Using a good-quality headshot to enhance your image as an expert is the easiest way to make an excellent first impression among industry peers and potential clients. We explore the various corporate headshot specifics in this guide to help you get the most out of your next profile photo.
Types of Headshots
There are two types of corporate portraits distinctly different from each other. They are professional and editorial portraits.
Professional Portraits
Professional or corporate headshots are taken in photography studios with special lighting and a neutral background for enhanced focus on the subject. The top of the bust and the subject's shoulders cover the entire frame in this shot.
Large companies use professional portraits to present their employees. Employees can dress casually or sleekly, depending on the company and the image it wants to portray.
Employees can also use these portraits on social media sites like Twitter and LinkedIn and profile pictures for CVs.
Editorial Portraits
Unlike professional portraits, editorial headshots aim to portray a concept or tell a story. They effectively support magazine and newspaper articles, blog posts, and other written commentaries by giving visual context to a story.
The set-up has a creative and original approach; more interesting than a plain background. The images are meaningful and relevant. They engage readers by illustrating newsworthy subjects like sports, culture, travel, politics, business, and entertainment.
For instance, a football player will have their editorial portrait taken on a football pitch, wearing a football jersey bearing their name. You can find these types of headshots online and in magazines.
What Makes an Ideal Corporate Headshot?
The primary purpose of a good corporate headshot is to convey professionalism. A good photographer will achieve the above through direction on posing, facial expressions, and the setting. The outfit also helps.
Here's a detailed breakdown of what makes a good corporate headshot.
It Reflects Appropriate Attire
Wearing a variety of tones and colors is great! But you need to keep it simple. A good rule of thumb is selecting an outfit you would wear to a job interview or meeting with a client.
Bold colors, patterns, and shiny ties steal attention from the face and may look unprofessional. Consider a jacket or sweatshirt to break your outfit if you don't wear ties.
Otherwise, incorporate colors that compliment your skin tone, eye color, and hair. Anything classy and subtle is a good choice for jewelry since jewelry in corporate headshots should complement, not shine. So avoid anything flashy or bright.
Has Good Lighting on the Face
Making sure your face, hair, and outfit look presentable and professional is important, but the results will disappoint if you don't have good lighting.
Proper lighting is crucial to creating a successful image worthy of a corporate portrait.
Besides its obvious effect on darkness and brightness, lighting also helps determine one's mood, tone, and atmosphere. Therefore, if you want to get a great headshot, ensure your photographer understands the lighting type and set-up you want before the photoshoot.
It is Framed from the Chest up
One of the significant choices you will make is how much your face covers the entire frame of your professional portrait.
A corporate headshot where the face fills most of the frame often evokes maximum emotion. After all, the eyes are the most expressive features and tend to dominate close-up photographs. But for a more magnificent look, medium-distance headshots are ideal. They exhibit the shoulders and part of the chest, creating separation between you and the viewer.
The goal is to convey less intensity of emotion and a little more about you as reflected in your physical appearance and personal style.
Is Easy to Notice and See Even When It's Small
It goes without saying that a good corporate headshot should be clear enough to easily remain noticeable even when small or positioned slightly ahead of the viewer.
Clean, corporate headshots show clients who they support when they choose you over the competition. It helps link a smiling face to a company's name. If your image is blurry, ask your photographer to take more, adjusting the focus and making it sharper for clarity.
Showcases Good Posture
A good posture helps with photo composition and professionalism. It helps exude one's confidence and professionalism in a specific field.
While the photographer is responsible for keeping the subject in a good position, the subject must understand the particulars.
To achieve a good posture, sit up straight and maintain your shoulders back while remaining relaxed. Do not go overboard because you will look stiff.
Glasses
This might not be a big issue, but it is worth mentioning.
If you have a prescription and people see you in glasses, you should wear them in the shot. But if you only put them on for computer work or reading, then you can decide whether to wear them or not.
People will get comfortable with you when you are wearing glasses because they associate them with intelligence. You will look smart and are respectable to most people. Additionally, they make you look decent and help you stand out.
If you are going to put on glasses, make sure the lenses are clean. And if the frames have grease marks or fingerprints, clean them as well.
Professional Makeup and Hair Styles
Just like the outfit, keep it simple for the best results regarding hairstyles and makeup.
Before going for your headshot session, do your hair and makeup as you would for daily office activities. The goal is to look natural and stay on brand.
Do not try fancy hairstyles to avoid looking loud. Similarly, stay clear from too high up hairstyles as they are hard to capture within the frame or cropped in the photo.
For men, experts recommend getting your hair done a few days before the photoshoot instead of the day before. Doing so will allow you to make any adjustments if you do not like the look.
Tips For a Good Corporate Headshot Session
Taking a headshot can be daunting, especially if you are doing it for the first time. Here are top-tier tips to make sure your photo shoot is a success.
Arrange a Pre-session Consultation
Before the session, make sure you sit down with your photographer to build a rapport. Help them understand what you want from the session and where you will use the photo.
Also, ensure that you address any questions or concerns you may have during this session, so you are not caught off-guard on shooting day. A good photographer will be happy to discuss these aspects with you beforehand, which will result in a smooth photo shoot.
Plan Your Outfit in Advance
As you now know, your outfit will depend on the type of headshot you're going to have and the personality type you want the headshot to portray.
A brilliant way to find inspiration is by looking at other people's headshots in your specific field and wearing something similar to them. If skeptical, choose something simple.
If you still do not know what to wear right before the shoot, your photographer will advise you on the best choice for the session. Thus, more reason to speak to your photographer beforehand.
Try Different Poses
This may come in handy if it is your first photoshoot. It may feel awkward sitting in front of a camera and not knowing how to pose.
Ask your photographer to start with test images to inspire confidence and make you more comfortable. Flow with what feels natural because it reflects the real you.
Your corporate headshot photographer may direct you into several poses to capture different styles and images. Keep an open mind and try different postures, such as sitting at an angle and looking into the distance instead of the camera.
Try To Relax
Remember that you are trying to create a photo that portrays the real you in a headshot photoshoot. Therefore, the best thing to do in front of the camera is to be yourself.
When you are nervous or stressed during your photoshoot session, the feelings will reflect in the results. But if you relax and try to have fun during the session, your headshots will appear natural and more genuine.
Final Thought
Getting an excellent corporate headshot can be somewhat daunting, especially if you have no idea what to expect from a session or what to convey in the photo. The best solution is to work with a professional corporate photographer. Look for experience and talent; that way, you can trust their process even if they charge slightly higher than others in the field.
If you lack good choices, you can find one online. Browse their pages to determine if their work reflects what you have in mind for your style of corporate headshot. Another tip is to ask for recommendations from your industry peers, guaranteeing high-quality services based on trusted reviews.
Alternatively, you can skip this process and come to our studio for professional, crisp, and inviting headshots. We will meet your expectations easily.