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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.

5 Tips for Preparing for a Business Headshotauthor headshotsauthor headshotsoutdoor headshotsstudio headshotscorporate professional headshots woman in grey suitprofessional headshotscorporate headshots man in red tie5 tips for preparing for a business headshotprofessional business headshot woman in black jacket5 tips for preparing for a business headshot

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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@taraflanneryphotography

Family photos with a 4-year-old? You just have to roll with it. 😂🤍

Little kids aren’t going to stand perfectly still, follow every direction, and smile on command—and I don’t expect them to!

I’d much rather meet them where they are. We’ll play, move around, be silly, take little breaks when we need them, and work toward those sweet moments in between.

That’s part of why I love family sessions so much. The goal isn’t perfectly behaved kids or a picture-perfect hour. It’s capturing your family as they are right now.

And yes, we’ll still get that beautiful everyone-looking-at-the-camera photo for the frame. 😉 But sometimes the personality-filled moments end up being the favorites.

🍂 I still have a few fall family portrait dates available! Head to the link in my bio to reserve your session.

15 0
Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 18085228853701691
Family photos with a 4-year-old? You just have to roll with it. 😂🤍 Little kids aren’t going to stand perfectly still, follow every direction, and smile on command—and I don’t expect them to! I’d much rather meet them where they are. We’ll play, move around, be silly, take little breaks when we need them, and work toward those sweet moments in between. That’s part of why I love family sessions so much. The goal isn’t perfectly behaved kids or a picture-perfect hour. It’s capturing your family as they are right now. And yes, we’ll still get that beautiful everyone-looking-at-the-camera photo for the frame. 😉 But sometimes the personality-filled moments end up being the favorites. 🍂 I still have a few fall family portrait dates available! Head to the link in my bio to reserve your session.

Honestly… a little bit of everything. 📸

From professional headshots and personal branding to senior portraits and family sessions, I love creating photos that help people and businesses tell their story.

And there’s plenty more I can help with, too—large team group composites, in-office headshots for teams with different schedules, acting and modeling headshots, office branding, and more.

Basically, if you need photos for yourself, your family, or your business, let’s talk about what you have in mind. I’ll help you figure out the best way to make it happen.

📸 Not sure where to start? Book a consultation with me through the link in my bio.

79 0
Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 18078523865357162
Honestly… a little bit of everything. 📸 From professional headshots and personal branding to senior portraits and family sessions, I love creating photos that help people and businesses tell their story. And there’s plenty more I can help with, too—large team group composites, in-office headshots for teams with different schedules, acting and modeling headshots, office branding, and more. Basically, if you need photos for yourself, your family, or your business, let’s talk about what you have in mind. I’ll help you figure out the best way to make it happen. 📸 Not sure where to start? Book a consultation with me through the link in my bio.

Money may not buy happiness, but having photos of your family to look back on years from now? That’s pretty priceless. 🤍

Fall family portrait season is here, and I have a few weekend dates still available (spots are filling fast!) 👇🏻

September 20
October 3, 10, & 17
November 7 & 15

If you’ve been meaning to update the family photos, document this season, or get those holiday card photos checked off your list, this is your sign to get on the calendar.

And once you book, I’ll make sure you’re not left wondering what to wear, where we’re going, what to bring, or what to expect. My Family Session Welcome Guide walks you through everything you need to know to feel prepared for your session. (linked in my bio)

📸 Ready to make some memories worth keeping? Grab your date through the link in my bio.

14 0
Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 17898708867599007
Money may not buy happiness, but having photos of your family to look back on years from now? That’s pretty priceless. 🤍 Fall family portrait season is here, and I have a few weekend dates still available (spots are filling fast!) 👇🏻 September 20 October 3, 10, & 17 November 7 & 15 If you’ve been meaning to update the family photos, document this season, or get those holiday card photos checked off your list, this is your sign to get on the calendar. And once you book, I’ll make sure you’re not left wondering what to wear, where we’re going, what to bring, or what to expect. My Family Session Welcome Guide walks you through everything you need to know to feel prepared for your session. (linked in my bio) 📸 Ready to make some memories worth keeping? Grab your date through the link in my bio.

I’m gonna let you in on my secret… 👀

These are the camera settings I use as my starting point when I’m shooting during golden hour:

☀️ APERTURE
For one person: f/2.8–f/3.2
For families or groups: f/5.6

A wider aperture gives you that beautiful separation and soft background when you’re photographing one person. With a group, I stop down to help keep everyone in focus.

☀️ SHUTTER SPEED
I start around 1/160 sec—but if I have kids running, a couple moving around, or anything else with more movement, I’ll increase my shutter speed to keep everything sharp.

☀️ ISO
ISO 400 is my starting point, and then I adjust up or down depending on how much light I have.

The biggest thing to remember? These aren’t magic numbers you have to use every time.

Golden hour changes quickly, and your settings should change with it. Use these as a starting point, watch your light, and adjust for the people and movement in front of your camera.

And if you’re building your photography kit and wondering what gear is actually worth investing in, I put together my Photographer’s Gear Guide with the cameras, lenses, lighting, and equipment I use in my own business.

Grab your free copy through the link in my bio! 📸

142 1
Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 17868705066644933
I’m gonna let you in on my secret… 👀 These are the camera settings I use as my starting point when I’m shooting during golden hour: ☀️ APERTURE For one person: f/2.8–f/3.2 For families or groups: f/5.6 A wider aperture gives you that beautiful separation and soft background when you’re photographing one person. With a group, I stop down to help keep everyone in focus. ☀️ SHUTTER SPEED I start around 1/160 sec—but if I have kids running, a couple moving around, or anything else with more movement, I’ll increase my shutter speed to keep everything sharp. ☀️ ISO ISO 400 is my starting point, and then I adjust up or down depending on how much light I have. The biggest thing to remember? These aren’t magic numbers you have to use every time. Golden hour changes quickly, and your settings should change with it. Use these as a starting point, watch your light, and adjust for the people and movement in front of your camera. And if you’re building your photography kit and wondering what gear is actually worth investing in, I put together my Photographer’s Gear Guide with the cameras, lenses, lighting, and equipment I use in my own business. Grab your free copy 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.