Say no to boring Head Shots!
It’s really a sign of the times- we live in a world of remote working, Instagram and Linked in- it’s no wonder there is so much weight put on your ‘personal brand’ and how you present yourself, whether that be to your friends and family, future employers or the communities you participate in. As such head shots and branding shoots are becoming more and more popular. Hell, as someone who equally hates having her photos taken, I’ve had professional headshots done to help me show off the person behind the camera. But what I don’t love is boring head shots.
I recently spent two days working for a company based in Milton Keynes who wanted to offer their employees the chance to have professional shots taken for use as a profile pictures and to be used on company communications. It was a lot of fun getting to talk to a lot of new people and the photos present these people well and looked good but I just felt like these photos were lacking personality and for me photos should be all about capturing a persons personality.
After these corporate headshots I then worked with Laura on taking some photos for her to use in relation to her adventure work. Laura is a yoga teacher, nature nerd and Gutsy Girls Host, so when planning her shoot I wanted to ensure the end product represented her adventurous spirit.
Here’s how to get Headshots that represent you…
Show off your best self!
Step one is to think about what sort of person you are and which version of yourself you want to show off to the world. Are we photographing the professional business person, the creative artist, the adventure lover.
Really think deep about who you are, Lean into that person and believe your own hype!
Location
Where the shoot takes place can tie into the narrative of the person you’re showing the world you are. We could have taken these photos Infront of a grey backdrop, but I don’t think it would have had the same impact, more hiker barbie than genuine adventurer. Similarly I had my headshots done in a vivid location to help communicate that I’m a colour loving person!
Clothes
They say you should dress for the job you want… This holds true for Headshots. No one wants to see their expedition leader in a trouser suit. On the other hand I’m very comfy in my Pj’s, that doesn’t mean they convey my personality well.
A good headshot outfit is one that is comfy, in colours that you find appealing or flattering, that give a real sense of who you are. Like Laura here is kitted out in her walking gear.
No static, painful or Gromit styled smiles
We all do it- we spot a camera and out face tenses. Your not alone and it’s completely normal. But it’s so important to to relax your face and where possible keep your face looking as natural as possible. That might mean taking a few seconds to shake out the awkward, or leaning into the feeling and laughing it off. But either way try to avoid tensing up your face and pulling that cheesy Gromit smile.
Movement & props
The end results would be pretty dull if all you did was stand around, to make the photos more interesting invite a bit of movement- Walk around, dance, crack some jokes and laugh! This will give some energy to your photos and make you look less like a cyborg.
And if the suits it you could use props that further the message your trying to convey. In Laura’s shoot we used a map and her rucksack. In my headshots I hold my camera and threw some confetti around- anything goes as long as it doesn’t look too forced or cheesy.
Have Fun!
I genuinely believe you should try to enjoy everything you do- especially if you’ve chosen to do it. I had some people during those two days of headshots that came in already deciding that their photo would be bad, and where as I had managed to relax others who came in citing the normal ‘I don’t like my photo being taken’ and got some really lovely smiles out of them, it’s true that id you come in with a bad energy or unwilling to relax then the images will come out badly.
So have fun! enjoy goofing around, try the poses you’re put in or riff on your photographers suggestions and make the most of your session!
Looking for a Photographer?
Hi! I’m Jade, A Buckingham based photographer who loves vibrant and authentic wedding photography.
If you are looking for someone who is passionate about capturing your personality and allowing you to have a fun filled wedding without the stuffy posing then we’re a good fit!
