How to Prepare for Your Headshot Session in London: 10 Expert Tips

Make the most of your professional headshot session in London with these 10 expert preparation tips — from wardrobe to mindset to what to bring.

1. Choose Wardrobe That Reads for Your Role

Dress as you would for an important meeting in your industry. City finance professionals should wear formal suits. Tech founders can go smart casual. Actors should bring 3–4 outfit options covering different types — commercial, dramatic, character. Avoid white (overexposes against studio backgrounds), very busy patterns, and large logos.

2. Get a Haircut 5–7 Days Before

Fresh haircuts can look too severe immediately after cutting. Book your haircut one week before the session to look polished but natural. Same applies to colour treatments — let them settle slightly before your shoot.

3. Get Proper Sleep the Night Before

Eyes are the most important element of any headshot, and nothing reveals poor sleep like puffy eyes and flat expression. Prioritise 7–8 hours' sleep before your session. Avoid alcohol the night before — it affects skin texture and eye clarity.

4. Bring Reference Images

Screenshot 3–5 headshots you admire and show them to your photographer at the start of the session. This communicates style, expression, and lighting preferences more effectively than any verbal description.

5. Moisturise and Groom Carefully

Well-hydrated skin photographs better. Moisturise the evening before and the morning of. Men: shave the morning of your session or ensure your beard is neatly groomed. Avoid heavy cologne or perfume that might distract during an intimate studio session.

6–10: The Session Itself

• 6. Arrive 10 minutes early to settle, hang your clothing, and have a conversation with the photographer before shooting starts
• 7. Trust the process — great headshot photographers are also great directors. Follow their instructions even if poses feel slightly unnatural; they know what reads well on camera
• 8. Move and vary expression — the best headshot frames are usually captured between directed poses when you're relaxed and natural
• 9. Check frames on the photographer's screen mid-session — catching issues early saves time and reshoots
• 10. Book the right photographer — find a London headshot photographer through ProShoot London who specialises in your specific headshot type