Guide to Headshot Photography

For actors and models, a dynamic headshot can be the difference between landing a role and being passed over. For other professionals, it’s often the first introduction a prospective client sees. So how do top photographers bring out a look that’s both engaging and unique to their subjects? Simple—they make the shoot more about the person they’re working with than the gear, the settings, or any other technical aspects.

This type of portrait is often used for professional photography when you want to present your brand business image for LinkedIn. Quite often before a photo headshot shooting people become shy and self-conscious. Often we hear that people don't look good in pictures, they are not photogenic. Is it really true? In fact, anyone can look good in a photo headshot shoot, it's all about the right mood and a great pose. If you want to take a really good photograph of a person, it's important to make contact in a professional context, even for corporate headshots.

When you start using more new headshot ideas, you can improve your photography skills and every photo shoot will be perfect. There are no bad models, only bad photographers who need to be friends with the camera and respect people. Our tips for taking photo headshot art will help you get amazing results.

Create a Connection Before Headshot Photoshoot

“Headshots are 10 percent photography and 90 percent communication.” Peter Hurley, star headshot photographer. With headshots, having great gear is not half as important as the rapport you create between the subject and yourself. This is one of the most useful tips for taking headshots in photos. From beginning to end, the personal connection is what’s going to help them relax and be their most authentic selves. This, in turn, is what will land the winning headshot.

Headshot Photography Starts with the Consultation

How do perfect photography headshots? The initial consultation is more important than many photographers think. It’s not only the time when you find out what kind of headshot your client is looking for, discuss clothing choices, and decide on the location, it’s also your first opportunity to create a connection. Many people are very nervous in front of the camera, and creating a rapport with them right off the bat can do wonders for their ability to relax during the shoot. Do your initial consults in person if you can. What are the tips for shooting headshots in this case? Video chat and over the phone is also ok, but avoid text and email. This is your chance to get a sense of the person, their confidence level, how grounded they are in their sense of themselves, and what energy they might bring to the camera. If you do it in person or over the video, you might also get some ideas about how you want to shoot them.

A professional photographer should prepare all the necessary equipment in advance. Remember to adjust your camera settings for the headshot photoshoot. Shooting with a wide-angle lens can result in a distorted and strange-looking subject. Therefore, if you want a photo without a surreal effect for a headshot session, it is better to use lenses with focal lengths of 50mm or 85mm, unless you are shooting from a long distance. Also, use the following tips for headshot photos:

• As for lighting setup, it all depends on whether you are in the studio or on location. If you are outside of the studio, it is ideal to use natural light to take photos. This is one of the greatest headshot tips for photographers.
• To take a headshot in a studio, prepare a white background and strobe. For a perfect shot, point the camera flash not at the subject, but at the wall or ceiling. This is very easy to take. The light reflecting off the walls will be softer and more suitable for photo shooting headshots.
  
• Do you need to blur the background when taking headshots? The distance between the model and the background behind her must be maintained. Focus the lens on the focus on the face of a model. You can also get this effect for a subject and the background by opening the aperture too much (easiest way) or by increasing the focal length. A shallow depth of field for headshots photography is achieved by shooting photographs with a low f-number.
• Use the rule of thirds if you want a nice picture. The photo can come out more natural if you place the person slightly to the right or left (but don't leave too much empty space on the sides). Also, use the right angles and show each client's beauty. Ask people to extend their necks to prevent the dreaded double chin.

One of the great tips for headshot photography is to match the neutral colors of clothes to the model. Make your subject the center of the composition. As a rule, headshots are used for the business profile, so a too-colorful top is not suitable, it will distract attention and shift accents. So, ask your client not to wear bright clothes or accessories.

Discuss all the important points with the client in the consultation and remember that both client and photographer should feel at ease throughout the session.

Keep the Conversation Going 

From the moment your client walks in the door for a headshot photograph, make a personal connection with them and keep it going throughout the session. This will not only help your client relax, but it can also draw out colorful expressions and reactions, giving you more opportunities to catch their unique spark. This is one of the best tips on taking headshots in photography. It’s the photographer’s job to pull out their most natural, engaging looks. That means everything from asking serious questions to bringing out a thoughtful look to cracking a joke to capture a natural smile. And everything in between. More than anything else, silence can kill the energy of a headshot session. Keep the conversation running and stay positive.

Make Them Laugh During The Headshot Portrait Photography 

Laughter is a great relaxer. One of the headshot photography tips: if you can't get a good shot and the situation remains tense, try becoming a word of mouth and making the client laugh. A sincere smile will change everything, so ask your subject to do it! See if you can bring out their laugh, especially in front of the camera. In fact, this is so important that some professional photographers actually ask their subjects to take at least one shot with a silly face. Try it out — it actually works (most of the time).

Headshot portrait photography is a time to relax, your model doesn't have to be very strict, even if you have to take a document photo. Just keep it simple! If you can't make your client laugh on your own, maybe he came with a company. Ask someone to make your client feel most comfortable in front of the camera. This always saves you if you are just starting out and don't know how to photograph headshots.

Stay Positive

During the session, stay both positive and genuine in your statements. Let them know when they’re doing well, when the shots are coming out great, and when they’ve struck a great pose or have that perfect twinkle in their eyes. What other tips for headshots in photography? Avoid saying anything that might shake their confidence — it’s hard enough for most people to feel positive about their body image without having their photographer add to it. Also, make sure that your client feels comfortable.

Main Headshot Photo Tip: Practice, Practice, Practice!

Learning the technical side of taking portraits is pretty straightforward, but being able to manage it while keeping up a personal connection is quite another level of complexity for a photo headshot. To get to know your gear, how your lighting works, and what angles work best while effortlessly chatting up your subject, you’ll need to practice…a lot! Also, remember to use our headshot photo tips. The goal is to be able to focus entirely on them and not get distracted by the technicalities. In addition, finding angles that accent a person’s attractive features while concealing the unattractive ones requires both focus and experience. That only comes with practice.

Yet the technical aspects aren’t the only part to practice for headshot photos. “Just as important as the gear, you have to decide what you will say when you’re shooting, and practice in every session to perfect it,” Peter Hurley in Popular Photography In the end, the most natural, interesting shots will happen when your subject is relaxed, at ease, and ideally having fun. That’s when you know you have the winning combination.

If you want to make creative headshot photography or you just need a good photo editor to retouch, then you should definitely try Luminar Neo!