Professional headshots have become an essential investment for anyone serious about their career, whether you’re a Fortune 500 executive, freelancer, entrepreneur, or early-career professional. Your headshot is often the first impression colleagues, clients, and employers will have of you — making it one of the most important professional assets you can own. A standout professional headshot communicates competence, approachability, and professionalism before anyone even meets you in person.
At From the Hip Photo, we work with Denver professionals every day who want to make an impact through their imagery. From LinkedIn profiles to business cards, company websites to networking events, your headshot needs to represent your personal brand authentically while maintaining a polished, professional edge. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll share expert tips to help you prepare for your headshot session and walk away with images you’ll be proud to use for years to come.
Why Professional Headshots Matter for Your Career
In today’s digital-first world, people often form opinions based on limited visual information. Before a hiring manager reads your resume, before a client visits your website, they see your photo. Professional headshots serve multiple critical functions in your career development.
Strong headshots increase your credibility and authority in your industry. They’re especially important if you’re in sales, consulting, executive leadership, real estate, law, or any client-facing role. A professional headshot signals that you take yourself and your career seriously. It’s particularly valuable on LinkedIn, where profiles with professional photos receive 21 times more profile views and 9 times more connection requests than those without.
Beyond online presence, professional headshots are essential for company directories, corporate websites, speaking engagements, author bios, industry publications, and marketing materials. Whether you’re promoting yourself as a freelancer or representing your company, a polished, professional headshot is non-negotiable.
Traditional Versus Environmental Headshots: Which Style Is Right for You?
When preparing for your professional headshot session, the first critical decision is selecting your backdrop style. Both traditional and environmental headshots can convey professionalism — the best choice depends on your industry, personal brand, and how you want to be perceived.
Traditional Headshots: Classic and Timeless
Traditional headshots are photographed against simple, clean backdrops — typically neutral colors like white, gray, or soft beige. Despite the misconception that they’re stiff or boring, traditional headshots are actually the gold standard for communicating organization, structure, and professionalism. They emphasize you and your face, eliminating any potential distractions.
Traditional headshots work best for corporate settings, executive positions, law firms, banking, consulting, and conservative industries. They’re timeless, won’t date quickly, and are perfectly suitable for all business needs. Your face is the focal point, allowing your eyes and expression to communicate your personality and professionalism.
Environmental Headshots: Personality With Professionalism
If you want to showcase more personality while maintaining professionalism, environmental headshots might be perfect for you. These are photographed in meaningful locations — your office, favorite building, park, or creative space — that tell part of your story without overwhelming your image.
Environmental headshots work particularly well for creative professionals, entrepreneurs, tech industry professionals, coaches, therapists, and anyone in fields that value approachability and individuality. You can still maintain complete professionalism while showing a bit more of who you are. The key is selecting backdrops that enhance rather than distract from your face.
Choosing the Right Outfit: Look Good, Feel Good, Perform Better
Your outfit is one of the most important elements you control in your headshot session. The clothes you wear should make you feel confident, powerful, and like the best version of yourself. When you feel good in what you’re wearing, that confidence shines through in the photos.
Color Strategy Matters
Choose colors that complement your skin tone and make you feel vibrant. Mid-tone and jewel-tone colors are typically most flattering and photograph beautifully — think navy, charcoal, burgundy, teal, deep purple, or jewel tones. Avoid colors that match your skin tone exactly, as they can make you look washed out.
Avoid Common Pitfalls
Steer clear of busy patterns, small stripes, polka dots, and bold graphic prints. These patterns can date your photo quickly and distract from your face. They also often create moiré effects that look unflattering on camera. Solid colors or subtle textures are your best bet for timeless headshots that will look good for years.
Fabric and Fit Considerations
Choose well-fitting, quality fabrics that drape nicely. Your clothes should be professional enough for your industry but still allow you to move freely and feel comfortable. Avoid anything too tight that might restrict your movement or make you feel self-conscious. A good rule of thumb: if you wouldn’t wear it to an important business meeting, it’s probably not right for your headshot.
Hair and Makeup Preparation: Enhance Your Natural Beauty
Hair and makeup are your opportunity to present your best self while maintaining authenticity. The goal is enhancement, not transformation. You want to look like the best version of you, not like a completely different person.
