Modern Headshots versus Stuffy & Boring

May 24

Headshots have gotten a bad rap over the last several years. I mean, of course they have! The word itself sounds just so terrible. Am I right?

For me, I like to think of my “Headshots” as mini portrait sessions. I feel like the new and modern take on the corporate photo is not only about showing your face, but actually showing who you are and why a business would want to hire you.

I don’t want a stuffy or boring photo to promote my own self, so why would I want that for my clients? So now I’m making it a goal of mine to create headshots for my subjects that are more than just staring into the camera over a shoulder.

Here are some thoughts and ideas I have on how to plan well and what to think about when it comes to your personality, style, vibe, and changing up your poses to reflect and modern and unique image.

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Personality

A huge part of bringing YOU into a photo is showing off what you consider to be one of your greatest personality traits when it comes to your work.

For me, I know that clients find me friendly and approachable. So, I tend to laugh or smile super big in my photos. It comes natural to me, so it isn’t too difficult to see this trait in my photos.

What characteristic about yourself do you want to portray?

Vibe

Who is going to be looking at your photos and What do you want the viewer to feel when they look at a photo of you?

Are you friendly and approachable, serious about your work but not closed off, modern and hip, professional but caring and kind, a little bit of all mixed in? Even if you just need a simple photo for your Zoom profile, let’s make it fun and interesting and unique to the story you want to tell about YOU!

Style

Choosing outfits for your shoot is half of the battle and can make or break the vibe and personality you are hoping to present to your audience.

What should you wear for your headshots?

My headshot sessions are 30 minutes, so I can typically capture two outfits/tops during our time together.
I like to suggest a professional outfit and a casual/fun one so that you have options for different social media and business platforms. (If you’d like the option of more outfits, look into booking an hour long portrait session for a variety of choices.)
This subject is so important, so I have written an entire blog post that you can dive into here.

Moving beyond the traditional pose

Yes, you can use your whole body!

Traditional headshots tend to focus on the face, shoulders, and chest. But you DON’T HAVE TO just have photos of your top half. Nope! I think a modern twist on this traditional pose is photographing more of you and in turn showing off more of your natural personality.