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. What do you do to help people who aren't comfortable in front of a camera?
If the answer is "just relax," keep looking.

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.