How to get great professional portraits and headshots?
Do more to represent yourself and your passions.
As a professional, it's important to make sure your headshot accurately represents you and your passions. I prefer to use the term "professional portrait" instead of "headshot" because a great portrait is more than just a picture of your face.
The mannequin like statues, wooden faces, and worried smiles on a white background. We see so many examples of generic headshots. My feeling is there is a real lack of authenticity with most and rarely any context. We don’t get a sense of the real humans in the photos. People, and in particular potential customers, do want more info to make a better impression of you. You only have a tenth of a second to do it.
The good news is there are ways to make your professional portrait/headshot stand out. Here are my top 5 tips:
Choose an environment that suits you
Consider taking your portrait in a location that's meaningful to you, such as a local park or your own backyard. This will help add context and make it more interesting.
Use a prop
Having a prop can help make you feel more comfortable, and represent who you are. It could be a favourite book, a cup of coffee, or even your pet. Just make sure it's something that comes naturally to you and doesn't look forced.
Engage with your eyes
Not that easy to do but here’s a trick… When you're facing the camera, think of something like plans for the weekend or something funny that happened recently. This will help you look more natural and engaged in your portrait. Fake laughing, believe it or not, can help too, as that often makes you laugh for real.
ALSO. You don’t necessarily have to be looking at the camera! You may prefer to be doing what you do best. As long as people can clearly see your face, it’s all good.Move around a little.
Small movements like shifting your weight or looking around , then back at the camera can help make your portrait look more natural and fresh. Don't be afraid to experiment a little and try different poses.
And here's a bonus tip: hire a great photographer! A skilled photographer will be able to use all of these tips and more to create a portrait that truly represents you and your brand.
Take a look at some of these portraits below for inspiration, and get some ideas for your own. Remember, this is the opportunity to showcase your authentic self and make a great first impression.
