Tips For Achieving The Best Business Headshots
You may be a little nervous when it comes to thinking about having professional business headshots taken. Business professionals are not models or actors by trade, but there is no reason you can't still have amazing headshots for your business! We have curated some helpful tips as you prepare for your professional business headshots.
1. Relax
While we want you to feel comfortable, we seriously mean you need to relax! Relax your shoulders and your face muscles. You don't want to look rigid or fearful in your final results, which happens more often than you might think. Practice smiling naturally. If you smile with teeth, then smile with your pearly whites showing! If you prefer to smile with your lips closed, that's fine too. There are no rules regarding how to smile in your business headshots. The end goal is to provide an image you are proud of that will adequately represent you to your viewers.
2. Dress For An Interview
When it comes to clothing, dress like you would for a business interview. Because, in reality, professional business headshots are the first step in an interview process. Whether for your business social media account, resume image, business card, or website, your headshot is the viewer's first impression of you.
Neutral colors are your best bet when choosing the basis of what you wear. Keep it, classy folks! Ladies, it's essential to stay away from flowy clothing. It is common for women to be displeased with how they look in photographs when wearing bulky or flowy tops. Loud prints are also a no-no. Prints tend to be distracting and draw the eye away from the face, which should be the whole focal point of the business headshot.
3. Get Comfortable With Posing
Practice posing in the mirror at home (even if it makes you feel a little silly). Our top-notch photographer at Bartholomew Photography will help direct the shoot with encouraging prompts to get plenty of angles for your business headshots. It's crucial that you practice your angles from the left, right, and straight on and that you are comfortable doing so. This is helpful during the shoot because you know how you like to look from each side, and your body will naturally fall into that despite any nerves you may be experiencing.
4. Keep Jewelry And Accessories Simple
Business headshots are not the place for flashy, statement jewelry. If you wear earrings, consider sticking with classic studs or small hoops. You do not want to have shiny, dangly distractions hanging by the sides of your face. If you wear a necklace, try wearing a simple chain with an elegant pendant. Avoid anything bulky or too colorful. Your business headshots are not meant to showcase your glitz and glam!
5. Have Clean And Pressed Clothes
Avoid pilled, stained, or faded clothing. There's only so much editing that can handle it. It's important to wear clean and pressed clothes for headshots. You don't want creases or wrinkles giving you an unkempt appearance, as this would be a significant turn-off to employers or future clients. Have your clothes picked a week in advance and have them dry-cleaned or ready for pictures, so there are no surprises as you get ready.
6. Trust Your Photographer
Chances are you hired your professional photographer after researching and reading reviews that made you believe they can deliver high-quality business headshots. Remember this during your shoot. It's easy to get in your head and start feeling self-conscious, but if you listen to your photographer, they know what they are doing!
For example, our photographer at Bartholomew Photography is passionate about capturing images that clients will love. With years of experience, they know how to position the client and all the elements that go into creating the perfect business headshot. So, if you start to feel nervous or feel like your "bad side" is being highlighted, trust that your photographer knows what they are doing and will take care of you!
7. Have Fun!
Sometimes people can feel stressed when it comes to having headshots done. But let this be a fun experience! You are going to show up looking your best and feeling confident because you have followed all of these primo tips, right? So, let loose and have a great time!