If you’re reading this you’ve come to the point where you know you need a headshot. You know the value of a headshot and have an idea of what makes a headshot great, now you just need a few tips from the professionals. We all look at things differently. Photographers tend to be critical of the technical aspects of a photo. A makeup artist wants to see her work shine in a photo the way it does in real life. A casting director wants to see a compelling headshot that stands out from the pack. Today, we’re rounding up headshot tips from the pros including headshot photographers, hair and makeup artists, acting coaches and casting directors.

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Jean-Luc Godard said, “When you photograph a face, you photograph the soul behind it.” 

Even a mere selfie can tell a lot about a person, enough that USC has a class specifically on selfies* that examine what self portraits say about us. The class professor, Alison Trope, has used selfies to examine race, ethnicity and gender norms. She adds:

“Selfies are not just about self-portraiture. They are also autobiographies and autoethnographies…. The more interesting ones deliberately challenge conventions or templates of a beautiful face and body, and really try to show something broader about who you are as a person, about how your identity can be about performance or politics or changing norms. As this kind of use of the selfie travels via networks and social media, it can potentially take on a kind of cultural and collective power.”

Just imagine what a good headshot can do. While traditionally used for actors, in a digital world having a good headshot is more important than ever to anyone. In your professional life, it could be the difference of landing the job vs staying unemployed for a few more months as we’ll show studies that show even small variations in expression can affect another persons perception of trustworthiness. In your personal life, it’s your first impression on social networks. For online dating, it could be the difference between landing a date and potentially meeting the girl or guy you spend the rest of your life with. Yes, I am a bit biased, because I am indeed a headshot photographer. But the science doesn’t lie. For those that think I’m exaggerating, there have been multiple studies that show that just your name can effect how a person perceives you, in your personal or professional career. And that’s a name without a photo behind it. In a digital world, your profile picture is your first impression.

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What is a headshot in photography?

A headshot, or head shot, is typically defined as a head and shoulders portrait.

If you haven’t seen it already, I’d start with my post on History of Headshot Photography.

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We’ve seen the research, many people know The Value of a Good Headshot. But which type of headshot is right for you?

One of the most memorable moments of my life was flying on a private jet to Ft. Lewis for an event with a bunch of talented entrepreneurs… one being New York Times best selling author Ramit Sethi. I remember when Ramit sat down with one of the most well known commercial photographers, Chase Jarvis, on an episode of Chase Jarvis LIVE. He said something along the lines of, “One of the biggest mistake photographers make is showing a client their portfolio, sitting back and expecting them to understand your brilliance.” I took that to heart and that’s why I’ll breakdown the process of a few of my headshots. We’ll focus on “headshots”, where the term can be rather subjective. There’s many different types of headshots, and what will work for one person, won’t necessarily work for you. Regardless, the Headshot Tips I covered last week will help you prepare for your next shoot.

Let’s breakdown a few…

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