3 Steps for Taking Headshots Yourself
If you’re looking for new headshots for your LinkedIn profile or other professional materials, sitting for a professional photo shoot isn’t always necessary. Taking great shots doesn't have to be expensive.
All you need is your iPhone, the right outfits, and a couple optional tools. Your home and yard provide an abundance of great locations.
Follow these simple steps and you’ll have professional-looking photos that truly reflect who you are.
#1: LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
Pick a room in your home that has good natural light, like a sunroom or living room. Even better: head outside! On a deck, in a garden, by a body of water, or near trees are perfect places for outside photos.
PRO TIP:
You can buy an inexpensive ring light on Amazon for indoor pictures. Placing a ring light in front of you helps illuminate your face evenly. They are great for Zoom calls as well!
When taking pictures outside, a slightly overcast day is best. Avoid the noon hour when the sun is at its peak. You may want to try some practice shots at different times of day to see when the lighting is optimal at your chosen spot(s).
When inside, it’s best to choose a room without a lot of clutter. If you’ve found the perfect location but there’s a lot going on in the background, simply declutter before taking your pictures. You want the focus on you, not what’s going on in the background.
#2: WEAR THE RIGHT OUTFIT
It’s easy to just throw on a black blazer with a white top, but before you do that, keep this in mind: You want your pictures to reflect your personality. And wearing something you feel really great in puts you at ease during your shoot so you have a better chance of getting the perfect shots.
That said, wear something that reflects the industry you are in, or the industry you want to be in. Don’t go too casual if you’re in a more conservative field like finance or law. I can get a little more creative because I’m in a creative industry.
Avoid tops that are tight to the body or very oversized. Oversized can make you look messy and too tight can make you look larger than you are. Not to mention that a tight top showing cleavage isn’t exactly professional.
Be cautious of having too much going on in your outfit. It’s OK to wear a pair of statement earrings or scarf if that reflects your personality, but I typically say to keep it to one statement item per outfit. Otherwise, it can be very distracting.
Don’t forget about what you’re wearing on the bottom. I know they are called headshots, but getting some pictures at various distances from the camera (and standing and sitting) gives you a lot of options for using them in various ways.
#3: SHOOT + EDIT
Use the portrait mode whenever possible. It works like magic! It further blurs your background, helping the focus be on your pretty face! Portrait mode is especially good for up close shots. As you back up, the camera will tell you if you are too far away.
Enlist the help of a family member or friend. Or, use the ring light stand with a photo holder to take them yourself. Move around naturally and take a lot of photos. And I mean A LOT. You’ll be surprised at how much some simple body placement differences can make.
Show some personality! This is a huge benefit of doing them on your own. You don’t feel as awkward hamming it up for the camera. Maybe the one where you caught yourself slightly laughing really reflects who you are.
When editing the pictures, the focus should be on making sure they look light and bright. You can soften some of your features too but don’t go overboard! It can look unnatural. Your phone and computer have plenty of built-in tools, so no need to get another program. That said, A Color Story and Adobe Light Room are a couple apps I’ve used when necessary.
Photo Shoot Styling Package
If you want some further guidance, my Photo Shoot Styling Package maybe perfect for you. I will:
Style 5 outfit choices for you, using existing and/or new pieces
Guide you through the process of choosing a location and creating the right background
Coach you on how to use your iPhone and setting up the right lighting to get the best shots
Provide makeup and hair styling tips
After your shots are taken, I give you direction on editing
Book a free consultation with me to learn more!
