Ever wondered why some headshots make people look like movie stars while others scream "driver's license photo"? The secret isn't just in the smile – it's in the details.
So, let me turn you into a headshot hero, no matter if you're wielding a professional camera or just your trusty smartphone.
You are going to learn:
Who Needs a Quality Headshot?
The essential gear every headshot pro needs
How to set up a studio for success
Posing and lighting techniques to make anyone look their best
Pro tips for perfect expressions and engagement
How to select the best shots like a seasoned pro
Common mistakes that can ruin your headshots
And much more.
No fancy jargon, just real techniques that work.
Who Needs a Quality Headshot?
The better question might be – who doesn't?
Nearly every industry requires a professional look for executives, subject matter experts, thought leaders, consultants, coaches, authors, and public speakers. Strong headshot photos convey credibility and competence.
Specific roles that benefit from great headshots include:
LinkedIn users
Online experts / Influencers
Keynote speakers
Authors
Executive leaders
Politicians
Coaches / Consultants
Realtors
Commercial and editorial models
Stock photography contributors
Actors / Performers
But ultimately, if you have an online presence for your personal brand or business - you need a solid professional headshot.
Many photographers start their journey with headshots since they're always in demand. And yes, building a strong portfolio takes time and consistent practice, but there's a way to accelerate your growth and recognition. Enter photography contests - these photography competitions for beginners can be an excellent way to gain credibility and exposure (and to win cash prizes).
Essential Equipment You Need for Headshot Photography
Headshot photography requires a few essential elements:
Camera Requirements
You'll need a quality DSLR camera (digital single-lens reflex) or a mirrorless digital camera with interchangeable lenses. Top options include:
Canon EOS Series
Nikon D Series
Fujifilm X Series & GFX Systems
Sony Alpha a7 III & a9 Series
I recommend a full-frame sensor over cropped-frame cameras for maximum image quality and creative flexibility. Popular models like the Canon 5D Mark IV, Nikon D850, and Sony a7R IV offer professional capabilities at reasonable prices.
Lens Recommendations
Choose a versatile mid-range telephoto lens ideal for flattering focal lengths in tight spaces.
Top options include:
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G
Sony FE 85mm F1.8
A wider aperture (lower f-stop number) allows you to blur the background and draw more focus on your subject’s face - perfect for headshots.
Lighting Kit
Proper lighting separates average photos from premium headshots. We recommend:
Main light: A softbox between 45-50 inches to evenly illuminate your client. This will be your key light.
Fill light: A small reflector or LED on the opposite side to fill shadows.
Hair / Rim light: Optional accessory placed behind to add a rim highlighting effect around hair.
You can use continuous strobe lighting or portable flash kits. Pay attention to light temperature and adjust the camera white balance accordingly.
[Mastering how to use reflectors and diffusers can dramatically improve your lighting techniques and create more professional headshot results.]
Backdrop
The ideal backdrop varies based on your client’s needs. Simple black and white backdrops work for most corporate or professional headshots. Add solid colors (maroon, green, gray) to complement specific branding. Printed canvas backdrops include textures, designs, or stylized locations popular for actors/models.
Other Accessories
Reflectors & flags for light control
Light stands, boom arms & sandbags for stability
Remote trigger to control off-camera lighting
Laptop for instant preview & backup
Headset for easy client direction
Step stool for height adjustments
Now let's walk through the simple 7 steps to take professional headshots.
Step 1: Set Up Your Photography Space
Create an optimal environment before bringing in clients. Allocate enough space for camera positioning while maintaining proximity for sharply focused facial features.
Choose a Location
Seek areas with consistent sunlight or room to assemble your own robust lighting rigs. Avoid harsh midday light which causes heavy shadows in the eyes and below the nose. North-facing rooms work well to diffuse sunlight from large windows. At night, ensure adequate power outlets for plugging in photography lamps.
