F&M HEADSHOT PREP PAGE...
You really can’t bring too many clothes - we absolutely LOVE having choice.
We'll be your stylist for the day; mixing and matching colours, textures and layers. we just need you to bring the options so we can get creative and match you up with complimentary backdrop colours.
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So if you’re someone who doesn’t wear too many things or sticks to colours like BLACK… please think outside of the box, get some different options, bring some new colours into your wardrobe for our session together. DO NOT JUST BRING BLACK - it's great for college/rehearsal space clothing but once you leave, colour will be key!!
Below is a rough guideline to what we learned that works; feel free to use this as a map to packing your case but equally feel free to bring something if unique and personal to you; our session is an individual experience after all.
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For your college Headshot session - we are limited and have around 10 minutes per person; this will include outfit and quick backdrop changes so come prepared to be up and down like a whippet! It will be a fast paced taster on what our regular sessions consist of. Both Hale & Ryan will be taking it in turns to photograph each student.
LOGOS / HEAVY PATTERNS
Please don't worry about logos or any heavy patterned clothing - if it becomes distracting, i'll edit it out but it can often add a lot of texture to the image. Sporty brands like Nike/Adidas can often look edgy; especially if it's a hoodie or half-zip. It's a win from me!
LADIES - PLEASE AVOID
STRAPPY TOPS / SQUARE NECK
& FLORECENT COLOURS
Although getting your clavicle bone on display can add great dimension to your shots (so therefore wide neck clothing is fine) - I really would advise against strappy tops; as your Headshot will be cropped 10x8 in size, it will look like two bits of string as clothing - making the image slightly tacky; if your hair ends up covering them you may also look like you're naked in a headshot.
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Box necks can work if we're shooting from the side - but generally when cropped for a headshot, it looks weird seeing the shoulders covered in material when chest & neck is bare. This one is up to you but personally not my favourite to shoot.
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Fluorescent colours - it just doesn't work. AVOID!
SOME BASIC GO-TOO'S
SOLID COLOURS: Tees, Jumpers, Dresses etc...
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LAYERS: Jackets/Overcoats/Overshirts - PLEASE BRING LAYERS!
(works well with lighter tees/darker coats)
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COATS: collared jackets / denim / leather / trench coats / camel coat etc...
(please avoid any rain jackets/parkas and things that are too thick)
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JUMPERS: Turtlenecks/Rollnecks are a MUST for a period drama shot! Black is great, colour even better!
(these work really well with layers - a nice overcoat!)
SUITS AND BUSINESS/OFFICE WEAR: YES!!! Great for the portrait package. A power suit - bold colours, even a kilt if you're brave enough!
(PLEASE AVOID any professional looking shirts/suits etc if you're only coming for headshots - this looks too corporate and try hard. A suit/white office blouse in a headshot looks like a costume.)
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GLASSES: do you normally wear them to perform? If not, lets not use them as again it can look like a fashion piece rather than a requirement to you.
Please have a look at this colour wheel. Although i'll style you on the day, try and get variations of colours. Think about your own eye colour, skintone, hair colour.
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Blue eyes, like Ryan's, really work well with earthy tones: dark green, browns, deep blue, mustard - this will make your eye colour pop.
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BIG TIP: it seems obvious but, look at our gallery pages on our F&M MEDIA WEBSITE, look at other headshot photographers photos on instagram - look at what the people are wearing, see what works. If you see someone in a dark green sweater and you think you'd look great in that for a photo but don't own something similar; get on VINTED or DEPOP - buy a bargain and then resell it later on if you don't want to keep it.
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By no means we advocating you go out and spend money but this is something, we, ourselves, have done in the past and our own headshots ended up looking great because we sourced a specific item we saw someone else wearing.
