5 Questions to Ask Before You Book a Headshot Photographer
1. Will you talk to me about what my photo needs to communicate before we start shooting?
If the photographer doesn't ask who's going to see it and what they need to think, you'll get a technically fine photo with nothing to say.
2. Can you walk me through exactly how you help someone who's uncomfortable in front of a camera?
Every photographer says they'll make you comfortable. Ask them how. If they can't describe their actual process, they don't have one. They're winging it and hoping for the best.
3. Can you explain how posing and body language affect what my headshot says to the viewer?
Head tilt, shoulder angle, chin position. Every choice communicates something. If your photographer can't explain what, they're guessing.
4. Will I be part of selecting and editing the final photo?
Some photographers send you a gallery link and disappear. That's not a service. That's a homework assignment.
5. How do you make sure the headshot sends the right message to my specific audience?
A financial advisor's headshot should not say the same thing as a yoga instructor's. If the photographer can't explain how they tailor the message, the photo will be generic.
