The best thing you can do before your child’s headshot session isn’t find the perfect outfit or practice the perfect smile — it’s help them walk through that door feeling like themselves. That’s when the magic happens
You’ve booked the session. Now what?
For a lot of St. Louis families, the week leading up to a child actor headshot session is filled with a mix of excitement and low-grade anxiety. You want your kid to look great. You want them to feel relaxed. You want the whole thing to go smoothly — and you’re not totally sure what “smoothly” even looks like yet.
Here’s the good news: preparation is mostly simple, and most of it has nothing to do with photography. At Shari Photography, we’ve guided hundreds of young performers through this process, and the kids who do best aren’t always the most experienced — they’re the most prepared. This guide will get you there.
Start With the Right Mindset (Yours and Theirs)
Before you pull out a single outfit or Google a single hairstyle, start here: the number one thing that makes a child actor headshot session successful is a relaxed, confident child.
That’s it.
Everything else — the lighting, the backdrop, the wardrobe — is in service of capturing that. Which means your most important job in the days leading up to the session is to frame this as a fun experience, not a high-stakes performance.
Avoid phrases like “you have to do well” or “this is really important for your career.” Instead, try something like: “We’re going to go take some cool photos with a professional photographer who works with actors just like you. It’s going to be fun.”
For kids who thrive on information, you can walk them through what will happen step by step. Our post What to Expect at Your Child’s First Headshot Session covers the full session experience and is a great read-together resource the night before.
One Week Out: The Practical Prep List
Nail Care
Hands sometimes appear in headshots, and close-up work in particular can reveal chipped polish or ragged nails. Give nails a tidy trim or a fresh, neutral polish if your child wears it. Avoid bold or distracting colors.
Haircut Timing
If your child needs a haircut, schedule it 5–7 days before the session — not the day before. Fresh cuts can look stiff or overly manicured in photos. You want hair that looks natural, healthy, and settled.
Skin Check
If your child is prone to breakouts or dry patches, start a simple gentle moisturizing routine a few days out. Nothing dramatic — just consistency. Avoid trying new skincare products right before the session that could cause a reaction.
Wardrobe Prep
Pull together 2–3 outfit options and hang them up a few days early so you’re not scrambling the morning of. The general rule: solid colors, no logos or busy patterns, and nothing so new or stiff that your child feels uncomfortable wearing it. They should be able to move, laugh, and breathe easily.
The Night Before: Keep It Low-Key
This is not the night to stay up late, try a new hairstyle, or have a big emotional conversation about your child’s acting aspirations. Keep the evening calm and routine.
Early bedtime. A rested child photographs beautifully. A tired child — no matter how talented — struggles to bring natural energy and open expression to the camera. Aim for their normal bedtime or a little earlier.
Lay everything out. Have outfits, shoes, and any accessories ready to go. Decision fatigue in the morning can spike stress for everyone.
Do a quick pep talk. Nothing over the top — just a low-key reminder that this is going to be fun, that the photographer is great with kids, and that all they have to do is be themselves.
The Morning of the Session
Light breakfast, not heavy. Avoid foods that tend to cause sluggishness or stomach discomfort. A light, familiar breakfast works best. Bring a small snack if it’s a longer drive to the studio.
Hair and styling: simple wins. For most child actor headshots, natural and age-appropriate beats elaborate every time. Casting directors want to see your child’s face and personality — not a hairstyle that looks like it took 45 minutes. Clean, brushed, and natural is the goal.
Avoid heavy product. Gels, sprays, and heavy styling products can look stiff or shiny under studio lights. Light product for flyaways is fine; anything more is usually too much.
Build in buffer time. Rushing to the studio is the fastest way to arrive stressed. Leave early. If you get there a few minutes ahead of schedule, that’s a gift — use it to let your child decompress in the car, listen to a favorite song, or just take a few calm breaths together.
Our studio is located at 5205 Gravois Ave, St. Louis — easy to find, with parking right outside.
At the Studio: Your Role as the Parent
Once you arrive, your job description changes. Up until now, you’ve been the logistics coordinator. At the studio, your job is simply to be a calm, enthusiastic presence.
Let the photographer lead. We know how to draw natural expressions out of kids at every age and temperament. Trust the process, even if things feel slow or silly at first — that loosening up period is part of how the best shots happen.
Resist the urge to coach from the sidelines. “Smile bigger!” or “Stand up straight!” from a parent can introduce self-consciousness right when we’re trying to dissolve it. We’ve got this.
Bring what your child needs. For younger kids, a comfort item, a favorite snack for after, or a small reward for after the session can make a big difference. For teens, just respect their space — many older kids actually photograph best when they feel a little independent.
Why This Matters in St. Louis
St. Louis has an impressive and growing talent ecosystem for young performers. The Muny — the country’s oldest and largest outdoor musical theater — holds youth auditions that draw hundreds of families from across the region. COCA (Center of Creative Arts) offers year-round youth performance programs and regularly scouts for emerging young talent. Local agencies and community theaters are actively seeking new faces.
In every one of these settings, your child’s headshot is the first thing a casting director or program coordinator sees. It needs to look professional, natural, and like your kid — not a polished, stiff version of them.
That’s exactly what a well-prepared session at Shari Photography delivers.
Ready to Book?
If you haven’t scheduled your child’s session yet, we’d love to make it happen. Sessions are relaxed, fun, and designed specifically to get the most natural, confident images from young performers.
Book your child’s headshot session at Shari Photography
Questions before you commit? Give us a call at 314-221-2166 or visit shariphotography.com. We’re happy to walk you through the process before you even set foot in the studio.
Shari Photography serves families and performers across St. Louis and the surrounding metro area. Explore our full headshot services — including sessions for corporate professionals, executives, and personal brands — at shariphotography.com.
