and on my most recent shoot, I changed my outfit and location four times. I felt like Whitney Houston at the Grammy’s!

It might sound like a lot but if you have a career where people are regularly asking for a bio and headshot (i.e. for speaking engagements or media spots), then one look means you’ll be sending out the same picture over and over again. After a while it gets old. By having multiple looks, you get more mileage out of your shoot, while keeping your image fresh.

#7 Get what you need.

Because I’ve done this a few times, I’ve become very intentional about the shots I need to get. For instance, I’m an incredibly animated speaker, which means my candid shots usually make me look as if I’m in the middle of a seizure. NOT. CUTE. AT. ALL.

So, this time around I let my photographer know that I needed posed “candids”. I also usually need a good mix of verticals shots (which work great for profiles) and horizontal shots (which work great for backsplashes or websites). These are all the sorts of things you want to be mindful of before getting in front of the camera.

#8 Have fun.

I took a lot of goofy shots this last time and several of them came out really great. Sure, I felt like a moron skipping down Atlanta’s Peachtree Street but you know what they say, “no shame, no gain.” Additionally, you don’t want to take yourself too seriously. Your professional shots are an opportunity for you to show who you really are, so take it from me and don’t hold back!

Photographer: Leah Perry Photography

Stylist: GL Styles

Makeup: Christian

Originally published in Huffington Post.

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Kelly Burton Ph.D. is an accomplished entrepreneur with over a decade’s experience launching and scaling start-up companies. She is the founder of Bodyology, a tech-based clothing line and Nexus Research Group, a social research firm.

Follow Kelly Burton on Twitter and Instagram @iamkellyburton or at kellyburton.net.