What to expect at a Headshots Session

Watch This Episode About What to Expect at a Headshot Session!

So you’ve booked your headshot session—exciting! But what happens on the big day? In this episode, I’m breaking down 5 key things you can expect during a headshot session, with a few bonus tips to make the day as smooth as possible.

If you’re feeling a bit unsure about what’s ahead, this is the perfect guide to ease your nerves and set you up for success. Let’s dive in!

Why Will This Blog Help You?

By paying attention to these 5 tips, you’ll feel more confident and in control during your session. You’ll not only reduce nerves but also avoid costly reshoots by getting it right the first time. Plus, you’ll walk away feeling empowered and excited about your new headshots.

 1. Arrival Times

Photographer lingo like “call time” can be a little confusing. Here’s what you need to know:

The call time is when your photoshoot is scheduled to begin. Before that, your photographer will be busy setting up and testing equipment. While they’re prepping, you should be getting ready—hair, makeup, and outfit changes—so you’re good to go as soon as the session starts.

Pro Tip: Arrive at least two hours before the call time if you’re working with stylists or makeup artists. They’ll need time to help you look your best.

Optional Upgrades

• If you’ve booked a professional stylist, they’ll ensure your outfits are perfectly prepped.
• A hair and makeup artist will typically need about 2 hours to get you camera-ready and might make adjustments throughout the shoot.

Make sure to schedule enough time for these extras so everything runs smoothly.

There’s a very good chance that each supplier will want to have a little bit of a chat with you 1:1 before the call time. This can be to run through the outfits and double-check everything. Make sure that everything is ready to go when it comes to maximising the shoot time.

3. Rinse & Repeat

Repetition is key to a successful shoot. Once you hit your groove and feel confident, your photographer will likely capture multiple variations of each pose, outfit, and location.

Why It Matters

This ensures you have plenty of options to choose from when reviewing your images later. For instance, having both portrait and landscape versions of a shot can save the day when you’re updating your website or social media.

Pro Tip: Trust the process! The repetition might feel tedious, but it’s all about creating flexibility and variety for your final selection.

5. Energy Levels

Photoshoots are exciting, but they can be surprisingly draining. Expect a rollercoaster of energy levels, from pre-shoot anticipation to a post-shoot crash.

Plan Ahead

After your session, treat yourself to some self-care. Plan a low-key evening with a nice meal, a bubble bath, or even an early night. Trust me—your body and mind will thank you.

Due To This

So if you think about it this way, you have the anticipation and all of those excitement and nerves building up before your photoshoot happens.

This can happen a week before, a month before, or just in the hours leading up to the session itself.

Then, it’s actually happening, your endorphins will be soaring around your body, and you’re gonna have a real rush of adrenaline. You’re gonna be riding this endorphin wave for at least a couple of hours after your photoshoot has wrapped.

So you might come away from your session feeling like you can win the day and conquer the world, but what happens after about 1 or 2 hours following a wrap is you’ll probably crash.

The Crew Knows It Too

Anyone on a photoshoot crew will have expected this to happen. You can try and elongate it out with caffeine and sugar, but you still will feel a dip in your energy.

Why don’t you plan ahead now to make sure you have a lovely bubble bath waiting for you at home? You can get an early night, and you have a delicious dinner waiting for you when you’re back from your session.