Whether you want to add the perfect professional touch to your resume, or you own your own business and are looking for more innovative ways to promote yourself and your company; professional portraiture may be the solution you need. With the right portrait, you can add a memorable touch to your business cards, create a stronger online presence, and have clean, sharp images ready for press kits and social media. To help make the most of it, your Dallas professional photographer, Doug Davis, offers these tips to prepare for your professional portrait.

Picture Perfect Preparation

Choose an appropriate outfit

It’s not just that you need to look professional; along with lighting and other factors that influence the quality of your photograph, the colors you wear can largely determine how crisp, clear, and professional your portrait will turn out. Soft, earth tones or gentle pastels are typically a good idea, since they don’t create dramatic contrasts, like black and white clothing do.

Stay well-groomed

You might not have noticed your few-day’s-old stubble as you briefly passed the mirror this morning, but you can believe that it will show up (and remain forever) in your portrait image. Guys should be sure to get a haircut the day before their appointment, and shave the morning of, to maintain a clean-cut, and more photogenic, look. For women, scheduling some time with a hairstylist and makeup artist beforehand will help produce the most professional-looking images.

Get lots of rest

Your clients and coworkers can tell when you haven’t slept in a few days. Besides the behavior changes that come with exhaustion, the sunken eyes and facial structures can make you look haggard and worn-down—probably not an image you’d want to immortalize to represent your business. Be sure to get plenty of rest the night before your photo shoot.

Relax, and Say Cheese!

Few things are as off-putting as a frown, but nothing says “unnatural” like a forced smile. The best-case scenario is the one in which you don’t have to choose between looking grumpy or pretending that you’re not, so try to relax so you can smile easily for your portrait. If necessary, schedule a massage or a little spa time before your portrait to ensure that you’re in your most-relaxed state of mind.

ABOUT DALLAS PHOTOGRAPHER, DOUG DAVIS:

Dallas-based professional photographer and videographer, Doug Davis, has worked with a wide range of clients, from American Airlines to the Susan B. Komen Foundation. If you’d like to learn more, or if you need the services of a highly-experienced professional photographer, then contact D-Squared Studios by calling our office today at (214) 746-6336.