Pearls for Practice: Headshots

A professional headshot photograph can be useful in a variety of settings: personal website or portfolio; LinkedIn, Indeed, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram profiles; blog posts or bylines; professional association bio; attached to a resume; and many more. A professional-quality headshot doesn’t have to be expensive although there are ways to help yours stand out from the crowd. All you need is a friend and a good camera (or phone camera)!

• Pick out an outfit that you feel confident in. Avoid patterns, jeans, neon colors, anything too seasonal and anything that you’d wear to a party. Think classic, timeless and work appropriate — something you’d wear to meet the CEO.
• Find a plain, but ideally interesting backdrop. Avoid posing in front of windows or busy backgrounds (such as a city street). If photographing outdoors, be wary of bright sunlight or dark shadows. The best time of day for outdoor pictures is the few hours before sunrise and the few hours before sunset.
• A universally flattering angle is to angle your body slightly to the left or right with your head turned straight toward the camera. Keep one foot pointing forward with the other slightly angled behind it. Tilt your head slightly down, and make sure to smile!
• Take lots of photos. Try different backgrounds and poses. The more photos you take, the more options you’ll have to pick the perfect one.
• Once you’ve picked your perfect headshot, save it and use it for everything. Don’t forget to update it every couple of years!
• Need inspiration? There’s plenty available on the internet, Instagram or Pinterest. Just search “professional headshot.”

Extra credit

• Editing isn’t required, but if you really want to take your photograph to the next level, low-priced smartphone apps are easy to use and have plenty of editing tools. Check your app store to see what works best with your skill level and budget.