What are headshots
Headshots are professional portrait photographs that focus primarily on a person's face, head and shoulders. People use them in at least eight common settings, including LinkedIn profiles, company websites and actor portfolios.
Headshots at a Glance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Main focus | The person's face and expression |
| Typical framing | Head and shoulders or chest up |
| Main purpose | Identification, personal branding or promotion |
| Common uses | LinkedIn, business websites, acting profiles and speaker bios |
| Style | Professional, approachable and suited to the person's role |
| Format | Usually digital, although some industries also use printed headshots |
A headshot should make the subject easy to recognise and create an impression that suits the setting. Depending on the person and their work, that impression might be confident, approachable, authoritative or creative.
What Is a Professional Headshot Used For?
A professional headshot helps people put a face to a name. Common uses include:
- LinkedIn and other professional networking profiles
- Company websites and staff directories
- Business cards, press releases and marketing materials
- Actor and performer portfolios
- Speaker biographies and conference websites
- Author pages and media profiles
- Personal websites and professional social media accounts
- Model, casting and talent agency submissions
The right style depends on where the photograph will appear. A lawyer may need a polished business headshot, while an actor may need an expressive image that reflects the roles they are seeking.
What Makes a Good Headshot?
A good headshot should be:
- Recognisable: The person should look like their current self.
- Well lit: The lighting should show the face clearly without harsh shadows.
- Appropriately framed: The face should remain the main visual focus.
- Suitable for its purpose: A corporate headshot and an actor headshot have different requirements.
- Natural-looking: Retouching should improve the image without changing the person's appearance.
- Current: An outdated photograph can create confusion when people meet the subject.
Simple or softly blurred backgrounds help keep attention on the face. Clothing, expression, lighting and composition should support the person's professional identity rather than distract from it.
What Are the Main Types of Headshots?
Headshots vary according to the person's work and how the image will be used.
Corporate and Business Headshots
Corporate headshots represent employees, executives, business owners and other professionals. They often appear on company websites, LinkedIn profiles, press materials and internal directories.
Business headshots can be formal, relaxed or environmental. A financial adviser may choose a formal studio image, while a creative director may prefer a more informal photograph taken in a workplace.
Actor Headshots
Actor headshots are promotional photographs that performers send to casting directors, agents and production companies. The image should show the actor's current appearance and suggest the type of role they may play.
An actor's headshot is not usually a fashion portrait. Casting professionals need to see the performer clearly, including their face, age range, expression and overall presence.
LinkedIn Headshots
A LinkedIn headshot is a professional profile image that makes an online business profile more personal and credible. The best style depends on the person's industry, seniority and audience.
For most LinkedIn users, a clean background, clear lighting, suitable clothing and a natural expression are more useful than dramatic poses or heavy editing.
Personal Branding Headshots
Personal branding headshots are created for entrepreneurs, consultants, creators, authors and public speakers. They allow more variety in clothing, location, pose and expression because they need to communicate more of the person's personality and work.
A personal branding session may produce several images, such as a traditional headshot, a half-body portrait and an environmental photograph.
How Are Headshots Different from Portraits?
A portrait is a broad category of photographs that represent a person. It may show the full body, include a meaningful location or use an artistic pose.
A headshot is more narrowly focused on the person's face and professional or promotional identity.
| Image type | Primary purpose | Typical framing |
|---|---|---|
| Headshot | Professional identification or promotion | Head and shoulders or chest up |
| Portrait | Personal, artistic or editorial representation | Any framing |
| Selfie | Casual, self-taken image | Varies |
| Passport photo | Official identification | Strict government requirements |
| Group photo | Showing several people together | Multiple subjects |
A headshot can be artistic, but it still needs to identify the subject clearly. A photograph that hides the face or focuses heavily on the surroundings may be a portrait rather than a conventional headshot.
Do Headshots Have to Be Taken by a Professional Photographer?
No. A smartphone can produce a suitable headshot with good lighting, a clear composition and an appropriate background. A professional photographer can usually provide more consistent lighting, posing guidance, camera quality and retouching.
Professional photography is especially useful when the image will be used for:
- Acting auditions
- Executive or corporate branding
- Public speaking
- Media appearances
- Company-wide employee profiles
- High-visibility professional profiles
The deciding factor is not whether the photograph was taken in a studio. The finished image should look clear, current and suitable for its intended use.
What Should You Wear for a Headshot?
Wear clothing that suits your profession and keeps attention on your face. Solid colours often work well because busy patterns, large logos and reflective materials can distract from the subject.
Consider:
- Choosing clothing that fits well
- Bringing one formal and one less formal option
- Selecting colours that complement your skin tone
- Avoiding clothing tied closely to a short-lived trend
- Matching the expected style of your industry
Actors should follow the requirements of their agency or casting market. Business professionals should choose clothing that reflects how they want clients, employers or colleagues to perceive them.
Bottom Line
A headshot is a focused professional portrait that shows who you are and suits the setting in which people will see it. The strongest image is clear, current and recognisable. It should look like you, rather than like a heavily edited version of you.