Converted garages, spacious home studios, photography rental spaces, or commercial studios provide configurable room to get creative. Manage the scene by moving furniture, opening/closing blinds, or supplementing natural light with your own lighting kit.
Position Key Lighting Elements
Place your main light slightly higher than your subject's eye level, about 30-45 degrees to the side. This angled position sculpts dimensional modeling across the facial planes. Feather the edge of softboxes to avoid overly flat lighting.
Position small reflectors or LED fill lights directly across from your key light to bounce illumination back into the shadows. Pay attention to catch lights in the eyes to add liveliness.
You may also experiment with backlights behind the subject or overhead feathered highlighting to add separation. Take test shots to observe the lighting effect and make adjustments.
Backdrop Styling
Iron or steam wrinkles from solid color backdrops. Double-check for tears, stains, or imperfections. Hang using quality backdrop hooks strong enough to handle the weight without sagging or pull the backdrop taught along the floor.
Add personalization with the subject’s logo or brand imagery in the background. For variety, swap different printed canvas backdrops between sets or mix in lifestyle environmental images.
Temperature & Sound
Maintain a comfortably cool room temperature between 65-68° Fahrenheit. Heat causes sweating and facial flushness. Provide a space heater or fan for further comfort controls.
Minimize external noise disruptions. A noisy HVAC system humming in the background easily distracts both photographer and client. Switch off cell phones and close doors/windows as needed. Play soft instrumental music to help clients relax.
Step 2: Position Your Subject
Follow these techniques for flattering poses that minimize problem areas and feel natural rather than stiff and forced.
Camera-to-Subject Distance
Position the client 3-5 feet from your camera on a centered axis for classic headshot framing.
Adjust distance based on your lens attributes:
50mm = 1.5-2.5 feet distance
85mm = 3-5 feet distance
100mm = 5+ feet distance
Wider-angled lenses distort facial features when photographers shoot too close. While telephoto lenses compress depth resulting in pleasing perspectives.
Alignment Guidelines
Tilt head slightly towards the higher shoulder
Lean body slightly away from the camera
Anchor weight on the back foot
Hands at the side, clasped, on hips, or propped casually
Avoid direct full-face views. Turning the head adds dimension. Have both ears visible to equalize balanced sightlines. Hands can rest naturally rather than rigidly to help relaxation.
Chin Positioning
Instruct clients to tip their chin down slightly then eyes raise to camera. Direct them to think “I’ve got this!” for natural confidence.
Overhead lighting can cause heavy shadows in eye sockets. Position the client to let the main light source hit eye sockets.
Facial Angles
Capture 3 angles for variety:
Center view looking directly at the camera
Turn head halfway left
Turn head halfway right
Mix vertical and horizontal compositions. Avoid large crooked nose angles or tilting the head too far. Monitor all angles in your preview screen. Provide live coaching to fix awkward positioning.
Step 3: Adjust Camera Settings
Dial in optimal manual settings on your DSLR or mirrorless camera tailored for headshots instead of using Auto mode.
Aperture
Choose f-stops between f/2.8 - f/5.6 which offer aesthetic background blur while keeping facial details razor-sharp through the focal plane.
Narrowing into smaller f-stops like f/11 shows more depth of field but facial features lose impactful crispness. Test different settings as you adjust the lighting intensity.
[Mastering depth of field is essential for creating that professional background blur while keeping facial features tack-sharp.]
Shutter Speed
Ideally set shutter speeds to 1/125th sec for clear static shots. Increase up to 1/250th sec if the subject can't hold still. Use a tripod to stabilize longer exposures.
ISO
For clean images in controlled lighting environments, start with ISO 100-200. Bump ISO if shooting handheld or getting graininess from slower shutter speeds in mix-lighting scenarios.
White Balance
Match white balance to the temperature of your dominant light source - flash, sunlight, LED, fluorescent, etc. Custom set white balance with a gray card for perfect color consistency.
