Who would you prefer to work with?
An anonymous organization with no personality, identity, or face to interact with?
Or a real live human being — someone who looks warm, welcoming, professional, and ready to do their job?
It’s got to be the second one, every time. And this is what makes your professional headshot so important.
So how do you take a professional headshot for your website? What tips can you use to take the perfect professional headshot image?
Let’s find out.
Keep It Timeless and Classic
The latest trends and fashions are cool, but they go out of style fast. When you’re choosing what to wear for your headshot, aim for muted shades and colors that are going to stand the test of time.
Avoid logos or prominent brands, and wear something elegant, classic, and professional. Use makeup that accentuates your skin tone and bone structure, but avoid bright, bold colors.
This applies to the background too. Choose a muted, neutral background that helps you stand out, keeping the attention on you.
Strike the Right Pose
It can be a little nerve-racking taking a professional headshot. One of the key expert tips is to relax — take a deep breath, slow your heart rate, and achieve a feeling of calm before you take that shot.
Experts also recommend sitting or standing up straight, with your head held high. This can help to achieve a feeling of professionalism, confidence, and trustworthiness — just the kinds of values you want to communicate with your professional headshot.
Unless you’re running a very specific kind of business with an emphasis on fun and frivolity, you don’t want to over-pose. Instead, just aim for a warm, approachable, and business-focused headshot that helps your audience believe in you and your skills.
Shoot in High Resolution
Creating high-resolution images is an absolutely critical professional headshot tip. How many times have you taken a great pic on your phone, only to find it looks stretched and poor-quality when you blow it up? Your headshot needs to look great whether it’s viewed on a smartphone or a full desktop monitor.
This doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t use your phone to take the images. Modern smartphones can have superb cameras and can shoot in a seriously impressive resolution. Just make sure that image looks great, even when you’ve expanded it.
Prepare Yourself for the Experience
You might not get that perfect shot the first time — in fact, you almost definitely won’t. Instead, you’re going to be taking lots of different shots over the course of the session, trying subtly different angles and approaches until you find the right shot.
With this in mind, it’s a good idea to prepare. Conduct some practice photoshoots so you can get used to the process. Get a good night’s sleep before the session, and make sure you stay nice and hydrated. These are useful tips to help you take that perfect professional headshot.
Work with a Pro
Perhaps the most effective professional headshot tip is to work with a professional photographer. This photographer will know all about lighting, editing, and getting the ideal shot for your new website and marketing materials.
You’ll be able to view their previous work and gain some inspiration for your own shoot. It’s an investment in your business, and it should pay off when you start connecting with potential clients in a big way.
If you’re not quite ready to invest in hiring a photographer but need headshots for your website and social media profiles, here are 5 affordable AI Headshot Generators you can try out in the meantime.
1. https://instaheadshots.com/
Want more tips for making a powerful first impression online? Looking for other insights into how to use your website to connect with your audience? Check out my resource page here.
