10 tips to look good in business portraits

Avoid wearing T-shirts with graphic logos, band names, or funny slogans. There's a risk they'll be cut off in photos and look silly. Patterns and thin stripes also don't work well on camera and computer screens. There's a so-called moiré effect when thin stripes are close together, creating a secondary wavy pattern. This is especially noticeable when an image is small on a screen. Patterns that look cool on your clothes can simply appear as busy visual noise on camera. So, if you can think of wearing something simple that looks good regardless of the image size, consider it. Many portraits are converted to black and white, so you should also consider the colors you're wearing. A pink tie with a light blue shirt might look great in real life, but once the image is converted to black and white, they might end up looking the same and simply blend together. So think about contrast and color tones, and if in doubt, take a few photos of yourself in your phone's mirror and convert them to black and white to see what looks best.

Most of the time, when a photographer comes to your workplace and sets up a studio, there's a good chance they'll use artificial light. This is to ensure consistent results from the portraits. This is great, as they'll usually adjust the lighting to create the most flattering image of you. However, one of the downsides of studio lighting is that it often makes your skin look shiny, glossy, sweaty, or oily. This is especially true in the summer when it's a hot day. Therefore, I would recommend that women use a little concealer or foundation. Men are best advised to use the restroom to wash their faces just before being photographed, or a quick wash with a baby wipe also works well.

I would always recommend that women with long hair bring a brush to the shoot. Make sure everything is brushed and neat around the edges. Photoshopping hair is difficult because there are so many different lines going in so many different directions that it's really specialized work and usually goes beyond what's included in the package. It's much easier to get it right before the shoot than afterward.

This is a professional photo of you at work, so keep that in mind when applying your makeup. A natural look always works best. Don't overdo it: how you would do your makeup for a special evening probably won't work for a company portrait. Keep it simple and make sure it feels right for you. If you usually wear bold lipstick, that's fine, but don't go for a daring look if that's not how you normally dress. Ultimately, you want the picture to be a good, professional representation of yourself.

This isn't a big deal, but it's probably worth mentioning. So, if you normally wear glasses and people are used to seeing you in them, wear them. If you only wear them when working on the computer (like me) and don't often wear them when meeting people, decide beforehand whether you want to wear them in the photo or not. If you're not going to wear them, take your glasses with you before you arrive for the photoshoot so you don't end up with two red marks on either side of your nose. They take a while to disappear, so give yourself plenty of time. If you're going to wear your glasses, you should really clean them thoroughly. It's amazing how much dust, fingerprints, eyelashes, etc., can end up on the final image. So make sure the lenses are spotless, and if your frames have fingerprints or grease stains, clean them as well. Finally, when taking photos, you should push your glasses back as far as possible. Often, glasses just slip down the nose slightly and tend to simply cover your eyes. For profile photos, it's really important to see the eyes. So, pushing your glasses back shows them off to their best advantage.

Many people know how they look on camera and which side of their face they prefer. I personally don't, so it always surprises me when people say that's my best side. But it really helps me and makes my life easier, because I can focus on that side and work with it. Similarly, if there's a feature of your face you don't like, or something you're aware of, let the photographer know. I've often had people tell me they don't like the fact that one of their eyes is bigger than the other. So, I make sure to photograph with the eye closest to the camera so it appears slightly larger from that perspective. Many people have also told me they don't like their teeth, so we'll make them smile with their mouths closed. It's much easier to tell the photographer these things than to settle for a portrait you don't like. Think of us photographers like doctors; you can tell us anything without feeling embarrassed. We've probably heard it all before.

Try to get to the same height as, or just below, the camera lens. Your photographer will always advise you on what works best for the portrait. However, if you're very tall, you're probably used to seeing photos of yourself taken from below. This can accentuate a double chin and isn't the most flattering angle. So, if you're really tall, there's one thing you can do: spread your legs as wide as possible. Yes, that's right, assume that "rocking pose." This will make you appear a few inches shorter. It's much better to do this than to squat. Staying in a squat for any length of time tends to cause pain, and if you're in pain, it will show in the photo. So, spreading your legs has the advantage of being much more comfortable than squatting.

I can guarantee you that one of the first things people say to me when they come for a photoshoot is, "I hate having my picture taken; I've never gotten a picture I'm happy with." And then they chatter nervously in front of the camera, and all I capture is them talking and making faces. So if you're thinking of doing that to calm yourself down, don't. Stop talking for a few minutes. Take a deep breath and relax. You're in safe hands. The photographer wants to take the best picture of you that they can, one that will make you happy. Just trust them.

Easier than you might think. How much do you like how you look in a photo? Lips closed or lips open? If you're unsure, ask your photographer what you prefer. They can take some test shots and work with you to figure out what suits you best. Or take some photos of yourself and ask friends and family. I've always found that asking someone to smile for the camera looks a little fake. It's not a real smile, and what I mean is that you can't see it in their eyes. That's why I never ask people to smile. I either try to make them smile, or I ask them to think of someone or something that makes them laugh. That way, I get a great response and a genuine smile. So, if you think of someone or something funny while you're having your picture taken, it will look much better and more natural.

Finally, I would always recommend taking a short break to check yourself in the mirror before the photoshoot. Chances are the photographer has never met you before, so they won't know what you look like. Just give yourself a moment to make sure you're happy with how you look. Check that your hair looks good, your necklace isn't slipping, your tie is straight and the top button isn't showing, and that you don't have any food stuck in your teeth, etc.