Makeup Tips for Professional Headshots
Keep makeup simple, natural, and well-blended. You want to enhance your best features without looking heavily made up. Good lighting and high-quality camera equipment will capture fine details, so overdone makeup will be noticeable.
Consider having a professional makeup artist for your session if you’re not confident in your makeup skills. They understand how makeup photographs and can ensure you look polished without appearing artificial. If you do your own makeup, focus on a natural-looking base, subtle contouring, neutral or complementary eyeshadow, well-groomed eyebrows, and long-lasting lipstick in colors that suit your skin tone.
Hair Styling Strategies
Your hair should be clean, shiny, and styled in a way that makes you feel confident. Consider having your hair professionally styled the day of your session, or get a fresh haircut a few days before. Avoid anything too trendy or extreme — you want your headshot to remain professional and relevant for years.
Make sure your hair is off your face enough to show your eyes and expression clearly. Stray hairs across your face can distract from your eyes and expression. If you typically wear your hair down, consider trying it up or partially pulled back for a sleek, polished look.
Accessories and Jewelry: Less Is More
Accessories should complement your outfit and personal brand without drawing attention away from your face. The focus of a professional headshot should always be on you — specifically, your eyes and expression.
Keep jewelry minimal and understated. A simple necklace or a few delicate bracelets are fine, but avoid anything large, dangling, or noisy. Earrings should be proportionate to your face — bigger earrings can work if they complement your features, but avoid anything that will distract. Avoid busy watches or bracelets that catch light and pull focus.
Glasses are fine if you wear them regularly, but make sure they’re current styles and the lenses are clean. Avoid very large frames that overwhelm your face. Ensure there’s no glare on the lenses, which professional photographers will manage during your session. If you’re uncertain about glasses, ask your photographer — most recommend having options with and without for flexibility.
Working Effectively With Your Photographer
Your photographer is your partner in creating outstanding headshots. Clear communication and a collaborative approach will result in the best possible images.
Pre-Session Communication
Before your session, discuss your goals with your photographer. Share your industry, what you’ll use the photos for (LinkedIn, website, business cards, etc.), your personal brand, and any style preferences. Ask about the photography style, backdrop options, and what the session timeline will look like. A good photographer will help guide you on outfit choices and preparation.
During Your Session
Follow your photographer’s direction on posing, angle, and expression. They understand how to position your body to create flattering lines and how to direct your eyes for maximum impact. Don’t be stiff — your photographer will help you relax and feel natural. Ask for feedback: “How does that feel?” or “Should I adjust anything?” Good photographers love working with clients who are engaged and communicative.
Bring options — multiple outfits, jewelry choices, or styling variations — so you have variety in your final images. Most professionals recommend a minimum one-hour session to allow for wardrobe changes and different poses. This gives you flexibility in selecting the perfect photos for different uses.
Post-Session Expectations
Discuss what you’ll receive from your session. Will you get digital files? What about editing and retouching? How many final images will you receive? Professional headshot sessions typically include professional editing and color correction. You should expect polished, professional-quality final images suitable for all your business needs.
Indoor Versus Outdoor Sessions: Pros and Considerations
Both indoor studio and outdoor location headshots can produce outstanding results. Each approach has distinct advantages and considerations.
Indoor Studio Headshots
Studio sessions offer complete control over lighting, background, and environment. You’ll have consistent, professional lighting that flatters everyone. Backdrops are clean and distraction-free, allowing your face to be the undisputed focal point. Studios are weather-proof and allow for quick outfit changes. Studio headshots are ideal for traditional, corporate headshots and work beautifully for all industries. They’re also typically faster — you can complete a session in one hour and have multiple outfit options.
Outdoor Location Headshots
Outdoor sessions offer natural light and environmental context. They work beautifully for environmental headshots where the location adds meaning to your personal brand. Natural light can be incredibly flattering when your photographer understands how to position you relative to the light source. Outdoor locations add visual interest and personality to your images.
However, outdoor sessions are weather-dependent, lighting changes throughout the session, and you have less control over distracting background elements. Outdoor headshots typically require more time for positioning and often result in fewer usable final images. If you choose an outdoor location, ensure your photographer is skilled at managing natural light and has experience minimizing distractions in uncontrolled environments.
