Take Control
- Hayley Madden
- May 13
- 5 min read
Confidence Starts Before the Camera Clicks
Let’s be honest: getting your photo taken can feel less like a glamorous moment and more like being cornered by a paparazzo with a telephoto lens and a spotlight the size of a pizza. Suddenly, you forget how arms work, and your “natural smile” looks like you’ve just remembered your parking expired.
But here’s the real secret to a confident, relaxed, actually good headshot: take control before the camera even appears.
Too many people show up to their shoot feeling like they’re at the mercy of the photographer — lights blazing, assistant hovering, and no time to blink, let alone breathe. But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can walk into that shoot with your shoulders back and your chin up (literally and metaphorically), simply by making a few smart decisions ahead of time.
Here’s how:
✅ 1. Choose Your Battlefield (A.K.A. Location)
Don’t just default to a sterile white studio if it doesn’t suit you. Your photo should reflect your professional personality, and the right location can make or break that vibe.
Outdoors? Brilliant. Natural light is your best friend, and if you’re more comfortable among trees than tripods, go for it. Familiar surroundings = natural confidence. Bonus: you get to be the one offering them tea.
Studio? Great for total control over lighting and weather. If you're channeling your inner CEO or loving the idea of a magazine-style shoot, this is your moment.
Your office or home? The sweet spot. Comfortable, familiar, and relevant to your work. Just give your photographer a heads-up. Send them a few pics of the space (windows, layout, power points), and don’t be surprised if a few chairs get rearranged. They’re chasing the light—not redecorating.
Taken at subject's home in conservatory
Bottom line: Home turf makes you feel in charge. And when you feel in charge, you look in charge.
✅ 2. Bring Backup
Let’s be real. Standing still while someone clicks away and says things like “chin down, eyes up, now smile!” can make anyone feel weird. That’s where your friend/assistant/confidence booster comes in.
Bring someone you trust. Their job?
Fluff your hair.
Fix your collar.
Hold your phone, your bag, and your nerves.
Make you laugh at just the right moment so your smile doesn’t look like you’re passing a kidney stone.
It also shifts the power dynamic. Suddenly, it’s not just you vs. the lens — it’s your team, your shoot, your rules.
✅ 3. Dress With Strategy
We’ll dive into wardrobe in the next article (spoiler: your best office outfit might be all wrong for camera), but here’s your early homework:
Plan it.
Try it on.
Sit, stand, pose, twist.
Get feedback.
Avoid last-minute panic.
Don’t show up in something that looked good in theory but bunches up like an accordion when you sit. Your outfit should feel like you, fit like it was made for you, and let you focus on being present — not adjusting your sleeves every five seconds.
Final Thought: You’re Not a Passive Subject
You're not just someone being photographed. You're the creative director of your image.
When you take control of the setup — the location, the company, the clothes — you shift the energy from “Help! They’re taking my picture!” to “Let me show you who I am.”
Next Up: What to Wear for a Headshot(Hint: A good neckline matters more than a good blazer.)
CLAIRE'S STORY
Thank you to Claire Lovis for permission to use images. Claire wanted a particular look for her photos and was not satisfied with the standard corporate image selected for her by her firm.
A solicitor, her work has a particular focus on issues affecting older and vulnerable people including Deputyships, Continuing Healthcare funding and advising on Statutory Will applications.
Claire invests considerable time and energy in getting to know each client and their families so that she can provide a bespoke service tailored to their needs.
Previous headshot:
This image is absolutely no reflection on the photographer's skill. They were likely working under tight time constraints, possibly photographing 60 or more people in a single day. I have been in that situation and it is not easy. Because of that, the lighting setup would have remained consistent throughout, regardless of each subject’s individual features, with adjustments made later in post-production.
The environment itself was likely quite impersonal—something that's hard to avoid in high-volume shoots—which may have made it challenging for subjects to feel truly seen or at ease. Understandably, this can affect how someone presents in front of the camera, not due to any lack of care from the photographer, but simply due to time pressure.
In Claire’s case, she appears a little nervous, which can be seen in how she’s holding her head back slightly—creating a double chin effect. Her hair appears more yellow than usual, and the shiny blue dress, while lovely, reflects light in a way that may look overly saturated and causes her skin tone to appear a bit washed out.
This isn’t a critique of the photographer at all—rather, it highlights how important personal preparation and styling choices are for portrait sessions. With a bit more time and planning, Claire could have felt more in control and her natural warmth and quiet confidence would have shown through.
We took this portrait in her own home, which meant full access to the wardrobe—you know, the one where all the good stuff lives. We chose a dress that ticked every box: soft fabric, a flattering sleeve line, and a neckline that worked with her face, not against it. Add a simple pendant for a bit of sparkle, and voilà—effortlessly polished.
Claire had just had a fresh haircut (always a win), and her smile? 100% real. It lights up her whole face, and that little tilt of the head? Not posed—just her being relaxed and confident.
I did have a massive advantage over the corporate photographer. We’d worked together before, so there was no awkward small talk or stiff poses. She was in her own space, feeling calm, comfortable, and completely herself.
The whole shoot took about an hour and the final image for her corporate shots was photoshopped to match the style for the corporate website. The result? A photo that actually looks like her—only on a very good day. She now has a headshot that works hard for her on the company page and makes real-life Claire instantly recognisable and someone you'd trust with your family affairs.
Lesson here? The best portraits happen when you’re feeling good, wearing something that makes you feel like you—and maybe when there’s a cup of tea just off-camera.
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