Step 4: Perfect Your Lighting
Follow these pro tips for crafting professional-grade lighting:
Position Main Light
Place key light directly at the subject’s eye level about 30-45 degrees to the side, then feather across the face. Observe how the lighting hits different planes and adds dimensionality.
Use dimmable studio strobes or adjust flash power settings to double-check exposure. Overblown highlights or dark shadows lose facial details.
Add Fill Lighting
Position small reflectors or LED fill lights at low intensity directly across from the key light. Bounce enough to fill back into the shadows without overpowering your main light.
Back & Rim Lighting (optional)
Creative lighting takes headshots to the next level. Try backlights behind the subject for separation or rim lighting just over the shoulders aimed towards the edges of hair for highlighting effects.
These accent lights add artist flair, help subjects stand out from busy backgrounds, or can conceal stray hairs blending into distracting backdrops.
Manage Mix Lighting
When using both natural and artificial light, overpower daylight spilling in from windows using strobes or flashes. This allows you to achieve consistency despite passing clouds or time of day changes.
Use black flags, nets, scrims, or blockers to cut harsh sunlight. Diffusers soften stark directional rays. Reflectors redirect and fill when needed.
[Understanding how to set up photography lights can help you create the perfect lighting setup for stunning headshots.]
Step 5: Make Clients Feel Comfortable
Some clients tense up or feel awkward posing for photos. As the photographer, help them relax for natural expressions and grounded body language.
Communicate Clear Directives
Use a patient, calm voice to provide feedback. Supply descriptive cues like “rotate your shoulders left” or give numbers for incremental positional shifts. Share verbal affirmations to boost confidence.
If multiple people are in the shoot, speak loud enough or use a headset mic so everyone can hear direction. Repeat instructions if necessary until poses look optimal in your preview screen.
Offer Gentle Guidance
Avoid stern commands which may internally spark resistance or performance anxiety. Kindly request adjustments using positive language.
Provide permission to take breaks for a sip of water, a quick stretch, or to check hair/wardrobe if feeling self-conscious. Reassure them when poses look great.
Loosen Up Stiff Expressions
Ease introverted clients gently. Draw out smiles by sharing light jokes or funny anecdotes. Mention positive observations you notice or ask curious questions to shift focus away from camera discomfort.
Sometimes closed-mouth smiles still look obviously forced. Try sillier prompts like “Say cheese!” or ask them to laugh naturally at your playful antics to capture authentic joy.
Build Rapport
The moments directly before snapping each shot are vital. Engage their attention just as you fire the shutter so eyes convey responsive energy.
Remind busy executives to take a mental break. Have them take a relaxing breath to be present. Call out when you love particular expressions to train reactive reflexes.
Soon capturing genuine emotions becomes effortless. Candid reactions in between test shots often provide the best feeling of unguarded personality too.
Step 6: Take Multiple Shots
Fire off dozens of images in rapid succession while posing clients in varied ways. Judge clarity, check lighting, then adjust again until a series looks aesthetically solid.
Test Core Poses
Nail three hero poses first: facing center, turning halfway left, and halfway right. Vary tilting their chin, modifying distance, changing hand positions.
Next, try higher camera angles while subjects look upwards. Then position subjects sitting or standing for additional options.
Shoot Range of Expressions
Start with relaxed closed-mouth smiles. Then ask for big beaming grins, smirks, serious looks, pensive gazes - encourage showing different emotions.
Pepper in conversational interactions to capture mid-speech expressions and natural laughter. Things like “Tell me about your crazy coworker” or “Describe a recent vacation”. React amusingly to their stories.
Fire Multiple Versions
Take at least 25-50 shots per setup. It’s easy with digital cameras. Clients relax after seeing preview images so keep rolling until you’re both happy.
Subtle differences between frames mean more selection flexibility during editing and client review. Overshoot! Memory cards are cheap compared to disappointing clients wishing more attempts.
Check Images Between Shots
Make quick checks on your preview screen at different focal lengths or poses. Zoom critically on facial features to pinpoint focus accuracy, weird blinks, or awkward expressions before moving on.
