If you are thinking about getting new professional headshots but keep putting it off, you are in very good company.

The concerns I hear most often from women have very little to do with photography itself:

I need to lose weight first.

I’m awkward in photos.

I have no idea what to wear.

The last headshots I had taken were terrible.

And almost everybody tells me some version of, “I hate having my picture taken.”

After photographing women professionally for more than 15 years, I’ve learned that getting a great headshot has much less to do with being naturally photogenic than most people think. Lighting, posing, expression, wardrobe and, most importantly, getting comfortable enough to stop thinking about how you look all make an enormous difference.

Here’s what I think women should know before booking professional headshots.

Professional headshots don’t have to look like yearbook photos anymore

When people hear “professional headshot,” they often picture the traditional version: head and shoulders, plain background, smile at the camera.

There is still a place for that photograph. If your company needs a clean image for a staff directory, it may be exactly what you need.

But professional headshots have changed.

You don’t necessarily need a photograph that is literally just your head anymore. You need images that help clients, colleagues and other professionals get a sense of who you are.

That can mean a traditional close-up, but it can also mean a three-quarter or full-body portrait, sitting on a sofa, standing in a modern office setting, laughing, working at a laptop or simply looking more relaxed and approachable.

At our Barrington studio, we use both traditional backdrops and lifestyle sets so we can create variety even during a short headshot session.

I used to think headshots were boring because I thought they were all basically the same. I’ve completely changed my mind about that.

Now I see a great headshot as a little window into someone’s personality. And when a woman has photographs of herself that she actually feels good about, it becomes a lot easier to put herself out there, elevate her professional presence and pursue the next opportunity in her career or business.

What makes a good professional headshot for a woman?

When I’m photographing someone, I’m looking for expression more than perfection.

There is usually a point during a session when a client relaxes. She stops worrying quite so much about what her arms are doing, whether her smile looks weird or how her stomach looks.

That’s when her actual personality starts showing up.

My job is to help get her there.

We will absolutely talk about posing. I’ll tell you exactly what to do with your hands, where to put your weight, how to position your chin and where to look.

But I also want to get your attention off your appearance.

Sometimes I’ll ask you to imagine your favorite client, your best friend or a time when you felt incredibly confident. What you’re thinking about changes your expression, and the camera sees it.

That’s the photograph I’m looking for.

What if I’m not photogenic?

Almost everybody tells me she isn’t photogenic.

Fortunately, being “photogenic” isn’t a prerequisite for having good photographs taken.

A lot of what people interpret as being photogenic comes down to things a professional photographer can control: lighting, camera angle, lens choice, posing and expression.

Posing makes a particularly big difference. Small changes can define a jawline, minimize a double chin, flatter your arms or de-emphasize an area around your stomach that you’re self-conscious about.

You shouldn’t have to know how to do any of that before you arrive. That’s my job.

The other part is getting you out of your own head. We talk. We move. I give you direction. And eventually I want you thinking less about what you look like and more about the person you are trying to connect with.

How I photograph and retouch women over 40

Photographing women as they get older requires some thoughtfulness about lighting.

I generally use softer, gentler light on older faces. Soft light can fill in wrinkles and minimize blemishes rather than emphasizing every line and bit of texture.

Retouching matters too.

My goal isn’t to make a 55-year-old woman look 25. I want you to look like yourself on a very good day.

One of my general rules for retouching is this: if changing the lighting could have made a line disappear, I’m comfortable softening or removing it in retouching.

Studio lighting can sometimes exaggerate lines and creases that aren’t nearly as noticeable when someone is standing in normal daylight. I’ll soften those, retouch necks and take care of some of the little things we tend to be self-conscious about while still keeping skin looking like skin.

For women who want something beyond professional images, our 40 Over 40 experience is a more extensive portrait experience specifically created around photographing women at this stage of life.

What should a woman wear for professional headshots?

There are plenty of headshot wardrobe rules on the internet.

I don’t take most of them too seriously.

Yes, solid colors photograph beautifully. Black and white work well. I love interesting textures, fitted or structured pieces and often recommend sleeves.

But rules are made to be broken.

The most important thing you can bring is something that makes you feel fantastic.

If you have a patterned sleeveless dress that makes you stand differently the second you put it on, I’d much rather photograph you in that than put you in a solid-colored blazer you don’t feel like yourself in.

Confidence photographs well.

Bring two or three options to your session and we can decide together. Our Barrington studio has a changing room and clothing rack, so changing looks during the session is easy.

Is professional hair and makeup worth it for headshots?

I think it makes a huge difference, which is why professional hair and makeup is included with our headshot sessions.

Part of the benefit is obviously how you photograph. Our hair and makeup artists specialize in professional camera-ready makeup that can look surprisingly close to “no makeup” while still evening skin, defining features and helping you look polished on camera.

But there is another reason I include it: you don’t have to think about it.

You don’t have to wake up wondering whether you did your makeup correctly for photography. You don’t have to find and book a makeup artist. You don’t have to drive from one appointment to another.

You show up.

Our team takes care of you, and by the time you step in front of my camera, you’ve already had some time to settle in and relax.

What happens during a professional headshot session?

Our Modern Headshot Event is designed for someone who needs a small number of excellent, versatile professional images without doing a full branding session.

You’ll arrive at our Barrington, Illinois studio and start with professional hair and makeup. Then we’ll photograph you for approximately 30 minutes.

We’ll typically create two or three different looks and use a combination of backgrounds and lifestyle areas depending on what you need.

