Make a lasting impression: 3 tips for polished and professional headshots

Your headshot is a first impression; make it a good one.

We’ve all seen those LinkedIn profiles — the dated photo with bad ‘90s hair, the weirdly cropped group photo, and the awkward-angle selfie.

Avoid sticking out for all the wrong reasons, and make sure you’re putting your best face forward with a polished and professional headshot.

If you’re ready to update your personal headshots or refresh the look for your whole team, use these three simple tips to help you take timeless photos that impress…

1. Avoid complicated or location-specific backdrops.

A busy background is distracting, and you definitely don’t want to stick out for the wrong reasons on your company website. Plus, if you’re part of a growing team, you’ll want a cohesive and repeatable look.

Use a clean, white, or off-white backdrop to produce a consistent look that will ensure a clean look that can still be used even three years from now.

2. Make it a “body shot,” not just a “headshot.”

By obtaining photos with more of your body in the photograph, say from the waist up, you’ll have a ton of versatility in how you crop them.

Want to use your photo in a horizontal format or a circular crop for a profile picture? No problem. On the other hand, if you obtain a more traditional tightly cropped headshot, you will lose out on the ability to use the photos in many different ways.

Leave yourself options, get a wider crop on your photos, and you won’t have to re-shoot in the future.

3. What you wear matters— keep it professional and classic.

You don’t have to wear a suit, but choose something professional. A collared shirt or a top with a v-neck will help draw attention to your face.

Skip trendy patterns and oversized silhouettes. Instead, opt for solid dark colors and classic form-fitting clothes. These flatter every figure and will pop against your white background.

And, if you accessorize, keep it simple with one or two items. You can always swap out jewelry or a jacket to give yourself more variety and showcase your personality.

Finally, add the right photographer, and you’ve got the recipe for stellar headshots.

Reach out and book your in-person or virtual headshot session with The Vanity Portrait Studio, and we’ll help you stand out for all the right reasons!