Pageant Headshots

Let's talk Pageant Headshots!


Your pageant headshot is the photo you use for the program and if the pageant has a delegate listing on their website, it will appear there.

I know that pageants require a lot of money and investment, and some newer people might not yet be at the level where they want to invest in this, and that is fine. Take your daughter and your camera outside, use natural light and try a few different tops. Let the wind blow the hair back a bit and just take tons of photos. There is a good chance you will have something to work with! Anyone can do this for free. Selfies do NOT make for a good pageant headshot. A photo of your daughter at the carnival with cotton candy stuck to her face does not make for a good pageant headshot! If you are going to put the time and money into going to a National pageant, but some time into getting a photo that looks like your daughter will at the pageant or interview (to the best of your ability).

It is important to have a photo that looks like YOU and shows your personality or brand. Your photo should look similar to how you will most likely look on pageant day. Your hair and makeup should be done similar to how to expect to look that day or in interview.
It should be a good clear head and shoulders shot. You should not be wearing your crown/sash in this photo. Your headshot can be, or doesn't have to be, what you end up using for photogenic awards.

Judges reference these photos a LOT throughout competition. They often have their program book opened and as they are judging, sometimes they even put notes beside photos to remind them of something. I have seen things like 'red dress, great smile, super cute' or 'made no eye contact, blue dress, scored 32/40' - so they have a baseline to compare other contestants to.  You want the judge to look at you on stage and be able to see you in the program right away and not wonder which contestant you are!

What is your brand or image? Your headshot should reflect that! Branding is more for an older pageant girl, but are you the cute, quirky and bubbly blonde? Are you the super serious brunette who loves to read? Are you a go-getter who can't do enough charity work? Are you super scholastic? Are you in the Miss category and consider yourself to be sweet with a bit of sex appeal? What image do you want to portray to the judges? Your headshot should reflect that.

Let's take a look at these photos of Megan. Her image/brand in pageants has always been the likable blonde, who has a sense of humor, but is also quite intelligent (so basically - her - she isn't being someone else - she is being herself).

Here are photos from a session we did. These were some top picks we liked.

I love this photo of her. It's fun, and has great energy. We just didn't feel it was "You want to meet me" and we also felt it was more 'Hey im the fun blonde' and not Meg's total pageant image and brand. This photo HAS done well with photogenic competitions though. 

This photo is pretty, her hair looked fabulous -but it was a bit too serious for Meg. 

This photo was one of the photographer's picks, but we felt it didn't show her personality.

This is the photo we ended up using. Good eye contact, relaxed, pretty, draws you in and makes you want to meet Megan and see what she is all about! It shows her personality well.

I hope these tips help! Happy shooting!