Please get a good long night's rest. Drinking lots of water the day before will avoid dark areas under the eyes. Eat well, stay hydrated. Hungry models don't perform well. Avoid alcohol the night before.
Garments
I will discuss garments with you personally, but generally you want to avoid anything that will distract from your face. No patterns. Dark colors are better (avoid white). Keep your jewelry understated.
Make-up
A commercial headshot should look like you. Nothing irritates casting directors more than someone showing up to an interview who looks nothing like his or her headshot. If you are a model and we are also doing several contrasting "looks" for your comp card thats another story. But the headshot should be a fairly natural look. No heavy make-up. No exotic hairdos (unless you plan to do the same elaborate hairdo every time you drive to an audition).
Women: Please let us know if you'd like us to line up a make-up or hair stylist for you. If you feel confident in your own skills, that's fine too. Don't overdo it. Keep it simple, clean, and fresh. Emphasize eyes, lips, and contour. Bring make-up so you can touch-up.
Men: Unless you have issues with discoloration, etc. I prefer to shoot men without make-up. All my finished images are retouched. If you wake up with a giant pimple don't sweat it. We'll make it disappear in retouching. The night before your shoot, wash your face, get rid of the dead skin on your lips by GENTLY rubbing them with a toothbrush and put moisturizer all over your face. Bring a cherry chapstick with you to the shoot.
What to bring to the shoot
1) Organize your clothes the night before so you don't forget anything. If we're doing more than a headshot you'll have belts and shoes, hats and accessories to keep track of. Please make sure everything is ironed and ready for the camera. Better to have some extra options too.
2) We have all kinds of music but if you're partial to something that will help put you in the mood feel free to bring some CDs.
3) A good attitude! Allow ample time for the shoot and selection. We don't want to feel rushed during the shoot. Be prepared to relax and have fun!
Getting ready for your comp card.
A comp card usually takes half a day to shoot so start the day with a good breakfast or lunch. Some of the photography will be shot on location —away from the studio— so pack as you would for a short hike: water, snacks, brush, powder. If you are doing your own make-up, bring your kit to change looks. Please have your clothes pressed and organized with accessories and shoes. Best to get these things together one or two days early so if something is missing you are not rushing at the last minute.
Unlike a headshot, comp cards include three contrasting looks (in addition to the head). The looks sometimes call for elaborate styling, e.g., a high fashion look. We will plan all these details well in advance and help you put it all together.