How to Prepare for Your Headshot Session | 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 professional headshot today!

How to Prepare for Your Headshot Session

Here are a few things to keep in mind when preparing for your upcoming headshot session.  These preparation steps are necessary and will ensure a smooth and successful session.

  1. Plan your wardrobe.  Start with what you normally wear to work.  Or if you’re hoping for the next step up in your career, dress for that next position.  “Dress for the job you want, not the one you have.”
  2. Bring multiple wardrobe options.  Please bring several options for wardrobe to your headshot session.  Perhaps a more formal look and a casual look.  Bring a solid dark jacket (black, grey, navy) and then also bring something with more color (solid blue or red, for example).
  3. Plan for hair and makeup.  Whether you do your own or my HMU artist does the hair and makeup, plan accordingly.  Start with what you wear on a daily basis and then add a touch more (especially lip color, cheek color, and powder for shine).
  4. Think about pose and expression.  It’s important to know what type of “look” you’d like to achieve with your headshot.  Depending on your occupation, you may want to appear confident and strong or friendly and outgoing.  Just think about that and have the conversation with your photographer.

Headshots for JoEllen, Sage Business Coaching and Consulting

JoEllen needed an updated headshot for her business website.  As an executive coach, JoEllen wanted to have a certain look for her headshots.  Since she works with many businesses and specifically C-level executives, she wanted to appear confident and competent.  Through pose and expression, we were able to give her that look.

Sage is “a Management Consulting firm helping organizations reach their maximum potential in growth, strategy, leadership and talent. We specialize in Mergers and Acquisitions, providing cultural integration planning and facilitation. We also offer business advisory services in the areas of Leadership Development, Team Effectiveness, Cultural Transformation, and Strategic Planning.”  Sage Business Coaching and Consulting

How to Prepare for Your Headshot SessionHow to Prepare for Your Headshot Session

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!

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@taraflanneryphotography

A small snapshot of the teams I’ve worked with recently 📸👇🏻

Headshots are one of those things that are easy to put off… until you realize your photos no longer reflect where you are now.

Outdated images, inconsistent team photos, or a mix of styles across platforms can quietly take away from how your brand is perceived.

A headshot refresh doesn’t have to be complicated—it just needs to be intentional.

If your team’s photos haven’t been updated in a while, this is a good time to take a look at what you’re currently using.

📩 If you’re ready for a headshot refresh, you can book a consultation through the link in my bio.
Some of my favorite senior photos always include something personal.

Instruments, sports gear, pets, cars—these are the details that make your photos feel like you.

Senior sessions aren’t just about getting a few good pictures—they’re about capturing this season in a way that feels real and meaningful.

And with senior year right around the corner, now is the time to start thinking about it.

Spots tend to fill up quickly once the school year gets going, so planning ahead makes all the difference.

If you’re ready to start planning your senior session, you can book a consultation through the link in my bio.
“Pick something you’d do for free…” It sounds simple—but building a career around it is anything but.

There’s a lot that goes into turning photography into something sustainable—learning your craft, understanding lighting, figuring out your gear, working with clients, and continuing to grow.

But if you’re willing to put in the time, it’s one of the most rewarding things you can do.

If you’re just getting started, I have a few free resources to help you figure out what actually matters (and what doesn’t).

🔗 You can grab them with the link in my bio.
At the end of the day, it’s not about the title—it’s about what the photos actually do for you.

For most teams, the hardest part isn’t getting the photos taken… it’s coordinating everything around it.

Schedules, availability, keeping the look consistent across everyone—it adds up quickly, and it’s usually why it gets pushed off.

That’s exactly why I created a Corporate Team Headshot Planner—to make the process simple, organized, and easy to execute from start to finish.

📥 If updating your team’s photos has been sitting on your to-do list, this will help you finally get it done—link in bio.
If headshot lighting feels confusing, I put together a guide with 3 simple setups that will get you consistent results—link in bio.

If your headshots feel a little “off”… it’s usually not your camera—it’s your lighting.

Here are 5 mistakes I see all the time:

1️⃣ Lighting from below 
  Creates unflattering shadows. Keep your light slightly above eye level.
 
2️⃣ Too much (or too harsh) light 
  Softer, controlled light will always look more professional.
 
3️⃣ No direction to your light 
  Flat lighting = flat images. You need some angle to create depth.
 
4️⃣ Mixing multiple light sources 
  This is how you end up with weird color and inconsistent tones.
 
5️⃣ Ignoring catchlights 
  Small detail, big impact—this is what brings life to your subject’s eyes.
 
Lighting doesn’t need to be complicated… it just needs to be intentional.

Curious—what’s been the hardest part about lighting for you?

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Serving the Greater Houston, Texas Area

tara@taraflannery.com

713-412-5437

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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.