Business Headshots

Actor/Model Headshots

Family Portraits

Senior Portraits

Book a free
consultation

HOMEtake me home

all the latestBLOG

get to know meABOUT

get in touchContact

1:1 MentoringPHOTOGRAPHERS

August 21, 2020

How to Take a Professional Headshot | Houston Headshot Photographer

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

How to Take a Professional Headshot

The professional headshot may be your first introduction to clients, employers, and patients. It’s important to make a great first impression! Here are a few things to keep in mind when preparing for your headshot session.

Hair and makeup (HMU): please consider HMU services. A professional HMU artist knows just the right amount of makeup and color to apply for studio and outdoor headshots. She will make you look your very best, well-rested self! And it can be completely natural-looking. She is just enhancing what’s there rather than creating something new that you’ve never seen before. A good HMU artist knows the difference between wedding makeup and headshot makeup.
Hydrate and rest: the night before your headshot session, be sure to hydrate and rest. This will make you look and feel refreshed and it will show in the photos!
Wardrobe: plan ahead for what you’ll wear to the session. This might be the most important item on your list! Depending on your job and your industry, wardrobe makes a difference. Choose according to the job you have and the job that you’d like to have!
Bring your HAPPY! I love a good “toothy” smile for headshots. Sometimes it feels like you’re overdoing the smile but in reality, it just looks like a nice friendly smile. I’m okay when folks don’t want to show teeth but then you really have to smile with your eyes. We want to new clients, patients, and employers for you so I want you to look friendly and warm.

Headshot Examples

Here are a few recent examples of headshot sessions. Again, depending on your job and industry, your wardrobe, background, and posing can be adjusted to suit you.

HMU: Linna Rowell

woman in grey suit headshot woman in red headshot men's professional headshots woman in blue headshot

how to take a professional headshot outdoors

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

- INSTAGRAM -

@taraflanneryphotography

Hi, I’m Tara! 👋🏼 And if you’re new here, consider this my official re-introduction.

I’m a North Houston photographer specializing in professional headshots, branding photography, senior portraits, and family photography.

But no matter what brings you in front of my camera, my goal is pretty much the same: make the whole experience feel easier than you expected.

You don’t need to know how to pose. You don’t need to know which location will photograph best. And you definitely don’t need to walk in feeling completely comfortable in front of a camera.

That’s what I’m here for.

I’ll help you plan, guide you through the session, pay attention to all those tiny details you probably wouldn’t notice, and create photos that still feel like you.

Swipe through to see a few of the ways we can work together. →

Whether you’re building a brand, updating your team’s headshots, celebrating senior year, or documenting your family exactly as they are right now, I’d love to have you in front of my camera.

📩 Ready to work together? Visit the link in my bio to inquire and start planning your session.

12 0

Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 18010172333955988

🎓 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!

2 0

Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 18127290313793441

🎓 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!

53 3

Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 18124994476793619

🤝🏼 Meet Stacie Coleman!

Stacie is a familiar face here in The Woodlands and works with Project Beacon, a local nonprofit providing resources and support for adults with autism. 🤍

For her recent headshot session, we made sure to capture the classics—a polished, traditional gray background that can work just about anywhere.

But we didn’t stop there. 💗💙

We also brought in pink and blue backgrounds for a few images that feel brighter, more playful, and full of personality.

Because professional headshots do not have to be boring.

Your headshot should make sense for your role and where you plan to use it, but it should also feel like you. Your background, wardrobe, expression, and overall style can all work together to complement your personality and your organization’s brand aesthetic.

I love the variety we created for Stacie—and I especially love that she now has options depending on where and how she wants to show up.

Thank you for trusting me with your headshots, Stacie! It was such a pleasure having you in front of my camera. 📸

Ready for a headshot that feels a little more like you? Head to the link in my bio to start planning your session.

17 1

Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 18477554626104634

Your business doesn’t need to be “more established” first.

You don’t need to lose the weight, finish the website, perfect your wardrobe, or wait until you feel 100% ready.

If your current photos no longer reflect the level of business you’re building, that’s reason enough to update them.

A branding session gives you more than a new headshot—it gives you a library of intentional, on-brand images you can actually use across your website, social media, marketing, speaking opportunities, and everything in between.

We’ll plan the looks, the location, the shots you need, and how you’ll use them.

You just have to finally put it on the calendar. 😉

📸 Ready for a refresh? Book your consultation with the link in my bio!

8 0

Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 18124473211701850

The #1 thing I hear from seniors? “I don’t know how to pose.” 👇🏻

Good news: you don’t need to. That’s my job. 🤍

You don’t have to practice poses in the mirror or spend hours saving inspiration on Pinterest before your session. I’ll guide you through where to put your hands, how to shift your weight, when to move, where to look—all of it.

We’ll mix the classic poses with sitting, walking, twirling, laughing, and plenty of movement so your final gallery has variety without feeling forced.

Save this Senior Girl Posing Guide for a little inspiration, but remember: the best poses are the ones that still feel like you.

🎓 Class of 2027: Senior season is here! If you’re ready to start planning your session, head to the link in my bio to book a consultation.

13 0

Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 18072923519401657

The #1 thing I hear from seniors? “I don’t know how to pose.” 👇🏻

Good news: you don’t need to. That’s my job. 🤍

You don’t have to practice poses in the mirror or spend hours saving inspiration on Pinterest before your session. I’ll guide you through where to put your hands, how to shift your weight, when to move, where to look—all of it.

We’ll mix the classic poses with sitting, walking, twirling, laughing, and plenty of movement so your final gallery has variety without feeling forced.

Save this Senior Girl Posing Guide for a little inspiration, but remember: the best poses are the ones that still feel like you.

🎓 Class of 2027: Senior season is here! If you’re ready to start planning your session, head to the link in my bio to book a consultation.

Follow on Instagram

- STAY IN TOUCH -

Serving the Greater Houston, Texas Area

tara@taraflannery.com

713-412-5437

PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS OF USE

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.