Learn About 7 Factors That Go Into Good Headshots.

Have you ever seen a picture of yourself and been horrified by the way you looked in it? If the picture was on your friend’s camera, you maybe even begged them to delete it, or at least not to post it on social media.

If the picture was a headshot, you maybe spent the entire morning getting ready. Then, when looking at the pictures you almost feel betrayed. That beautiful face you saw in the mirror while walking out the door was nowhere to be seen when your picture was taken.

If this situation sounds familiar, you’re not alone! No one loves every single photo that is taken of them. We all have embarrassing photos of ourselves that we pray will never resurface.

But, no matter how many embarrassing photos you have, you can still take a great photo of yourself that you love.

How do you do it?

Wear Appropriate Clothing

“Style is a way of saying who you are without having to speak”. This quote from Rachel Zoe couldn’t be truer.

Even if you don’t consider yourself a fashionista, the way you dress still says something about who you are. So, before heading to your headshot photo shoot, think about the type of message you’d like to convey to your audience through your clothing.

Sure, it’s a headshot, so your whole outfit won’t be showing. But, dressing the part helps you to feel the part.

If you want your photo to show that you are a serious professional, dressing like one will help you convey that. Pick an outfit that embodies who you are, and make sure to iron it the night before, and check for any pet hairs or stains.

It’s All In the Eyes

They say that the eyes are the window to the soul, right? Just like clothing, a lot can be conveyed through your eyes.

You want your eyes in your headshot picture to draw in your viewers. How do you do that, exactly?

Look engaged, and feel confident. A lot of times, people develop a “deer in the headlights” look in front of the camera. If you’re camera shy, do your best to focus on exuding life through your eyes.

By drawing people in with your eyes, they’ll want to learn a lot more about you.

Chin Up

Here’s another embarrassing photo moment that everyone has experienced: the double chin.

We’ve all looked at pictures of ourselves and thought that they made us look way heavier than we are in real life.

In order to avoid the dreaded double chin in your headshot, remind yourself to hold your chin slightly up and forward. This will help to elongate your neck and eliminate any trace of a double chin.

Plus, holding your head in this position will also help you appear more confident.

The Mouth

To smile or to not smile, that is the question?

Some photographers insist that smiling in a headshot photo is the only way it will turn out nice. However, this isn’t always the case.

Think about what you want to convey with your headshot. If you want to exude an aura of mystery, it may be best to not smile or to just do a small “Mona Lisa” smile.

If you want to look happy and welcoming, then, by all means, smile away. Just make sure you aren’t cheesing too hard in your smile. This makes you look disingenuous, and just a little too intense.

Think of something that makes you laugh or that makes you happy, and that natural smile will come right out.

Know Your Best Angle

They say we’re more likely to be attracted to faces that have symmetrical features, but perfectly symmetrical faces actually don’t exist.

Your left side of your face looks slightly different than your right side. When you’re taking a headshot, you want to make sure that your “best side” is slightly more angled towards the camera.

A lot of people already know which side is their best side. But, if you don’t take a few selfies from different angles to figure it out.

Relax

If you force your smile or you feel tense, it’s going to show through in your photos, no matter how great of a photographer you have.

Therefore, it’s very important that you show up to your photo shoot as relaxed as possible. Before the shoot, do something that helps you relax. Go for a run, read, take a bath, or listen to your favorite songs.

If you are still nervous when you get to your photo shoot, be sure to let your photographer know. Photographers have special techniques that can help you relax in front of the camera.

Once you’re warmed up and relaxed, you’ll realize there was really nothing to be nervous about in the first place.

Makeup

Even if makeup isn’t your thing, wearing a bit for your photo shoot can really help you look like your best self.

Makeup can help cover up small blemishes, hide dark circles under your eyes, and cover crow’s feet. Plus, wearing makeup often makes people feel more confident, which is great for a photo shoot!

But, make sure you are also not overdoing it with the makeup. If you have tons of makeup caked on your face, it will show in your headshot.

Go for natural looking makeup colors. Red lipstick, nude lip gloss, black or brown mascara and eyeliner, and a soft rosy blush are all great options.

Good Headshots: Are You Ready for Your Closeup?

Keep all these tips in mind for your photo shoot, and you’ll be a lot happier with your headshots.

If you have any questions about taking good headshots, be sure to drop us a comment below. Otherwise, if you’re ready to step in front of the camera, book your online profile shoot with us now.