LinkedIn Optimization: Make Your Headshot Work Harder
Your LinkedIn photo is one of the most important images you’ll use professionally. LinkedIn profiles with professional photos are significantly more likely to attract recruiters, clients, and connection requests.
When selecting your headshot for LinkedIn, choose an image where your face takes up about 40% of the frame, you have a confident expression and direct eye contact, the background is clean and professional, and your clothing is appropriate for your industry. Avoid filters, dramatic edits, or photos that don’t look like the real you — when people meet you in person, they should recognize you immediately.
Update your LinkedIn photo regularly. If your headshot is more than 2-3 years old, you probably need a refresh. Use that same professional headshot consistently across your LinkedIn, company website, and professional profiles for brand consistency and recognition.
When and How Often to Update Your Professional Headshots
A common question we hear is “How often should I update my headshots?” The answer depends on several factors, but here’s a general guideline:
Update your headshots every 2-3 years, or whenever you’ve made significant changes to your appearance (major haircut or color change, dramatic weight change, significant aging). If you’re in an industry where you’re highly visible (sales, executive, on-camera work), consider annual updates. If you’ve had a major career change or are repositioning your brand, new headshots can signal that evolution.
Don’t update simply for trend purposes — professional headshots shouldn’t look trendy. They should be timeless and authentic to who you are. However, as you evolve professionally and personally, letting your visual presentation evolve with you keeps your image current and authentic.
The investment in professional headshots pays dividends throughout your career. Quality images make you look credible, professional, and approachable — qualities that will serve you well in job interviews, client meetings, networking events, and online presence.
Giving Back: The Community Impact of Professional Headshots
At From the Hip Photo, we believe professional headshot sessions are about more than just creating great images for your career. We’ve partnered with Urban Peak and El Sistema Colorado to give back to our Denver community with every headshot session booked.
When you invest in a professional headshot with us, you’re also sponsoring professional headshots for members of these deserving nonprofits. Your session helps vulnerable youth, homeless teens, and aspiring musicians gain professional images they might not otherwise be able to afford — images that can open doors and change trajectories. It’s a meaningful way to feel good about your investment while making a real difference in our community.
Ready to Invest in Your Professional Image?
Professional headshots are an investment in your career and personal brand. Whether you’re climbing the corporate ladder, launching a business, or strengthening your professional presence, quality headshots communicate that you take yourself seriously.
Ready to schedule your session? From the Hip Photo specializes in professional headshots for Denver professionals. We’ll work with you to create images that represent your best self — authentic, polished, and powerful. Learn more about our studio portrait services, explore our headshot portfolio, or discover additional business photography tips to prepare for your session.
Want to see how a professional headshot session works? Check out our guide on capturing authentic poses and expressions to understand what to expect when working with our photographers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Professional Headshots
How long does a typical professional headshot session take?
Most professional headshot sessions last 1-2 hours. A minimum one-hour session allows time for wardrobe changes, different poses, and expression variations. This gives you flexibility in final image selection and ensures you walk away with options for different uses. Sessions longer than two hours typically don’t yield proportionally better results, as fatigue and repetition can affect your natural expression.
What should I do if I’m not naturally photogenic or confident in front of the camera?
Most people feel slightly uncomfortable in front of the camera at first — you’re not alone. Professional photographers are skilled at helping clients relax and feel natural. Express your concerns to your photographer before the session; they’ll provide direction and feedback to help you look and feel your best. Many photographers play music, engage in conversation, and create a relaxed environment that helps you forget about the camera. Remember, the photographer wants you to look amazing — they’ll do everything possible to help you succeed.
How many outfit changes should I bring to my session?
Bring 2-3 outfit options, depending on your needs. If you use headshots for multiple purposes (corporate website, LinkedIn, business cards, speaking engagements), different outfits give you flexibility. Each outfit can have a slightly different feel and vibe. However, don’t over-complicate it — 2-3 solid options are usually perfect. Coordinate with your photographer in advance about outfit changes and timeline so you can plan accordingly.
Will my headshots be retouched? Can I request specific edits?
Professional headshots should always include retouching and color correction as part of the package. This means professional editing for skin smoothing, blemish removal, eye enhancement, and color correction to ensure your images look polished and professional. Most photographers will ask if you have specific requests or concerns. However, professional headshots should still look like you — the goal is enhancement, not transformation. Discuss any specific editing preferences with your photographer before or during your session.
