Headshot Vibe
Most people walk into a headshot session with a feeling, not a plan. They know what they don't want. Stiff. Awkward. The photo that looks like it came off a badge printer. But when I ask what they do want, I usually hear something like, "I don't know... just good?"
That's completely normal. You're not a photographer, and you shouldn't have to speak like one. But the more clearly you can tell me what you're drawn to, the closer we get to a headshot that actually feels like you. So let's make that part easy.
Here's the bottom line before we get into it: first, you have to like what you see from your photographer. Second, you have to tell them your goals. Everything else builds on those two things.
Start with work your photographer has already made
This is the step people skip, and it's the most important one.
Scroll through my portfolio, my Instagram, my website galleries. Save the images that make you stop. Not the ones you think you should like. The ones you actually like.
Then look for patterns. Do you keep saving the bright, clean white backgrounds? The moody, darker frames? The painterly textured backdrops? Do you like people looking straight into the lens, or glancing away?
Why start with my work? Because a photographer's style shows up in everything they shoot: the lighting, the editing, the way they pose people. When you pick favorites from my portfolio, we both know what's possible and that we're a good fit before you ever step into the studio.
If you scroll through and nothing speaks to you... that's useful too. It's better to know that before you book.
Name the mood you want to create
Once you've got a handful of favorites, try to describe the feeling behind them. A few words are plenty. Some I hear often:
Approachable and warm
Confident and polished
Calm and grounded
Bold, a little edgy
Soft and ethereal
Creative and artistic
Take the images up top as an example. That session had a soft, ethereal mood. Painted backdrop, neutral earth tones, quiet expressions, a little bit of stillness. Nothing about it is loud, but it has presence. If that's the kind of energy you want, just say so. "I want to look calm and strong at the same time" gives me more to work with than any technical term ever could.
Tell me what you're bringing to wear
Your outfits shape the mood as much as the lighting does. A structured blazer says one thing. A soft knit sweater says another. That earthy, textured dress in the images above works because it blends with the backdrop instead of fighting it.
Send me a quick photo of your options before your session, or bring a few and we'll decide together. Solid colors and textures tend to photograph beautifully. And if you have one piece that makes you feel like the best version of yourself, bring that one for sure.
Tell me where your headshot is going
This one matters more than people expect. A headshot for LinkedIn has a different job than one for your personal brand website, a theatre program, a speaker bio, or the "Meet the Team" page at your firm.
Let me know:
Where the image will live (LinkedIn, website, print, social media, marketing materials)
Who is going to see it (clients, employers, casting directors, your community)
What you want them to think or feel when they do
If your photo needs to fit a circle crop, sit on a website banner, or match the rest of your team, I want to know that up front so we can shoot with it in mind.
Rate how far outside the box you want to go
This is my favorite question to ask, and it clears things up fast.
On a scale of 1 to 10:
1 is a classic, very traditional headshot. Clean background, shoulders angled, friendly smile. Timeless and safe in the best way.
5 is a little more personality. Maybe a textured backdrop, a relaxed pose, a stronger expression.
10 is totally out of the box. Dramatic lighting, unexpected poses, creative color, something that doesn't look like anyone else's profile photo.
There's no right number. A financial advisor might want a 3. An artist or entrepreneur building a personal brand might want an 8. Plenty of people want a mix, a few safe frames for work and a few bolder ones just for them. Tell me your number and we'll plan around it.
Putting it together
When you book, send me something like this:
"I love the images from your ethereal session with the painted backdrop. I want to feel calm and confident. I'm bringing a tan dress and a cream sweater. These are for my website and LinkedIn. I'd say I'm a 6."
That's it. That short note tells me almost everything I need to show up ready for you.
You don't have to have it all figured out. That's my job. But when you come in knowing what you like and what you need your headshot to do, we can spend your session creating instead of guessing.
Ready to find your style? Browse the galleries, save your favorites, and reach out to book your headshot session at Still and Wild in Holton, serving Topeka, Lawrence, and Northeast Kansas.
