Getting headshots can be AWKWARD! Whether it’s your first time in front of the camera or your 100th, there’s always a little bit of weirdness our bodies experience when walking into a photo studio, not entirely sure what to expect. So many elements add to these feelings. Maybe it’s your first time working with a new photographer. Maybe it’s your first time working with ANY photographer. Maybe your morning was off, maybe your week, maybe (and this has certainly been my experience at times) your whole YEAR has been off and now you have to shine and dazzle in front of a camera! Sounds pretty stressful right? Well, as a professional photographer, I’ll tell you; it is! It’s weird! Performing to an invisible audience with no scene partner is not normal. It’s not what actors are trained to do and it’s certainly not in any business professional’s regular skill set either. The awkwardness we experience at the start of a shoot is our bodies recognizing the artificiality in the nature of headshots. It’s a forced interaction. As actors, we often feel that this weirdness is a result of something we are doing incorrectly. That’s where we’re wrong! Awkwardness is normal, expected, and treatable with a slight attitude shift and some fun tools from my photographer’s tool belt!

Headshots are WEIRD

The first thing I like to acknowledge at the start of every headshot session is that the work we are about to do is not a normal human interaction! Naturally, it’s going to feel strange. Headshots are a marketing tool that each industry demands of us - amazingly cool and useful as they are. Whether you’re an actor with on-camera experience or a business owner looking for a new LinkedIn shot, the element that is missing from this type of work is authentic human connection. You have to make eye contact with a cold, round hunk of glass and metal that has no eyes and deliver warmth or confidence. I like to lead with this observation so that every client knows that they are not alone in feeling any awkwardness. It just means they’re human!

I am the one who is working

The next reassurance I like to make when a client seems anxious about the task ahead of us is that I am the one who is working. Headshot photography is a service I am being paid for, and while there is some homework on the client’s side to help me understand their branding goals, their job during the shoot is to relax and be themselves. Something I observe especially in younger actors is this pressure to BE GOOD. To perform perfectly or make the right faces. My biggest advice is to leave that pressure to me! I can handle it! I often say that the primary skill in headshot photography is not using a camera but it is in fact communication and direction. It’s my job to coach each client through the session to achieve the stories we want to capture. All the client is responsible for is a positive attitude and a willingness to play! I often have clients surprised at how fun the work is once they are out of their own heads!

Never shoot in silence

At the start of every photo shoot, I ask my clients what their go-to music is at the moment. Some come with prepared playlists (which I love!) Just by eliminating silence from the scenario, the awkwardness melts away tenfold. I’m a chatty guy, but when I am focused on capturing just the right moment, I don’t want us to sit in silence where our minds can wander to concerns and insecurities.

Give it time

I like to start all headshots the exact same way - with a super secret scenario that is something that every human can relate to. It asks nothing from the client and is a great way for me to test their base level of comfort. Some veterans jump right into what I call “performance mode” and others seem to appreciate the simplicity. Regardless, starting from square one helps us build rapport. After 15-20 minutes, I always see tension melt away as we both understand what this work feels like. By the end of each session, I’ve seen business professionals with no acting experience responding actively and interestingly to complex scenarios and coaching notes.

Communication is KEY

Most importantly, an open line of dialogue is the most direct way to work through the awkwardness of being on camera. I care very deeply about the experience each client is having. I regularly check in to see if they are feeling comfortable, represented, and confident in the work we’re getting. I personally like to show highlights as we work. I’ll often say, “You could leave right now and still have a headshot that’s going to work for you.” Once that realization sinks in, the pressure disappears and the work only gets more relaxed and more compelling from there! If you are ever feeling anxious because of something your photographer is doing, or not doing, don’t be afraid to speak up! Either they will explain their process in a way that reassures you, or they will appreciate the clarification and redirect in a way that will make you feel more comfortable and represented by the work. My clients’ comfort will always come first - even if it contradicts my own artistic vision.

At the end of the day, a headshot session is a lot more than what you make of it! Of course there is a lot of preparation that you can personally do to understand your branding and what your specific goals are for our time together. But it’s important to remember that when you’re working with a professional photographer, they are a professional! It’s their job to drive the session and coach through the looks - based on any branding information you’ve provided them. As long as you remember that headshots are inherently a silly little thing to do, it deflates some of the high pressure and seriousness from the situation. Take the pressure off yourself and place it on me! I can handle it. This is why I always recommend speaking with your photographers beforehand. If they offer free consultations like I do, it’s an excellent opportunity to break the ice and set expectations for when you arrive at the studio.