10 Headshot Photography Tips + Examples (2024)

Get headshot photography tips and learn how to capture the perfect shot for your personal or professional brand.

Erica

senior director of creative product

June 17, 2024

• 11 min

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. What’s your headshot saying about you? A headshot photo introduces you before you say anything out loud—it’s your photographic first impression.

Nailing that headshot image is as important as great product shots for ecommerce and social media too. You’re selling yourself and your headshot image can make or break the audience’s first impression of you. We’re giving you 10 headshot photography tips on how to nail that picture and create irresistible headshot photography.

We believe in the power of a photographic first impression—and free headshots for everyone >

10 headshot photography tips for amazing pictures every time

Consider these 10 tips to help make capturing the perfect headshot just a little bit easier.

1. Pick your tone and stick to it

The first step to getting the perfect headshot image is to identify a tone. It’s like picking the right vibe for the image. It’s important to consider this aspect of the headshot because tone plays an essential role in the final image.

Are you going for playful? Serious? Subtle? Or bold? Decide on one then stick to it throughout the photo shoot.

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Don’t let the professional nature of headshot photography fool you. You can still play around with tone and make it work for the end result you’re after. Keep the subject’s profession in mind when settling on a tone. A headshot for a lawyer will look radically different than one for a graphic designer.

2. Choose the right clothing

Picking the right outfit falls in line with picking the right tone. This aspect of headshot photography might feel a little superficial, but we promise it’s important. Humans are extremely visual creatures. Let’s dig into that evolutionary development…

We learned a long time ago that visual indicators (like outfit and facial expression) can offer helpful insight into how an interaction will play out. This was essential to our survival as a species. There were distinct visuals that gave us the ability to determine who was a predator and whether or not there was imminent danger.

This is precisely why outfit choice and overall appearance matters. It gives a sense of who you are before you say a single word. The right outfit will convey who you are and what you can do for someone. And it can say a whole lot of different things: competent, fun, trustworthy, intelligent, bold. But remember, a professional headshot can also misrepresent you if you don’t go with a headshot-appropriate outfit.

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Consider what you want the headshot to communicate. What will people think of you when they see your face for the first time? Always pick an outfit that supports the overall tone you settled on. Don’t pick an outfit that clashes with the background or hogs visual attention. It also doesn’t hurt to plan a backup outfit (or two).

3. Pick the right makeup

Makeup also plays an integral part in how a headshot is perceived by others. It goes hand in hand with outfit choice. The perfect headshot makeup isn’t about a flawless contour or perfect red lip. It’s about presenting the best and most polished version of the subject.

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Makeup shouldn’t be distracting. You can use makeup to accentuate the subject’s best features, disguise blemishes, or emphasize the tone of your headshot.

4. Studio vs. backdrop vs. outdoors

Choice of background helps solidify the tone of your headshot.

Headshots on public profiles like LinkedIn should be more subdued, simple, clean, and minimal. Headshots for websites and personal branding projects are completely different.

Feel free to take it outside as long as it will contribute to the tone and composition of the headshot. Pick a spot without a distracting background if you decide to take it outside. The focus should remain on the subject—not on the brick wall behind them.

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The background should never outshine your subject. They’re kind of like the perfect sidekick—there when you need them but out of the way when your subject is ready to take the lead.

5. Create a positive environment

Being in front of the lens can be nerve-wracking for many people. It’s important to create a relaxed and positive environment during the shoot.

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It doesn’t take much to help break the ice. Start by having the subject make a goofy face for test shots. Another pro tip: Put on a fun playlist to get them movin’ and groovin’.

6. Nail the positioning

Angles, angles, angles. It’s all about the angles. Positioning the subject within the frame is just as important as getting the right light.

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Don’t forget the long-standing rule of thirds. Many headshots are cropped to feature the subject in the center of the image, but that’s not the only way you can frame a headshot.

7. Fine tune as you go

Making small tweaks as you go is an easy way to make sure you get the perfect headshot. Taking small pauses throughout your shoot can help give you and your subject real-time feedback.

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Shooting tethered is a great option. Real-time feedback helps both the photographer and subject capture the perfect headshot image.

8. Focus on the features

Headshot photography is all about making your subject look good. Make sure your focal point lands on the face of the subject.

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Try setting your f-stop so the background is blurred out. You can also use post-shoot image editing to help bring sharpness to the subject and blur out or desaturate the background.

9. Use the best lens

There’s a lens for every occasion and not all lenses are the best for headshot photography.

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Avoid lenses with mid to wide angles. Mid to wide angle lenses will distort the image. Any lens 90mm or above is perfect for headshot photography because it can provide the least distorted image.

10. Consider multiple locations

You should always consider multiple locations. Preparation is key to making a photoshoot run as smooth as a well-oiled machine.

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Consider a handful of locations that match the desired tone. here are some examples by profession:

• Lawyer: office, studio with a plain background, or even a courthouse
• Executive: office, outdoors
• Designer: creative workspace, outdoors, or in a studio with a colorful but understated background
• Author: at a desk, in a chair, outdoors, or in a doorway

Headshot vs Portrait: What's the Difference?

• Framing: A headshot is framed specifically around the head and shoulders.
• Focus position: Typically your subject will look straight into the camera lens for headshots whereas portraits can have a variety of different focal positions.
• Environment: Backgrounds in headshots are just that: backgrounds. They don’t have to be boring but they shouldn’t be the star of the show.
• Purpose: Think about what these images will be used for. Headshots are more formal by nature.
• Time: Headshots can usually be taken quickly. Portraits take a little bit more time to set up since they are more involved.

Get Started with Headshot Photography

Ready to jump into headshot photography? Make sure you keep those ten tips in mind before you get started. Headshots are a great way to visually communicate your personality, and what makes you, you. Every month, we offer free headshots at one of our soona studios.

Headshots for all

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