Over the years I’ve photographed a number of corporate sessions and I try my best to prepare clients before each session concerning what to wear but sometimes things don’t go as planned.

If you’re planning a corporate headshot session for your entire team, you might be wondering “Is there anything I should bring on set to ensure we have a successful shoot?” After all, you want your team to look their best.

Well, here are 5 things you should include on set for your next corporate team headshot session:

1. Lotion

A typical headshot doesn’t include the hands, however, a business/corporate headshot does. In those cases you want to ensure you have lotion on hand in the event anyone has dry skin; especially in cases where someone wears a short-sleeved or sleeveless outfit that shows their arm.

Dry skin can make your hands look rough, cracked, and aged, which is not what you want for your professional business headshot. To avoid this, make sure to bring some lotion to moisturize hands, arms, elbows and even some bald heads before the shoot.

Ideally, you want to have a lotion that doesn’t leave any greasy or sticky residue and is not heavily scented.

2. Lint Roller

Lint or dust can make your clothes look dirty, messy, and unprofessional. To avoid this, make sure to bring a lint roller to clean clothes before the shoot.

​​A lint roller will help remove any unwanted particles from clothes and make team members look fresh and clean. It can also help to get rid of any pet hair or dandruff that might be stuck on the clothes.

Remember to use the lint roller gently and avoid rubbing too hard or too fast, as this might damage the fabric or create static.

3. Handheld Mirror

A handheld mirror can used by team members to check their appearance before and during the shoot. They get to make sure that everything looks perfect in their professional headshot: their hair, their makeup, their shirt collar, their smile, etc.

Knowing what they look like will help them to be a little more relaxed, comfortable and confident in front of the lens.

4. Extra Ties

Bring a few extra ties for male team members. Ties are an important accessory that can add some color, personality, and professionalism to your business headshot. However, not all ties are suitable for headshots.

Dan St Louis in his article, “What Ties Are Best for Headshots?”, suggests that you should avoid ties that have loud patterns, repeating images, or too much sheen. You want to opt for ties that are muted and complement the outfit instead of detracting.

Having extra ties can help to ensure that your team’s headshots have a more cohesive and consistent look.

5. Portable Steamer

Not being able to narrow down their favourite or most flattering outfit some team members may carry multiple options hoping someone on set will help them select the winning outfit. The problem with that is that the clothes may arrive on set looking like “crushed callaloo” as Jamaicans would say. 

How do you fix that? You bring along a portable steamer.

Having a portable steamer on set allows you to remove the wrinkles or creases quickly, making your team members look sharp and confident. 

Booking a corporate headshot session for your entire team can be a great way to boost your brand image, showcase your professionalism, and increase your credibility. Remember, it helps to be prepared so bring along the 5 essential items mentioned above. They will help you and your colleagues look polished, confident, and ready to take on the world.