A professional headshot should still look like you—just polished, confident, approachable, and ready to represent yourself or your organization.
At Anthony Johnson Photography, our two most common corporate headshot experiences are Team & Office Headshots and Express Headshots.
Both are designed to create a strong professional image, but the experience is different.
With Team & Office Headshots, we typically spend about 10–15 minutes with each person. We provide hands-on guidance with posture, positioning, expression, and small adjustments throughout the session. Your selected image also receives professional retouching.
With Express Headshots, the experience is designed for speed and volume. Attendees move through a streamlined, step-and-repeat process, and images are delivered without professional retouching unless an upgrade is purchased. Because of that, your preparation matters even more.
No matter which experience you’re participating in, the best results begin before you step in front of the camera.
✓ Hair styled
✓ Facial hair groomed
✓ Makeup checked
✓ Teeth checked
✓ Glasses cleaned
✓ Clothing wrinkle-free
✓ Collar straight
✓ Tie straight
✓ Jewelry properly positioned
✓ Lanyard or badge removed
✓ Phone, keys, and bulky items removed from pockets
✓ Company wardrobe guidelines followed
✓ Take a moment to relax
Then leave the photography to us.
We generally spend 10–15 minutes per person, which gives us time to work with you individually.
During your session, we can help guide:
You do not need to know how to pose. That is part of our service.
We will guide you through the process and make adjustments based on how you photograph.
Your selected image also receives professional retouching, which may include adjustments such as minor blemish cleanup, stray hair cleanup, skin refinement, and other finishing touches.
That said, retouching is not a substitute for preparation. Your clothing, grooming, hair, glasses, makeup, and overall appearance should still be camera-ready when you arrive.
The process is intentionally fast and efficient.
Think of it more like a professional step-and-repeat headshot experience.
Because attendees move through quickly, there is less time for extensive one-on-one posing, wardrobe adjustments, grooming checks, or personalized coaching.
We will still direct you into the proper position and help you through the basic process, but Express Headshots rely much more heavily on you arriving ready to be photographed.
This means your preparation is especially important.
Before stepping in front of the camera, take a moment to check:
Express Headshots are delivered as photographed and do not include professional retouching unless a retouched or enhanced option is purchased.
For that reason, what you bring in front of the camera is much closer to what you will see in the final image.
Your clothing should support your headshot—not compete with it.
For most professional headshots, we recommend:
Try to avoid:
Your face should remain the focal point of the image.
If your employer has provided specific wardrobe instructions, follow those first.
Some organizations may ask employees to wear:
This is especially important for Team & Office Headshots, where the goal is often to create visual consistency across an entire organization.
If everyone appears on the same company website or team page, small wardrobe differences can become much more noticeable.
Layers tend to photograph very well.
A blazer, suit jacket, cardigan, or structured outer layer can help create shape and polish.
For Team & Office Headshots, having a jacket nearby can also give us an additional option if time allows.
For Express Headshots, assume you will be photographed in the outfit you are already wearing.
Because the process moves quickly, wardrobe changes are generally not part of the experience.
Your hair should be styled the way you want to be professionally represented.
If you’re planning a haircut, we generally recommend doing it several days before your session, rather than immediately beforehand.
That gives the haircut time to settle and reduces the chance of arriving with a look you’re not completely comfortable with.
Bring a comb, brush, or any small styling product you normally use if you think you may need a quick touch-up.
For Express Headshots, take care of this before getting in line.
If you normally shave, shave before your session.
If you have a beard or mustache, make sure it is groomed and shaped the way you’d like it photographed.
Professional lighting captures a great deal of detail, so things such as uneven beard lines or missed shaving areas may be more noticeable in a photograph than they are in the mirror.
Again, this becomes particularly important for Express Headshots because the standard images are not professionally retouched.
Professional makeup is welcome, but it is not required.
For most business headshots, makeup that appears natural and polished tends to photograph best.
We recommend avoiding major experimentation on the day of your session.
Your headshot should still resemble the person your clients, coworkers, or colleagues expect to meet.
If you normally wear makeup, consider bringing whatever you use for small touch-ups.
For Express Headshots, make those touch-ups before stepping into the photography area.
Professional makeup is not required for most headshot sessions, which is why a makeup artist is not included as part of our standard experience.
You do not need perfect skin to have a great headshot.
Continue your normal skincare routine and stay hydrated in the days leading up to your session.
Avoid trying aggressive new treatments, peels, or unfamiliar skincare products immediately beforehand, since they can cause redness, irritation, or unexpected changes in your skin.
On the day of your headshot, avoid applying lotion, body oil, or other products that leave a noticeable sheen on exposed skin immediately before being photographed. These products can reflect studio lighting and create unwanted highlights or shine on the face, neck, arms, or other visible areas.
If moisturizer is part of your normal routine, use a lightweight product and give it time to fully absorb before your session.
For Team & Office Headshots, minor temporary blemishes can generally be addressed during professional retouching.
For Express Headshots, keep in mind that the standard image is delivered without professional retouching, so skin preparation becomes even more important.
If you normally wear glasses, you should usually wear them in your headshot. But we can absolutely photograph you with and without so you can choose which you prefer.
Before your session:
If you wear transition lenses, avoid spending extended time outside immediately before your session.
Give the lenses time to return completely clear before being photographed.
If you’re participating in a Team & Office Headshot session and you own multiple pairs, you may bring another pair if you’d like an alternative look.
Jewelry is perfectly fine, but it should complement rather than dominate the headshot.
Before being photographed, check for:
Small details become surprisingly noticeable in professional photographs.
This one is especially important for Express Headshots.
If you’re attending a conference or trade show, you may be wearing a badge or lanyard.
Take it off before your headshot. (Don’t worry, we’ll remind you.)
Unless the event specifically requires it to remain visible, a conference lanyard usually becomes a distraction in a professional headshot.
Phones, keys, wallets, and other bulky items should also be removed from visible pockets whenever possible.
You do not need to completely change your normal routine.
A few simple things can help:
A little preparation the night before can prevent unnecessary stress the day of your session.
Eat normally and drink water.
There is no benefit to showing up hungry or uncomfortable.
Before stepping in front of the camera, take a quick look in the mirror and check:
For Express Headshots, this final check is especially important because there may be very limited time for corrections once you’re in front of the camera.
To help with last-minute touch-ups, we provide a lint roller, small mirror, and disposable hairbrush before you are photographed.
Whether you’re participating in a Team & Office Headshot session or stepping into an Express Headshot experience, show up looking the way you want to be professionally represented.
For Team & Office Headshots, we’ll have more time to guide you, refine your positioning, coach your expressions, and professionally retouch your selected image.
For Express Headshots, the experience moves much faster and the standard image is delivered without retouching, so your preparation becomes an even bigger part of the final result.
And one more thing: have fun with it.
Yes, headshots can feel stressful. Most people aren’t used to being in front of a professional camera, and that’s completely normal. At AJP, our goal is to make the experience feel relaxed, comfortable, and actually enjoyable.
When you’re comfortable, your expressions become more natural. And when your expressions are natural, your headshot feels more authentic.
That’s how we create professional results that still look like you.
You don’t need to become someone different for the camera.
