What makes a good headshot?
From photofocus.com: "Portrait photography is about capturing the essence, personality, identity and attitude of a person utilizing backgrounds, lighting and posing."
So, what makes a traditional portrait different from a headshot? Context.
Think about portraits that you've seen hanging on the walls of museums and castles, for instance. What story do they convey? Riches, torment, love, importance, sainthood, martyrdom.
But for headshots, what we want is to convey something totally different, something that ties you to characteristics of your occupation:
Are you a trainer? You might want your headshot to define your physical attributes and athleticism.
Are you a makeup artist or aesthetician? Your headshot should highlight your skin and makeup capabilities.
Are you a realtor? Trustworthiness and approachability are two important traits that you'll want your potential clients to see in your photo.
How do we convey something like trustworthiness within a photograph? Body position! A head tilted with the chin pushed forward can give an air of defiance, whereas a relaxed body and low shoulders shows the viewer that you are easygoing and confident. Colors and accessories are equally important and your photographer can and should help you with these decisions before your session.
Why can't we just use a selfie for our business headshot? Well, there's no law that says you can't! But the truth is that your phone selfie looks like a phone selfie and is immediately recognizable as such. The question really lies in what you want your potential clients to feel the very first time they interact with you and your business.
Some photographers specialize in headshots and have studio setups specifically for those clients. Some of us shoot headshots on location, meaning we come to you and shoot at your office, home, or other space that you choose. In my opinion, a good photographer needs to be able to adapt to your needs, rather than asking you to adapt to theirs.
I challenge you to take a look at the images you use for your business sites versus the ones you use for your social media profile pictures and think about what each one tells the viewer about you. You might be surprised at what you see! Want to learn more? Let’s connect!
