5 Tips for Preparing for a Business Headshot | Houston Headshot Photographer

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

5 Tips for Preparing for a Business Headshot

There are a few things to consider when preparing for your business headshot session.  Here are a some tips to help you prepare!

  1. WARDROBE: Consider your industry and position.  Are you trying to get that next promotion?  If so, dress like the next level up.  Want to appear professional yet approachable?  Consider a jacket with no tie.  Own a small business?  Consider your brand colors and coordinate so that your look is cohesive.  Wardrobe is the single most important thing to consider for your headshot session.
  2. LOCATION: A headshot can take place in the studio, outdoors, or in your office.  Each has a very different look and feel.  The studio shot is a classic and can be matched with existing headshots for a company.  An environmental headshot gives the viewer a little more about you – the place where you work.  An outdoor headshot can be professional but open and flexible.
  3. HAIR AND MAKEUP: I highly recommend hair and makeup services for women (and sometimes for men).  My hair and makeup artists are skilled at applying makeup for studio lighting.  A professional HMU artist knows the difference between a nighttime glamour look and a business portrait look.  You’ll feel beautiful and confident knowing that hair and makeup is perfect!  Just show up to your session with a clean face and hair and your wardrobe.
  4. SKIN AND NAILS: Sometimes nails show up in a headshot portrait.  Be sure that they are manicured.  Ladies, if you have nail color, make sure it’s business-appropriate.  Men and women, be sure that skin is hydrated.
  5. RELAX: After all of this preparation and planning, it’s hard to relax for your headshot, but do!  Your professional photographer will guide you in wardrobe, posing, and expression to provide the very best you that you can be.  Take a deep breath and just be in the moment.  Your headshot will reflect the real you.

Talk to your photographer ahead of time and go over these details.  Then you’ll both have a great plan for your headshot session!

Recent Headshot Examples

From studio sessions to outdoor sessions and everything in between, we can help create your vision of your next headshot!  I can’t wait to see what we create next.

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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!

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But in all seriousness—photographers love a good piece of gear.

And it’s really easy to convince yourself that the next upgrade is what’s going to take your work to the next level.

Sometimes that’s true.

If a piece of equipment makes your workflow smoother, more efficient, or solves a real problem for you—it’s worth every penny.

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The goal isn’t to have more gear—it’s to have the right gear for how you actually shoot.

🔗 If you’re trying to figure out what’s actually worth investing in, I put together a Photographer Gear Guide that breaks it all down—link in bio.

🤔 Curious… what’s one piece of equipment you’ve bought that was 100% worth it?
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.

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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.

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🔗 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.

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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.