Provide clients with a hand mirror so they can adjust makeup or flyaway hairs. Give authentic positive feedback to boost confidence as you continue shooting.
Step 7: Review and Select the Best Photos
Cull your shoot and tag favorite images to present clients. Follow these best practices when judging and delivering final headshots:
Mark Technically Sound Images
First screen for consistent lighting, accurate focus & exposure, flattering positioning, and pleasing arrangements of key elements within the composition.
Scan through images quickly marking or rating viable options. Then dive deeper into premium selections.
Assess Facial Expressions & Energy
Study eye contact, genuine emotion, and likable charisma. Does this photo capture the person's essence? Do the microexpressions tell a compelling story?
A slight squint, tilt of the head, smirk, or glimpse of attitude reveals a greater personality than just a generic toothy smile facing the camera straight on.
Avoid Common Mistakes
Delete unflattering outtakes like over/under exposures causing loss of facial detail, super awkward expressions not salvageable even with retouching, limbs oddly cut off, and inconsistent color balance when settings shifted too far during the shoot.
Apply Basic Retouching
Use photo editing software like Adobe Lightroom for batch improvements for contrast, color correction, cropping, straightening, or basic skin smoothing.
Avoid overly processed plastic looks. Preserve original textures and skin tones. Just enhance what’s already working well.
Present with Consistency
Curate selects in a nicely arranged order showcasing variety. Seek themes among top picks for different uses - corporate, business casual, dramatic, or fun vibes.
Present headshots respectfully to clients for purchasing decisions. Provide print release for their marketing needs.
Common Headshot Photography Mistakes to Avoid
Even seasoned photographers make technical slip-ups now and then while shooting headshots. Here are the most common mistakes and how to prevent them:
Lighting Errors - Too dim, uneven, or overly flat illumination that hides facial dimension. Set up ample lighting correctly first.
Posing / Framing Issues - Chopping off hair, limbs or jawlines feels awkward in composition. Pause to adjust.
Face Not The Focal Point - Other elements compete for attention. Simplify the background for emphasis.
No Catch Lights In Eyes - Turn subjects slightly towards light sources for lively eyes.
Distracting Shadows - Reposition lighting when shadows across the face become visible.
Camera Too Low - Shooting upwards into nostrils feels unflattering. Revisit positioning.
Final Tips for Better Headshots Moving Forward
You now have all the photography essentials for taking professional headshots. But growth takes continual refinement through purposeful practice. Here are a few closing tips:
Build an Online Portfolio
Collect stunning sample headshots showcasing your unique style across diverse clients and creative concepts.
[Learn how to build your photography portfolio to showcase your best headshot work.]
Handle Challenging Client Types
Study psychology techniques for handling difficult clients who stress easily, complain often or seem impossible to please. Kill negativity with kindness.
Shoot Consistently
Practice weekly self-assignments capturing candid expressions, test different gear, or challenge various lighting schemes to expand technical skills.
Always Improve Lighting
Lighting mastery separates beginners from elite photographers. Observe how subtle adjustments dramatically enhance photos.
Retouch Sparingly
Let authentic textures and skin tones shine while correcting only slight imperfections using a gentle hand.
Curate & Market Your Brand
Define niches like corporate executives, performers, influencers, etc. Promote specialty offerings.
[And lastly, Do you want to expand your photography skills? Check out the portrait photography guide for beginners for additional insights.]
Final Thought
Your camera is just a tool – your real skill lies in making people feel comfortable enough to show their authentic selves. That's where the magic happens.
The best headshot photographers aren't just technically skilled – they're people persons who can make anyone feel like a star in front of the camera. Now get out there and start creating some magic of your own!
Remember: Every great headshot tells a story. Make sure yours tells the right one.
I hope exploring these easy methods for strategically crafting professional headshots gives all levels of photographers confidence to deliver amazing results for important projects.
What challenges still trip you up? Which techniques might help transform your client shoots? Let us know in the comments!
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