I’ll direct your posing and expression throughout the entire shoot. You do not need to arrive knowing what to do in front of the camera.

Afterward, you’ll select your favorite images. The entire visit is approximately two hours.

How many professional headshots do I actually need?

This is where I think it’s important to distinguish between headshot photography and branding photography.

If you need two to five images for LinkedIn, a company bio, speaking engagements or a few professional profiles, a headshot session may be all you need.

If you’re building a business where clients are choosing partly because they connect with you, two photographs usually aren’t enough.

Your website may need a horizontal hero image. Your About page needs something else. LinkedIn needs a profile photo. An article may need a vertical portrait. Social media needs variety. A speaking engagement needs a bio photo.

And increasingly, we’re simply using photographs in more places.

That’s why modern branding photography has moved toward more lifestyle, personality and storytelling images rather than creating 30 variations of the same headshot.

Our Brand Foundation and Signature Brand Session are designed around creating that larger library and planning the photographs around where you’ll actually use them.

If your business is brand new and the budget isn’t there yet, though, don’t feel like you have to start with a full branding session. A great headshot session can be an excellent starting point. Get a few strong photographs now, start building the business, and create the larger library when the money is flowing.

How much do professional headshots for women cost in the Chicago area?

Professional headshot pricing varies considerably depending on the photographer, session length, number of finished images, retouching and whether services like hair and makeup are included.

At Ann & Kam Photography in Barrington, Illinois, our Modern Headshot Event is $490 and includes professional hair and makeup, a 30-minute photography session, full posing and expression direction and two professionally retouched images.

Additional photographs can be purchased if you decide you’d like more.

For clients who need a larger collection of business and personal branding photography, our Brand Foundation is $2,900 and our Signature Brand Session is $4,000.

Do you need a headshot or a branding session?

Here’s the simplest way I think about it:

If you need a few great photographs of yourself, book a headshot session.

If you’re building a business where you are part of what people are buying, you’re probably going to need more than a headshot.

Either way, you don’t need to lose ten pounds first. You don’t need to learn how to pose. You don’t need to suddenly become comfortable in front of a camera.

You just need a photographer who knows what to do with you once you get there.

Our Modern Headshot Events take place on select dates at our Barrington studio. You can learn more about the Modern Headshot Event or contact us to talk about which type of session makes the most sense for you.

What should I look for when choosing a headshot photographer?

Start by looking beyond the photographer’s best five images.

Look through full galleries or several different clients and pay attention to whether people look comfortable and like themselves. Do you see different ages, body types and personalities photographed well, or does everyone get essentially the same pose and expression?

I would also look at the photographer’s approach to direction. Most of the people I photograph are not models, and they shouldn’t have to know how to pose themselves. Ask whether your photographer will direct your body position, hands and expression rather than simply putting you in front of a backdrop and asking you to smile.

Retouching is another important question, especially if you’ve seen headshots where the person barely looks like herself. Ask what is included and how much retouching the photographer normally does. I want my clients to look polished, but I still want their friends and clients to recognize them.

Think about the kinds of images you actually need, too. If all you need is one traditional corporate headshot, find someone who does that really well. If you want images with more personality or variety, look for a photographer whose portfolio includes different crops, full-body images, natural expressions and lifestyle settings in addition to traditional headshots.

Finally, pay attention to how you feel about the photographer. Being photographed is a surprisingly personal experience. If you’re already worried about your weight, feeling awkward or not knowing what to do, working with someone you trust and feel comfortable with can make as much difference as the camera and lighting.

A good headshot photographer shouldn’t just know how to operate a camera. They should know how to help you feel comfortable enough that you actually look like yourself in front of it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do professional headshots for women cost?

At Ann & Kam Photography in Barrington, Illinois, the Modern Headshot Event is $490. It includes professional hair and makeup, a 30-minute photography session, posing and expression coaching and two professionally retouched images.

What should a woman wear for professional headshots?

Wear something that makes you feel confident and feels appropriate for your profession or brand. Solid colors, black and white, interesting textures and structured pieces photograph well, but there is no rule that says you can’t wear patterns or sleeveless clothing. Bring two or three options and we can choose together.

Should I get professional hair and makeup for headshots?

Professional hair and makeup can help features translate better on camera and creates a polished look without necessarily looking heavily made up. At Ann & Kam Photography, professional hair and makeup is included with headshot sessions so clients don’t have to arrange it separately.

What if I’m awkward or hate having my picture taken?

That’s extremely common. You don’t need to know how to pose before a professional headshot session. I direct body position, hands, chin and expression throughout the shoot and use conversation and prompts to help you stop focusing on how you look and allow more natural expressions to come through.

How are professional headshots retouched?

My goal is natural retouching rather than making someone look significantly younger or different. I soften temporary blemishes and lines that lighting can exaggerate while maintaining natural skin texture. My general rule is that if a different lighting setup could have made a line disappear, I’m comfortable softening it in retouching.

Are professional headshots different for women over 40?

Lighting and posing can make a significant difference for women over 40. I generally use softer light to avoid unnecessarily emphasizing lines and texture and use posing techniques to flatter the jawline, arms and body. Retouching is intended to be polished but natural rather than making someone look decades younger.

How many professional headshots do I need?

If you primarily need photographs for LinkedIn, a company bio, email signature or speaking profile, two to five images may be enough. If you’re building a personal brand or a business in which clients need to connect with you personally, a larger branding photography session can provide more variety for your website, social media, articles, PR and marketing.