How To Take A Great Headshot Photograph For Your Business Profile

Every one of us will need a great headshot photograph at some point in our life, especially if you’re job-hunting. Job hunters are not the only ones that need a great headshot; even business owners are looking for a professional-looking headshot photograph that they can use for their business profile.

But if you don’t have the resources to hire a professional or you’re just too shy to be photographed by other people, you can make your own headshot photograph yourself. Taking your own headshot photograph is more fun and exciting since you get to do it again and again until you got the perfect shot you want. It’s also more convenient since you can always try for a different look.  

With that said, here are tips how to take a great headshot photograph for your business profile.

1. Pick a good spot in your home with proper lighting and solid-colored wall as a backdrop.

The best place to take your headshot is indoors. It’s better if the spot is far from direct sunlight and has a simple backdrop like a wall or a curtain.

• The hardest part of making an ideal headshot location is getting proper lighting. Take your time in picking the right spot where there is no direct sunlight coming in.
• As for your backdrop, you want to choose a simple backdrop that will make your face stand out more. If you can’t find a backdrop in your home, you can try setting up a seamless backdrop on your own.

2. Get artificial lights

Good lighting makes for a great headshot photograph. It is also the hardest element to get right in a headshot photograph. Since you’ll be taking your headshot at home, you’ll want to use artificial lights if you’re going to snap a great headshot. Artificial lights can also ensure that you get consistent results from your headshots.

• If you’re going to use artificial lights, be sure that their will be no direct sunlight coming into the room. Direct sunlight is bluer than most artificial lights, and it will create a bad mix of colors.
• Be sure to position the additional lights properly inside the room. You don’t want them to be too close to you either since they can make weird shadows in the background.

3. Wear a natural makeup.

Since the purpose of the headshot photograph is for your business profile, you’ll want to look natural with by wearing simple makeup if you are female.

• Avoid going overboard with your makeup. The makeup that you wear when you to a party will not look appropriate for your business profile.
• Natural makeup is always the best for professional headshot photographs. Just keep it simple and make sure that you’re comfortable wearing your makeup.

It’s okay to use a strong lipstick, but don’t put too much lipstick and especially if you don’t look normal that way. You want your headshot photograph to be the best representation of yourself for your business profile.  

4. Choose your best side.

If you don’t feel confident about your look on camera, you can always choose the best side of your face that you want to be focused on by the camera.

• This can help a lot, especially if there’s a feature in your face that you don’t want to be focused on by the camera.
• You can choose which side of your face you prefer to be focused on by the camera so the results can look good.
• Take your time figuring out which side of your face looks better so you can make sure that your headshot photograph will look good.

5. Don’t forget to smile.

Smiling in a photo is easier said than done. Most people often forget to smile when taking a photograph because they are too self-conscious about how they look.

• If you’re one of these people who are not sure about how they look when they smile or how they should smile, you can always take a few shots of yourself and ask your family or friends what they think about your headshot.
• When smiling, it’s important to smile naturally. Your smile should reflect the expression on your face and eyes. Fake smiles are easy to spot.
• Think of funny things or anything that could make you laugh and smile before taking the shot. This way you’ll be able to create a great headshot photograph with a natural smile on your face.

Just be patient with the process though. You can’t expect to see good results at the first click of the shutter. Take your time. There’s no need for you to rush. It may take a lot of shots before you can get the headshot photograph you want for your business profile. Experiment as much as possible especially with the angles, lighting, and locations so you can capture the headshot photograph you want.

If you find all of these tips to be overwhelming for you, you can always hire a professional headshot photographer like 312 elements to capture amazing professional headshots of yourself. They are willing to work with you and fulfill your wishes on how you want to look in your headshot photograph that will certainly leave a good first impression for your business profile.

Michael Schacht

Michael Schachtis a portrait photographer and photography educator based in Chicago Illinois. As owner/operator of 312 Elements Headshot Photography located in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood, Michael overseas the day to day operations and has had the opportunity to photograph thousands of corporate professionals over the last decade. Through his direction, attention to detail, and people skills, he’s helped these clients to craft a narrative around their personal brand. It’s his belief that the headshot is the modern dad business card and that a better headshot is essential for a better career. Michael, his wife Meghan and his two daughters reside in Tinley Park Illinois where he is a community leader and active participant in the local business sector. Michael studied business at Ball State university and photography with world renown headshot photographer, Peter Hurley. It was Hurley that trained Michael in the art of human expression. Michael is now a Headshot Crew certified Mentor and active member of the Headshot Crew community where he was named one of the top 20 headshot photographers in the world.