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Professional Headshot Tips | 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 and can help with professional headshot tips.  See more headshots in the gallery.  Contact me to book your professional headshot today!

Professional Headshot Tips

You need a professional headshot in business today.  Period.  The headshot is the first introduction to your potential clients, customers, and business partners.  It needs to be current, clean, and professional!  We want to make a fantastic first impression.  Here are a few tips to make the most of your headshot session!

  1. Hire a professional for Hair and Makeup: this is controversial subject for many women.  And I’m not saying that you can’t do your own hair and make up and have a fabulous headshot, you certainly can.  But a professional hair and makeup artist will have the tools and products available to reduce shine, create that WOW factor with the eyes, and apply the right amount of makeup appropriate for the studio lighting.  The lighting requires a bit more than you might normally apply.
  2. Hire a professional headshot photographer: yes, this is me!  But it makes a huge difference when you work with a professional who is an expert in headshots.  Not just any photographer has the tools, equipment, posing, and lighting for a headshot.  Just a slight turn of the chin one direction or the other can make or break your headshot!
  3. Wardrobe: discuss your wardrobe with your photographer before the session.  Your role in the company and the product or service you provide will likely dictate the style and formality of your wardrobe.  Even the tone (light, medium, or dark) will have an affect on the type and style of your headshot.  Discuss this with your photographer so that you’re on the same page from the beginning.

Headshots for Michelle

Michelle needed a new headshot for business purposes.  She asked for professional hair and makeup which we did before the session.  She’s got a natural business look with no shine and gorgeous eyes!  The neutral lip color is perfect as well.  We started the headshot session immediately following hair and makeup.  Michelle had a couple of options for jackets and shirts.  She decided on the smart white crisp collar of the second shirt with the grey jacket.  It all blends beautifully and looks professional.  We had a great session and I love her brand new headshot!

HMUA: Roxana Phillips

Professional Headshot Tips

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

I put together a Guide to Photography Gear for those of you who need some help deciding what is actually worth investing in (and what`s not). The link is in my bio!

Lighting is one of those things that feels complicated when you’re starting out… but it doesn’t have to be.

At the end of the day—light is light.

You don’t need the most expensive setup to get good results. What matters more is having something reliable that you understand how to use.

Especially if you’re shooting outside… the last thing you want is a $2,000 light going down in the wind.

Start simple.
Focus on gear you can trust.
And build from there.

Curious—what lighting setup are you using right now?

39 1
Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 18124927108663241
I put together a Guide to Photography Gear for those of you who need some help deciding what is actually worth investing in (and what's not). The link is in my bio! Lighting is one of those things that feels complicated when you’re starting out… but it doesn’t have to be. At the end of the day—light is light. You don’t need the most expensive setup to get good results. What matters more is having something reliable that you understand how to use. Especially if you’re shooting outside… the last thing you want is a $2,000 light going down in the wind. Start simple. Focus on gear you can trust. And build from there. Curious—what lighting setup are you using right now?

My Photographer Gear Guide is linked in my bio if you’re trying to figure out what’s actually worth investing in when you’re first starting out.

Because the truth is—you don’t need everything right away.

When you’re new, it’s easy to feel like you need all the gear… but really, it comes down to a few key pieces.

A solid camera body and a really good lens will take you further than a full bag of equipment you don’t know how to use yet.

If you’re deciding where to spend your money, start there.

A 24–70mm or 70–200mm lens will cover more than you think—and give you the flexibility to shoot a wide range of sessions without overcomplicating things.

Curious—what was the first piece of gear you invested in?

44 3
Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 17980146186029923
My Photographer Gear Guide is linked in my bio if you’re trying to figure out what’s actually worth investing in when you’re first starting out. Because the truth is—you don’t need everything right away. When you’re new, it’s easy to feel like you need all the gear… but really, it comes down to a few key pieces. A solid camera body and a really good lens will take you further than a full bag of equipment you don’t know how to use yet. If you’re deciding where to spend your money, start there. A 24–70mm or 70–200mm lens will cover more than you think—and give you the flexibility to shoot a wide range of sessions without overcomplicating things. Curious—what was the first piece of gear you invested in?

‼️ No clients (or videographers) were harmed in the making of this video 🤣

(For the record—this is very much a joke.)

But if you are a photographer, you know the real challenge isn’t getting someone in front of the camera… it’s knowing how to guide them once they’re there.

Small adjustments = big difference in how confident and natural someone looks.

And having a go-to posing flow makes everything feel easier—for you and your client. (so you don`t resort to violence 😉)

➡️ I put together a Headshot Posing Flow Cheat Sheet to help with exactly that—link in bio.

75 6
Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 18024278915832548
‼️ No clients (or videographers) were harmed in the making of this video 🤣 (For the record—this is very much a joke.) But if you are a photographer, you know the real challenge isn’t getting someone in front of the camera… it’s knowing how to guide them once they’re there. Small adjustments = big difference in how confident and natural someone looks. And having a go-to posing flow makes everything feel easier—for you and your client. (so you don't resort to violence 😉) ➡️ I put together a Headshot Posing Flow Cheat Sheet to help with exactly that—link in bio.

A quick look at the people and brands I had the chance to photograph this month 👇🏻

Grateful for every person and team that trusted me to capture this season of their business.

Each session is different, but the goal is always the same—to create images that actually represent you well and support where you’re going next.

If you’ve been thinking about updating your headshot or branding photos, now is a great time to get it scheduled before things get busy later in the year.

📩 You can book your session through the link in my bio.

16 0
Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 18352866307243731
A quick look at the people and brands I had the chance to photograph this month 👇🏻 Grateful for every person and team that trusted me to capture this season of their business. Each session is different, but the goal is always the same—to create images that actually represent you well and support where you’re going next. If you’ve been thinking about updating your headshot or branding photos, now is a great time to get it scheduled before things get busy later in the year. 📩 You can book your session through the link in my bio.

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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.