How to Prepare for a Professional Headshot Session in Boulder and Louisville, Colorado
If you've got a session booked at The Headshot Gal studio in Louisville, or you're still deciding whether to book one, here's the honest, practical version of what to do beforehand. Not generic advice- the specifics that actually change how your final images turn out.
What to Wear (and What to Avoid)
Solid colors photograph better than patterns. Busy prints, small checks, and anything with a visible logo pull the eye away from your face, which is the opposite of what a headshot is supposed to do. Choose colors that contrast with your skin tone and hair rather than blending into them, and steer clear of pure white or pure black if you can, since both are harder to expose correctly under studio lighting.
Bring more than one option. Every package at The Headshot Gal includes multiple looks (the Classic package includes 1 to 2 looks, the Crafted package includes 2 to 4, and the Curated package includes 4 to 6), so you have room to change between a more formal option and something that feels more like your everyday self. If you're not sure which pieces will work, bring a few choices, and we'll sort it out together before we start shooting.
Skin and Hair Prep in the 48 Hours Before Your Shoot
Skip trying a new skincare product, facial, or treatment in the two days before your session. This is not the time to test something your skin hasn't seen before. Hydration matters more than most people expect, so drink more water than usual the day before and the morning of.
If you're getting a haircut beforehand, get it at least a week out, never the day before. Hair needs a few days to settle into its normal texture. For makeup, natural and true to your everyday look tends to photograph better than a full glam trial run, though hair and makeup styling is available as an add-on if you'd like a professional to handle it for you
What Actually Happens During a Session
Every session starts with a conversation, not a camera. We talk through your goals, where the images will be used, and any wardrobe questions before we shoot a single frame. The first several frames of any session are treated as a warm-up, not a keeper, which takes the pressure off before you've even settled in.
From there, you'll get real-time direction: where to look, what to do with your hands, how to adjust your shoulders, frame by frame. This is the part that makes the biggest difference between a headshot that looks stiff and one that actually looks like you on a good day.
In-studio sessions run anywhere from 30 minutes (Classic package) to a full 2 hours (Curated package), depending on which package fits your needs.
Booking Your Session in Louisville, Boulder, or the Denver Front Range
The Headshot Gal studio is located at 685 S. Arthur Ave, Suite 10B, in Louisville, Colorado, serving clients across Boulder, Denver, and the wider Front Range. Packages start at $250 for the Classic headshot package (up to 30 minutes, 1 to 2 looks, one professionally retouched image), with the Crafted package at $550 and the Curated package at $1,450 for anyone who needs a fuller mix of headshots and brand imagery.
Whether this is a refresh for LinkedIn or a full rebrand, the prep is the same: solid colors, a little extra hydration, and a haircut that isn't from yesterday. The rest is my job.