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March 5, 2019

The Perfect Headshot | Houston Headshot Photographer

The Perfect Headshot

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!

Searching for that Perfect Headshot?

Let me first say that there’s probably no such thing as the perfect headshot. Everyone has a role or function in their company and everyone is different. Therefore, no one headshot is perfect for everyone! However, there are a few things to keep in mind when planning for YOUR perfect headshot.

Hire a professional photographer who specializes in headshots. Yes, lots of photographers provide headshots. But if you choose the cheapest photographer in your area, the results may be less than perfect. Visit the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) website to learn about what makes a certified professional photographer and find one in your area. Visit the photographer’s website and review their headshot work.
Be prepared for your headshot session. Plan your wardrobe and make sure that it’s clean and pressed and that it fits! Bring a couple of options for wardrobe. Hair and makeup for ladies should be appropriate for your position. Get some rest the night before your session so you look fresh and friendly!
Communicate with your photographer. Tell your photographer anything that you can about the headshot. What do you need it for (press publication, website, LinkedIn, company profile, etc.)? Does it need to match or be similar to other company headshots? Have you had a headshot in the past? When was that and how did it go?

With a little planning before your headshot session, you can get YOUR perfect headshot.

Headshots for Capstone Family Practice

I have photographed the doctors and staff for Capstone Family Practice. A new member joined the team and she came to the studio for her headshot. We knew exactly which background and layout to use since we were matching the other headshots in the office. Leah’s headshot is a great example of her perfect headshot. It’s relaxed and comfortable and friendly, just like her! We printed her headshot as well so that her headshot can join the others hanging in the office. Well done, Leah and Capstone Family Practice!

The Perfect Headshot

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

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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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?

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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 want the full breakdown of what’s actually worth investing in (and what’s not).

If I was starting photography all over again, I wouldn’t buy everything.

I’d buy intentionally.

It’s easy to feel like you need all the gear to be “legit”… but most of the time, it just leads to spending money on things you don’t fully understand yet.

A solid camera, a really strong lens, and a reliable lighting setup will take you a lot further than a full bag of random equipment.

The goal isn’t to have more—it’s to have what you actually know how to use.

Start simple. Learn your gear. Build from there.

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

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My Photographer Gear Guide is linked in my bio if you want the full breakdown of what’s actually worth investing in (and what’s not).

If I was starting photography all over again, I wouldn’t buy everything.

I’d buy intentionally.

It’s easy to feel like you need all the gear to be “legit”… but most of the time, it just leads to spending money on things you don’t fully understand yet.

A solid camera, a really strong lens, and a reliable lighting setup will take you a lot further than a full bag of random equipment.

The goal isn’t to have more—it’s to have what you actually know how to use.

Start simple. Learn your gear. Build from there.

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

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?

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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?

One of my favorite things about this session 👇🏻

Every single person showed up in outfits that coordinated with their brand colors—without overdoing it.

Nothing felt forced. Nothing felt too “on brand.” It just worked.

And that’s the difference.

When you’re in a business like coaching, your brand isn’t separate from you… it IS you.

So the way you show up—your colors, your styling, your overall presence—matters more than you think.

When everything feels aligned, the end result is naturally more polished, more cohesive, and honestly… just better.

Not because it’s perfect—but because it feels intentional.

If you’re planning a branding session, start with clarity first—

🌟 What do you want your brand to feel like?

🌟 How do you want to show up?

That’s exactly why I created my Brand Personality Workbook—to help you define that before you ever step in front of the camera.

📥 Grab it through the link in my bio. And while you’re there, go ahead and schedule a FREE consultation with me for a branding session!

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‼️ 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.

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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.