How to smile for headshots
The best headshot smile is relaxed and moderate, with engaged eyes, a loose jaw and a slight exhale. Avoid forcing a wide grin or holding the expression rigidly. Start with a soft closed-mouth smile, then try a slightly wider version if it feels natural. A five-minute practice before the session can help you compare the options.
Headshot Smile Guide at a Glance
| Headshot Goal | Recommended Smile | Mouth Position |
|---|---|---|
| LinkedIn or corporate profile | Warm, controlled smile | Closed mouth or slightly visible teeth |
| Executive headshot | Subtle smile or confident neutral expression | Usually closed mouth |
| Actor headshot | Several expressions, depending on casting type | Closed mouth, slight smile and full smile |
| Personal brand photo | Natural conversational smile | Whatever feels most like you |
| Friendly team or client-facing profile | Approachable, genuine smile | Slightly open or visible teeth |
How Do You Smile Naturally for a Headshot?
Relax your face before adding the smile. Take a slow breath in, then exhale while releasing tension from your shoulders, jaw and forehead. Let your mouth rest briefly before changing your expression.
A smile looks forced when the mouth moves but the rest of the face stays tense. Photographers often use movement, conversation and short prompts to create a natural expression instead of asking you to hold one smile for a long time.
1. Relax Your Face Before You Smile
Start with a neutral expression. Unclench your jaw, lower your shoulders and let your forehead soften. Then add a small smile.
If your jaw feels tired during the session, return to neutral before trying again. Short resets usually look better than holding one expression continuously.
2. Smile With Your Eyes, but Do Not Over-Squint
Think about greeting someone you genuinely like. Let your eyes soften slightly and allow your mouth to follow.
Do not squeeze your eyes shut. Too much squinting can make you look strained. Aim for comfortable eye contact with the camera and a small amount of natural movement around the eyes. Your eyes should look interested, not intensely narrowed.
3. Start With a Soft Smile
A soft smile is a useful starting point for most professional headshots:
- Relax your lips.
- Lift the corners of your mouth slightly.
- Keep your jaw unclenched.
- Maintain direct but comfortable eye contact.
- Hold the expression briefly.
A closed-mouth smile can look polished and approachable without feeling too casual. If it seems too restrained, gradually show a little more of your teeth.
4. Do Not Force a Wide Grin
A large smile is not automatically more professional or attractive. It can work well for an upbeat personal brand, sales role or creative profile, but it should still resemble your usual expression.
For a legal, financial, medical or executive headshot, a moderate smile can add warmth while preserving authority. For an actor, entertainer or lifestyle professional, the photographer may need several smile intensities rather than one standard expression.
5. Keep Your Jaw Loose
Avoid pressing your teeth together or pulling your lips tightly across your teeth. Both actions can make the smile look tense.
Before each frame, gently separate your teeth, relax your tongue and let your lower jaw drop slightly. Then smile without stretching your mouth as far as possible.
Should You Show Your Teeth in a Headshot?
Show your teeth if that is how you naturally smile and it suits the role. Keep your lips together if a closed-mouth smile feels more authentic.
There is no universal rule that professional headshots must show teeth. A closed-mouth smile can look confident and composed, while a teeth-showing smile can appear more energetic and inviting.
Ask your photographer to capture both options:
- Neutral expression
- Soft closed-mouth smile
- Slightly open smile
- Full teeth-showing smile
Review the images at the same size and crop people will actually see. A smile that feels too strong in person may look balanced in a small LinkedIn profile image.
What Should You Do With Your Chin and Head?
Keep your face directed toward the camera, then move your chin slightly forward and slightly down. This separates your jaw from your neck without making you look downward.
Do not push your chin too far forward or tuck it sharply toward your chest. Both positions can look unnatural. A slight body angle, relaxed shoulders and a camera positioned around eye level can create a more dimensional headshot.
How Can You Avoid a Fake Smile?
Use a specific thought or prompt instead of telling yourself, "I need to smile now." Try one of these:
- Imagine greeting a favourite client.
- Think of someone who makes you laugh.
- Picture hearing genuinely good news.
- Say a few words before the photo is taken.
- Look away, relax and return your eyes to the camera.
A photographer can also vary the expression between frames. These small changes help prevent the fixed look that appears when you hold the same smile for too long.
What If You Do Not Like Your Smile?
You do not have to use a full smile. Try one of these alternatives:
- A relaxed neutral expression with warm eyes
- A slight closed-mouth smile
- A half-smile with one side of the mouth raised slightly
- A softer smile with the lips barely parted
The right headshot expression should look like you on your best day, not like a different person. Ask the photographer to show you a few test images early in the session so you can adjust the smile, head angle or mouth position.
The Best Five-Minute Practice Before Your Session
Use a mirror or phone camera to test these expressions:
- Neutral face
- Soft closed-mouth smile
- Slightly open smile
- Full smile
- Smile immediately after a relaxed exhale
Choose the version that looks most natural and recognisable. During the session, tell the photographer which expression feels closest to your everyday face.
Final Headshot Smile Checklist
Before each photo:
- Relax your shoulders.
- Exhale slowly.
- Unclench your jaw.
- Look into the lens.
- Think of a real person or positive moment.
- Start with a small smile.
- Let the photographer increase the expression gradually.
- Do not hold the smile longer than necessary.
If you are unsure, ask for both a closed-mouth and teeth-showing version, then choose the one that still looks like you at the size people will see it.