Pageant Headshots 101

Mar 3, 2016
2 min read

Are you getting excited to have your pageant headshots taken? Below contains a list of everything you need to know about taking successful headshots compiled by our talented pageant photographer Sara Vaz.

-Clothing should complement your natural coloring. If you have dark hair,wear lighter clothing and if you have light hair, wear dark clothing. Feel free to bring a couple of outfits. -Your top should be a solid color or something with a very subtle design or pattern. Big splashy patterns distract from your face and take away from your headshot. Make sure your neckline is flattering as well.

-Jewelry is recommended. Classic and simple jewelry is usually best, but colorful jewelry can work too. -I recommend hiring a professional makeup. The camera has a hard time showing your makeup in the final image. Professional makeup artists know how to apply more makeup for the camera, while still making you look natural and beautiful. The official pageant photographer is Kait Parkinson, and she would be happy to help you with makeup. Contact her today for pricing. -Hair is the same as makeup. The more volume in your hair, the better it will look in your headshot. I find portraits more flattering when your hair doesn’t overpower your face by having too much in front. You can definitely wear your hair down, but we will probably adjust it to be able to see your neckline. There will be a small fan at the session to gently blow and create movement in your hair for your headshot. -Make sure your lips are moisturized. Believe it or not, the hardest thing to edit in post-production is chapped lips! -It might sound weird, but practice smiling in the mirror! See what side of your face you like the best. Most people tend to favor the side of their face where they part their hair. If you like both sides, then great! Practice smiling in the mirror to see what your eyes do. Try to keep your eyes open and smile at the same time. It takes practice to do this and still have emotion in your eyes and no straining in your face.