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Corporate Headshot Dos and Don’ts

Written by

Gorgi

in

Most disappointing headshots fail for the same handful of reasons. Here are the dos and don’ts I share with clients, so your session goes smoothly and your portrait works everywhere you use it.

Before the session

  • Do decide where the headshot will be used: LinkedIn, a company website, a bio, press.
  • Do choose solid colors and well-fitted clothes. See what to wear.
  • Do get a haircut about a week before.
  • Don’t wear small, busy patterns; they can shimmer on screens.
  • Don’t try new skincare or tanning products the day before.
  • Don’t arrive rushed. Tension shows in the shoulders and eyes.

During the session

  • Do wear your glasses if you wear them every day. I’ll position them to avoid glare.
  • Do tell me what you like or don’t like as we review images on screen.
  • Do trust the direction, even when a position feels strange. Bringing your face slightly forward, for example, feels odd and looks great.
  • Don’t force a big “say cheese” smile. A relaxed or micro-smile usually works better.
  • Don’t worry about knowing how to pose. That’s my job.

The image itself

  • Do keep the background simple and consistent with your company’s team page.
  • Do frame from the chest up, with your face filling enough of the frame to read as a thumbnail.
  • Don’t use a cropped group photo or a vacation picture.
  • Don’t over-retouch. Your headshot should look like you on a good day, not like someone else.

After the session

  • Do use the same image across LinkedIn, your website and your email signature.
  • Do keep a high-resolution file for print and press.
  • Do update your headshot when it no longer looks like you.
  • Don’t apply color filters. You may crop your photos or convert them to black and white, but changing the colors isn’t permitted under my terms.
  • Don’t forget to download your images from the Customer Access page; they’re removed after two months.

For teams

  • Do agree on a dress code and background before the day.
  • Do schedule short, staggered time slots so nobody waits.
  • Don’t mix photos from different photographers and years on the same team page.

For more, read how to prepare for your headshot session, or see my approach on the headshot photographer in Indianapolis page.

Ready for a headshot that looks like you on your best day?

Every session includes expression coaching and professional retouching, in my studio in Indianapolis or at your office. See sessions and rates, or tell us what you need and we’ll help you plan it.

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