You know you need a new headshot, but what kind do you want to have?
First, you need to consider how you plan to use it. If the only use is for your social media profiles, then you have a lot of flexibility since you’ll be cropping in very tight to the area around your face anyway.
If, on the other hand, you plan to use the headshot for a website, presentations, speaker profiles, advertising, or other purposes, then you will want to think through more specifically what you need to request from your photographer.
Let’s look at some of the key questions.
Is this a professional headshot, an actor’s headshot, a dating app headshot, a yearbook photo, or something else?
It used to be that headshots were reserved for actors and senior executives. But in the age of digital media, we all need to put our best face forward.
While there is certainly overlap, the approach to a professional headshot and an actor’s headshot can be a bit different.
For example, if you are an actor then your photographer should know what types of roles you are seeking so that the session can help produce images that are more likely to catch the casting director’s eye for that look.
An actor might even have a library of different looks to submit for different types of productions and roles.
A professional headshot or yearbook photo, on the other hand, may have more specific restrictions that need to be met. And the look should be consistent with the expectations of the industry and the individual’s own personal brand.
Do you need to match the style of other headshots?
If you are using the headshot for a corporate website, then you will likely want it to have a similar look, background, and crop to your colleagues. The photographer should be aware of this so that they can plan for whatever is needed to accomplish this goal.
You may also have other photography that you are looking to match, especially if you are using images in conjunction with a website or presentation.
Do you need more than just a traditional head-and-shoulders crop?
But these days, it is not uncommon for folks to really mean more of a portrait-style image that includes most or all of the torso, too.
And if you plan to use the image for things like advertising or online video thumbnails, then you may want to be able to include the arms (for example, crossed across the chest or even including points and gestures that commonly appear in YouTube previews).
How many images do you need?
Most people start out thinking they just need a single headshot image to use on social media or their website.
But since you are investing in the photography session, it’s a good time to think about what else you might want.
For example, you might want different images on professional and personal social networks (one could be more business-like, and the other a bit more personality-driven). Perhaps you need something for a new website design that needs to fit with a certain look in a certain space.
Or maybe you create ads or social media posts that you want to incorporate your image into and don’t want to keep repeating the exact same image and look every time.
And as long as you are making the time for the session with a photographer, do you want an updated portrait to share with family?
Understanding your goals will help you get a more tailored experience that produces what you really want.
Do you want an environmental, on-location, or studio session?
Once you understand what you want for results, now it’s time to make some decisions about where the headshot session will take place.
Let’s review the three main options:
Environmental headshots. If you want to give your headshots a bit more style, then an environmental headshot might make more sense. You will meet at an agreed indoor or outdoor location that will serve as the backdrop of the images you create together. Perhaps you want to represent a specific geographic location in your image or you simply want the feel you can produce by being in a certain place.
On-location headshots. For professional headshots, it is common for a photographer to come to your place of work — especially if there are multiple individuals getting new or updated images. These sessions can be set up to mimic studio shoots with simple backgrounds, or they might be designed to capture the look-and-feel of the actual office environment. Sometimes these sessions may include “team at work” photos that can be incorporated into company websites, brochures, and presentations.
In-studio headshots. For a classic headshot, you might opt to visit the photographer’s studio. This is often the most economical option because the photographer doesn’t need to account for travel and setup in their fees. It also ensures a comfort and convenience, without needing to account with some of the uncertainties of environmental or on-location sessions like weather, co-worker interruptions, or unexpected construction activity.
The choice of session type might be influenced by some of the needs outlined in the answers to the previous questions or you might be able to simply choose what you find most convenient or appealing.
Never hesitate to express your preferences to your photographer.
The bottom line is that you are creating headshots that should meet your own needs. There’s no single “right” way to produce a headshot, and there’s no reason you can’t ask for what you want.
A good photographer will let you know if any of your requests are not a fit for their own process and style, but you can usually find a local professional who can help you get whatever style you may desire.
You can learn more about my own headshot services or feel free to reach out if you have any questions.