The Naperville headshot checklist: six things to get right
Greg Mulvey. Published , last updated .
Your headshot is usually the first photo anyone sees of you: LinkedIn, the team page, the conference program. It should look like you on a good day, and it should look like you took it seriously. Here’s what I tell people before a session, in the order it comes up.
Choose the right outfit
- Solid colors over patterns. Patterns fight with your face.
- Mid-tones over bright white or pure black.
- Dress for the meeting you most want to land.
- Bring a second top. Changing takes a minute and you get two looks.
- Skip logos and anything that jingles.
Tip: creative field, relaxed is fine. Corporate role, bring the jacket.
Grooming and personal preparation
- A haircut a week before, not the day before.
- Facial hair trimmed the way you like it.
- Makeup: your normal good day, nothing heavier.
- Glasses? Wear them. Reflections are my problem.
- Sleep and water the night before. It shows.
Select the best location or background
Three choices, and most people do two in one session:
- Backdrop: clean white, gray, or a brand color, on a set I bring to your office. The choice when headshots need to match across a team.
- On location: your office, your storefront, a wall with some character. The photo says something about where you work.
- Outdoors: downtown Naperville, the Riverwalk, open shade in a park. Real light, a fresh feel.
You don’t need a studio. I bring the set.
Pay attention to lighting and timing
- Outdoors, early morning or late afternoon. Midday sun is harsh and makes people squint.
- Indoors, I bring the light, so the time of day doesn’t matter.
Practice confident posing and expressions
You don’t need to practice. Posing is my job. A few things help anyway:
- Shoulders down, chin slightly forward.
- Expect a mix: a serious one, an approachable one, a laugh in between.
- Listen to the direction. I’ll move you an inch at a time until it’s right.
Consider retouching and editing
- Blemishes that aren’t usually there come out. Skin keeps its texture.
- Heavy retouching is a mistake. The test is whether your coworkers would notice anything.
- Ask how your photographer retouches before you book. My answer is the line above.
Conclusion
A phone selfie is fine for some things. For LinkedIn and the team page, the difference is the light, the direction, and a photo that matches everyone else’s. Outfit, grooming, location, light, expression, retouching. Get those six right and the photo does its job for years. If you need a headshot in Naperville, one person or the whole team, the headshot page says how a session goes and what’s included. Tell me how many people and where, and I’ll send a quote.
See more: Headshot photography