One of the most common struggles we face when producing great headshots for models, actors and even businesspeople is sleep deprivation. In fact, so many of us are chronically sleep deprived that we don’t even realize it – but it certainly comes to light in front of the camera! If you’ve hired a true professional to deliver an amazing headshot, you probably already know that they’ll be able to remove “flaws” in post-editing, but remember that fatigue isn’t a flaw, it’s a state of being. No matter how good the photographer and his/her post-editing, fatigue permeates every attempt to look enthusiastic, confident, energetic, etc. and changes the message you’re trying to convey with that headshot.
Adults 18 – 64 should be getting 7 – 9 hours of sleep each night, and for good reason. Sleep problems can lead to more than you think, including diabetes, heart disease, obesity, depression and more… and just to get your attention even more, being awake for too long actually has the same effect on your brain as being drunk!
So what about the day of your photoshoot? Your desire to look youthful, or energetic, or even just “warm and inviting” can be sabotaged by having a bad night before. Plan ahead to ensure you’ll have no distractions or anything that can interfere with your getting a good night’s rest before the day of the photoshoot. Even if it means missing half a day of work, or skipping an early class, remember that headshot will be your first impression to the world for a long time. Whether it’s on a business card or in your portfolio, there’s no opportunity for you to say “Oh, that shot – I had to work late the night before and…” No, your comp card just got put into a pile of others that will probably never be given another look.
Or, when a prospective client looks at your business card, their first thought isn’t going to be how great it would be to work with you. Yes, it’s that important! So what can you do to make sure that headshot turns out to be an effective investment?
- Plan ahead; for at least 3 nights before the photoshoot, go to bed and wake up at the same times each day. Your body’s clock will adjust to get better rest the night before headshot day.
- Unplug – remove (or don’t turn on) electronic devices like TVs, computers and even your phone at least a couple hours before you want to fall asleep.
- Avoid eating big meals or drinking anything with caffeine or alcohol the night before headshot day… in fact, alcohol is almost a surefire way to look tired even if you did get enough sleep!
- For more tips, just click here.
Some of our own models’ experiences:
- “When I schedule a headshot photoshoot, I also schedule my life for a few days before it. I avoid long sessions at the computer, even at work, because long after you walk away your eye muscles are still strained. I look at my phone only when I need to. It may seem extreme, but my entire face looks so much healthier if I let my eyes rest a few days before the shoot.”
- “I’m a bartender when I’m not modeling, and that means late nights and different hours all the time. For the entire week before I get a headshot done, I won’t work any night shifts and I keep a consistent schedule every day… and I don’t drink that week, either.”
- “I actually tried the Preparation-H trick a few times! Looking back, I really only cheated myself. It may have hidden my undereye bags a little, but I didn’t know at the time that it would just make the bags come back even worse. It wasn’t worth staying up late the night before and ending up with a headshot that got me no jobs.”
Do yourself a favor and get plenty of rest before getting your headshot done… a good photographer can brighten eyes and smooth skin, but if he or she is working with an image of you when you’re not 100%, don’t expect the final product to be as good as it would have been if you were. Your headshot is everything, so make it great!