Headshots: what they are, why you need them, and how to get good ones! 📸

Photo by: Valerie in Miami, USA

A portfolio of high quality, digital headshots are a must in this online, visual world.

No matter what your profession, you need a good selection of headshots at your disposal. Whether you're a CEO or entrepreneur, a model or actor, a coach or a writer, they are essential to your professional growth. Consider them an extension of you and your personal brand, your calling card, a way to promote yourself instantly. They let potential managers, partners, investors and recruiters who know you are and what you’re about in an instant. This is especially important if you’re on the hunt for your dream career or opportunity. 

From updating your LinkedIn profile to getting ready for auditions, professional headshots help you meet your goals by making a great first impression that lasts. These aren’t pictures people forget. When you finally meet that business person, producer, or new partner in person, they can confidently say, “You’re just like I expected from your photo. I’m looking forward to working with you.” 

A picture tells a thousand words. So use that to your advantage when there’s minimal time to get noticed. Time to find out more!

Here are all the headshot guidelines you ever needed to know

Before we start…headshots versus portraits?

Confusion between these two types of photography is understandable. They really are similar, but there are two distinct differences: intention and composition.

Let’s start with headshots. They are high-quality images that capture the head and shoulders with a focus on the face. The backgrounds tend to be neutral and not distracting. They can have personal elements that show personality but their goal is to be used for professional purposes. 

Portraits on the other hand, are typically photographs of the full body or the person seated, with family and pets. The setting varies but can be as much a focus as the people in the photographs: a travel destination, a beautiful building, or somewhere in nature. The goal here is to capture a moment in time to remember and share.

So yes, they’re similar, but they’re also different. Another big important difference between headshots and portraits? Headshots are an investment in your goals!

6 tips for taking good headshots

Dress the part

Your profession and the purpose of your headshots will help you determine what to wear. For example, the headshots for a chef may look very different from those of a life coach or actress or CEO. You might just be getting closely cropped photos or photos from the chest up or perhaps a little of everything! The goal is to make a statement about who you are and what you do. You want to convey personality, show approachability, and exude professionalism. Your clothes can help with all of this. Your professional photographer can help you choose outfits, and might suggest bringing a couple different shirts or tops. 

Take a breath and relax

Getting photos taken can be nerve wracking. We totally understand. Not all of us love being in front of the camera. That’s why we always tell our clients, no matter what type of photoshoot they’re doing, focus on your “why.” With headshots, the answer may be to land a dream job, start a new venture, revamp an image, or gain an online presence. It’s often related to something you’re excited about, something that’s moving you forward. As soon as you start thinking about this, you stop thinking about yourself, and the excitement you feel about your “why” shines through. If this doesn’t work, just take some deep breaths and know it’ll be over before you know it! 

Practice beforehand

The reason we say it’ll be over before you know it is because headshots don’t typically take a lot of time. This is great news if lack of time or cash is a concern. An hour-long session is perfect to get what you need. To make the most of that hour, we suggest practicing beforehand. This is both a great way to maximize your session and help you feel confident. Take some time in front of a mirror. Try smiling with teeth, without, while thinking about your projects, looking straight on, looking away. Notice the difference between sitting up straight and slouching, how you hold your head, and if you have a side of your face you prefer. This is all great information for your photographer the day of the shoot. 

Focus on you

I know, we just said focus on your “why.” And that’s essential for your state of mind as you sit in front of the camera. But for the actual photos we want the camera lens focused on your face so the results are stunning close ups. This means simple poses and no props, unless they’re essential to your profession. It also means working with a professional photographer who has the equipment and expertise to make those close ups look especially good. A professional photographer with headshot experience will know the best angles, lighting and touch-up techniques for headshots that yield results. They’ll know how to help you relax, meet your goals, and execute with cameras and lenses the average person just doesn’t have. 

Consider your backdrop

Part of what helps us focus on you is a successful backdrop. There are a lot of choices. What we’re aiming for is something either neutral or relevant. Headshot can be done in the photographer’s studio where they have backdrops set up, or they may bring backdrops with them to the photoshoot setting. They can also shoot you outdoors or in a relevant setting like an office, a warehouse, a dance studio, or a kitchen. Often the background will be blurred using the photographic technique of bokeh. Bokeh can be extreme or subtle, but its purpose to keep the main subject the focus of the photo. That’s you!. 

Refresh your headshots on a regular basis

Life is a journey. Even if we stay in the same profession for years, we grow, get promoted, have new experiences, and take on new projects. In other words, we change and grow, and our headshots need to change and grow with us. So calendar to get your headshots refreshed every couple years, even if nothing has changed except your hairstyle. When people meet us for the first time after seeing our professional profile or website, we want them to feel like they’re meeting the person they saw in the picture, not be shocked when we look completely different. Our headshots need to keep up with who we are now.

Book with Angle whenever you’re ready to get your professional headshots.