Images For Life.
Professional Tips For Winning Headshots
With so many competing priorities when it comes to growing your business it's little wonder that we can often overlook some of the most important details - like our first impressions.
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Business profiles on websites and channels such as LinkedIn obviously need to reflect the way we want to be perceived by potential customers - the starting point of which is YOU. That's why the importance of well-crafted headshots cannot be overstated.
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Of course, with the increasing capabilities of mobile phone cameras, it's more than possible to get acceptable results for profile pictures.
But when you're trying to win over new clients, portray your professionalism, credibility, trustworthiness and reliability, as well as how importantly you view business, a professional headshot goes a very long way.
Hiring a professional photographer, using their professional equipment, their use of lighting as well as their knowledge of how an image needs to look to get the right results is an investment that will pay dividends.
But regardless of whether you choose a professional photographer or not, the following tips still generally apply.
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Recent Image
It might seem obvious but make sure the image looks like you - don't be tempted to use a photo from 10 years ago. When it comes to meeting in person, your clients will be reassured to see that the impression you first gave was an accurate one.
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To Smile, Or Not
It's certainly not compulsory, but a smile often helps. I know some of my clients hate to smile during a photograph but tests show that people prefer smiling faces. Ultimately though, I would recommend going with what you feel most comfortable with.
Background
It's very easy to focus so much on how we look that we forget about the background. But it is definitely worth remembering that what's behind us can be distracting and ruin a decent headshot, perhaps giving the impression that things have not been thought through. You don't have to use a professional backdrop such as the ones used in my headshots here, but the plainer the background the better.
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Environmental portraits - where the background surroundings are part of the story - are of course a different proposition. For headshots though, you want the focus to be on you. A good time time to mention that you need to avoid other people's heads and shoulders creeping into your image!
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What To Wear
Clients often ask me what to wear for a headshot and my answer is always the same. Wear what you would wear at work. This is a business headshot after all. ​​​​
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Lighting
​Lighting can make a or break a photograph so if you're not using professional lighting care needs to be taken. Ordinary interior lighting, which has a warm, yellowish tinge can create all sorts of problems in your image and on skin tones.
Try to avoid this and where possible choose natural light from a nearby window. Taking the shot outdoors is another option, but remember to avoid harsh sunlight, a well lit but shady spot would be ideal.
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Headshot File Size
If you are uploading an image for a specific channel such as LinkedIn profile picture, be aware of their requirements (usually between 400 (w) x 400 (h) pixels and 7680 (w) x 4320 (h) pixels). My own general guidance is to create online images with a shortest edge of around 2000 pixels.
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Avoid low resolution images but bear in mind the maximum file size of 8mb.
Although most of the shots shown here were taken for websites if your headshot is specifically for a profile picture on a media channel then one final tip would be to aim to ensure that around 60% of the image is taken up by your face - which takes us full circle to the start of this article: that in order to create the best impression viewers need to be able to see you.
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If you're looking for someone to take care of your business headshots with a friendly and relaxed approach, whether it's for your website, marketing or social media I offer a professional mobile studio set-up which allows me to travel to you at your business premises or home. Clients find this invaluable for time saving and convenience.
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Based in Ulverston, I work with individuals, businesses and organisations throughout Cumbria and the north west, creating professional headshots that make a difference.
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Get in touch to make a booking.
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Shaun
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Shaun Barr Photography ​​
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