5 Business Headshot Mistakes to Avoid | Houston Headshot Photographer

Tara Flannery is a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP)  and Craftsman based in Houston, TX.  Tara Flannery Photography specializes in corporate headshots and can give you 5 business headshot mistakes to avoid.  See more headshots in the gallery.  Contact me to book your professional headshot today!

5 Business Headshot Mistakes to Avoid

Visuals are an integral part of making a lasting first impression online. When potential clients, business partners, or employers want to put a face to your resume, what would they see?

A professional headshot session is a sound business investment for a number of reasons, but only if you use it to your advantage.

Here are the mistakes you should avoid.

  1. Taking the Photo Yourself

You could try and place your phone on a stand and take a few headshots yourself, but chances are, they won’t look as professional as you’re hoping. Investing in a professional headshot session is convenient and well worth the cost if you’re serious about building your brand.

  1. Selecting the Wrong Outfit

What you wear to your session can have an impact on the end result. It’s important to choose an outfit that matches your personality and that you would wear on a day-to-day basis. This is not the time to try a completely new look unless you’re rebranding. It’s also better to choose more than one outfit just in case.

  1. Not Practicing Your Facial Expressions

The last thing you want is to receive your headshot photos only to realize you have a forced smile that makes you look fake. It helps to practice your smile and facial expressions prior to your session to ensure the best results.

  1. Using the Wrong Background

The background of your headshots can be anything you want, but it’s better to not choose something outdated or distracting – all the focus should be on you. The background can be interesting and help tell your story but should never detract from the main subject of the photo.

  1. Following Trends

Ideally, your headshots should last at least 2 years, meaning, they will be relevant for at least 2 years. This won’t be the case if you jump on board with a trend that will be irrelevant and unrelatable in 6 months.

Now that you know what to avoid, you can start your search for a headshot photographer who knows how to showcase you professionally online.

Branding Session

I had a fantastic branding session with Heightened Leaders!  Megan and Caylee brought several outfits each, props, and positive vibes – they were ready to go!  I’m so thrilled with the variety of looks and images that we were able to capture in just a short time in The Creative Photographer studio.  I’ll definitely be booking there again.

5 Headshot Mistakes to Avoidheadshots and branding Houstonbranding session Houston5 Headshot Mistakes to AvoidProfessional Headshots and Branding HoustonHouston Headshots and Branding for Small Businesses

Tara Flannery is a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP)  and Craftsman based in Houston, TX.  Tara Flannery Photography specializes in corporate headshots.  See more headshots in the gallery.  Contact me to book your professional headshot today!

- INSTAGRAM -

@taraflanneryphotography

If your kids are still living under your roof, take the photos. 🤍

You hear people say you only get 18 summers with your kids, and now that mine are grown, I understand just how quickly those years really go. Once college, work, relationships, and their own schedules enter the picture, getting everyone together at the same time gets a whole lot harder.

So don’t wait for the “perfect” year for family portraits. Document the family you have right now—the missing teeth, growth spurts, changing personalities, and even the little bit of chaos that comes with it.

Because one day, getting everyone in the same place for a family photo might be the hardest part.

🍂 Fall Family Portrait Weekend Availability:

September 20
October 3, 10, & 17
November 7 & 15

If family portraits have been on your list, grab one of my remaining fall dates before they’re gone.

📸 Book your session through the link in my bio.
Fall family portrait season is officially here! 🍂

I keep a limited number of weekend dates open specifically for family sessions each fall—and once they’re booked, they’re booked!

Whether you’re thinking ahead to holiday cards, finally updating the family photos on your walls, or simply wanting to document this season before the kids grow another inch, now is the time to get your session on the calendar.

My current weekend availability is listed above. Save your date before someone else grabs it! 🤍

📸 Ready to book? Head to the link in my bio to get started.
It's time to start planning Fall Family Photos! LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE 👇🏻

Fall is always one of my busiest seasons for family portraits, and those weekend dates tend to disappear quickly—so if family photos are on your list this year, now is the time to get them on the calendar.

CURRENT WEEKEND AVAILABILITY:
📅 September 20th
📅 October 3rd
📅 October 17th
📅 October 24th
📅 November 7th
📅 November 15th

Whether you’re updating the family photos on your walls, planning ahead for holiday cards, or simply realizing it’s been way too long since everyone was in the same photo… I’d love to document this season for you. 🤍

And remember—the kids aren’t going to look exactly like this next year. Don’t wait for the “perfect” time.

📸 Ready to claim your fall date? Book your family portrait session through the link in my bio. Once these weekends are gone, fall availability will be very limited!
🎓 Planning senior photos? Start with my Senior Session Guide!

I put it together to help you plan your session—from what to wear and what to bring to all the little details that make your photos feel like you. Grab it through the link in my bio!

And one thing I always encourage seniors to think about? Don’t document just one moment of senior year.

So much changes between the beginning of the school year and graduation.

Fall is about who you are right now—your personality, interests, style, sports, hobbies, and everything that made these last four years yours.

By spring, the focus starts shifting toward what’s next—college decisions, future plans, and all the excitement that comes with finishing senior year.

And then comes the cap and gown. 🎓 The final milestone before one chapter officially closes and another begins.

Senior year goes FAST. Take the photos. 🤍

📸 Class of 2027: Grab my Senior Session Guide through the link in my bio and start planning your senior photos!
Great headshot lighting doesn’t need to be complicated—it needs to be intentional. 📸

Where you place your light, how you position your reflector, and understanding what each one is actually doing can be the difference between a headshot that feels fine and one that looks clean, crisp, and polished.

And once you find setups that work? You don’t need to reinvent the wheel at every session.

That consistency is especially important when you’re photographing corporate teams and need every headshot to look cohesive—even when people are photographed at different times.

If you’re a photographer working on your headshot lighting, I put together a FREE guide with 3 Lighting Setups for Flawless Headshots that you can reference when planning your next session.

💡 Grab the guide through the link in my bio and save this reel for the next time you’re setting up your lights!

- STAY IN TOUCH -

Serving the Greater Houston, Texas Area

tara@taraflannery.com

713-412-5437

Facebook logo
Instagram logo
Pinterest logo
Linked In logo

FloDesk FREE STYLE GUIDE

Tara is a member of the Professional Photographers of America PPA.
Tara is a Certified Professional Photographer.
Tara is a member of TPPA Texas Professional Photographer's Association.
Tara has earned her Master of Photography degree.
Tara has earned her Photographic Craftsman certification.
Tara is a member of the Professional Photographers Guild of Houston PPGH.