I'm scheduling my first professional photoshoots, and I couldn't be more excited. I want the photos to be the best they can be, so here's a few beginner questions....

What should I wear? Someone once told me that you can't just dress up like you're going to the mall and expect that to cut it. With money to spend on wardrobe being tight, I'm curious what to wear (because yes, I WILL be clothed!) that will leave an impression. Keep in mind that my eyes are blue and my hair is red, and that those are intended to be front and center. What color can I wear that will set them ablaze!?

To smile or not to smile? I desperately need a great headshot. What kind of expression is best suited for that?

Have additional advice? That'd be great! Feel free to let me know what my portfolio needs the most.

Thank you!

Try to relax, smile, be natural and be confident in yourself. If at anytime you become uncomfortable, take a break.

Relax so you don't look uncomfortable.

a professional photographer should be communicating with you about wardrobe and the "subject/style" of the shoot. they can also direct you re: some of your posing and expressions. I used to suggest ALL kinds of things to models about expressions. use your 'feelings' by remembering specific events in your life--happy, sad, angry. look directly into the lens and also look over the photographers shoulder as if your mind is a thousand miles away. sometimes I would have a model literally yell and scream. sometimes eyes shut, then open. I think looking at fashion and photo mags and emulating the expressions in a mirror can help. clothing? I often instructed models to bring a variety of clothing from casual to dressy office. always have some black heels. we sometimes used one of my dress shirts and a tie.Ask yourself what fashions make YOU feel the best? which outfits have gotten the most compliments from those around you? study online model images--MM profiles and portfolios??? that's definitely a source for lots of ideas that is available to your for the cost of your time. best wishes OP--do your homework and your confidence will grow!

if the model had a bad case of 'nerves', sometimes I would hand them the camera and I would pose and runway wallk while they snapped total nonsense. we'd have a quick look at some of the pics--share a good laugh, and most of the nerves would be gone. I also always made a point of encouraging the model with positive comments and such. IF the model was really struggling I would place them in a chair or on a riser--it took some of the responsibility off of them. I told them to stretch and shoot me a bird and yell and curse [if that was ok with them]. it was all designed to dump some of the adrenalin from their system--or bring it on.

Great colour choices would be teal or gold

As others have said, plus-- best not to wear 'busy' clothing patterns, keep to solid color patterns, not flowery/busy stuff that distracts viewers. Photographer should be discussing this with you, etc.

Don't have your man play laser tag with the cat using your legs as scratching posts, lol. Yeah, I had someone do that, so the model shows up with scratches all over her legs and abdomen, unbelievable.

Have fun. Smiling and showing off your chops (teeth) normally not a good thing, better to have a more neutral mouth position, ever so slight smile at most, lips slightly parted at times, chin raised a bit, eyes normal gaze (not deer in the headlights gaze); all depends on pose of course, some poses you might be leaning over and then gazing up slightly TO THE LENS; always look to the lens not the photographer, unless you are doing a pose where you are intentionally looking away etc.

Study poses in magazines/online (images.bing.com, here on MM). If the photographer is any good s/he will bring some tear sheets or digital images of desired poses to emulate, poses that work and are used often in the industry. Google 'contrapposto' which is a common posed used in art, swimsuit and fashion modeling, you can't go wrong doing a lot of that, and with one foot pointed out.

2 examples of contrapposto posing-- swimsuit, fashion:
http://media.2oceansvibe.com/wp-content … uit-08.jpg
http://cdn.fashioninstep.com/wp-content … tion-a.jpg



Crash course, hope that helps a bit.

Honestly, keep it simple. A classy black dress will always work. Keep colors of clothes to neutrals or earthy tones. Keep the styles to you as well because they will keep you more comfortable. Button up shirt and jeans is a pretty safe bet too. If you want to do more fashion looks, stick to solid colors and maybe one pattern like a strip. Do not make it too busy. Do not wear neon.

http://www.fashionisingpictures.net/pho … China4.jpg

Open jackets and jeans also are safe, like the image above.

Make sure whatever you wear will go with heels.

If you are still unsure, you might consider booking a wardrobe stylist. It might be cheaper then buying a whole new look.

well, see, I like the smiling happy pictures (maybe 'cause I haven't yet mastered the sullen sulky staring-into-space look myself:-D ) - so maybe some of both!
As for outfits, I's suggest a casual dark jeans & nice top, as well as a dressy going out dress.And possibly pair the outfits with a jacket for on or off.   
Turquoise, and medium blues like sapphire or cobalt or royal blues would look great on you.
Don't wear white, or patterns, - solid colors look better.
Just my opinion:-)
Have fun!

Don't try too hard. Don't overthink it.

Simple, clean wardrobe and makeup.

Make a playlist to listen to.

Have fun.

Get a makeup artist and possibly hair stylist.  If you can't afford it some MUAs donate their services in return for photos.  I've found it makes all the difference.  A good MUA can play up your best features.  Early on in my modeling I didn't use professional MUAs and stylists and if I had it to go over again, I would have used pros from the beginning.