To hang a sheet for a portrait, use tape or a curtain rod to hang the sheet vertically behind you. If you want to add a little more attitude or personality to your image, feel free to shoot your business headshot against a textured or wallpapered wall.
If you use additional lighting sources, use light sources that produce white light, as opposed to yellow or blue light. A softbox is a professional piece of equipment that produces high-quality white light. Avoid taking your photos in direct sunlight, as that can create harsh shadows. [5] X Expert Source Martin BentsenActing Coach & Headshot Photographer Expert Interview. 8 May 2020.
For a more dynamic look, shoot 15-45 minutes after sunrise or before sunset. These periods are known as the golden hours, and they’re the periods in the day when the light is softer and more radiant. Avoid shooting in overcast conditions. It is difficult to achieve strong highlights and shadows if there isn’t much direct light outside.
If you’re in an industry that generally benefits from a less-formal look, feel free to dress a little more casually. Wear a trendier dress or a unique suit jacket without a tie. A sweater over a collared shirt can work as well. This would be appropriate for graphic designers, programmers, or writers. Most business headshots are from the waist or chest and up. If you don’t plan on taking any full-body shots, feel free to wear some comfortable sweatpants or something like that.
If you’re looking for a new position or promotion, look at how the managers and directors in your field dress. For example, if you’re a mechanical engineer, look at how the head of engineering departments look in their headshots. LinkedIn is great for this. Go on LinkedIn and browse profiles to compare how people present themselves in their photos. This is less important if you aren’t shooting a business headshot since you can wear whatever you want.
Newer iPhones and Samsung models made after 2016 are known for having great cameras. If your phone’s camera has more than 12 megapixels (MP), the quality is likely very good. Megapixels refer to the number of pixels in each image. The more pixels there are, the more detailed the image will be. [12] X Research source DSLR stands for digital single-lens reflex camera. DSLRs are the bulky cameras with big lenses that you see tourists and professional photographers using.
Tripods for DSLRs are universal, and basically every camera should fit on a standard camera tripod. You can also get a tripod for your phone if that’s how you’re shooting your photos.
Prioritize shutter speed over the other settings for a business headshot. Raise the ISO or lower the aperture before you increase the shutter speed.
Do not exceed 800 ISO. If you do, you’re going to end up with noise in your photo and it may look grainy. The only time you should exceed 800 ISO is if you’re shooting an artistic portrait and want the digital image to resemble film.
For an outdoor business headshot, set the aperture as low as you can (usually around f/2) to blur the background out. You want the emphasis to be on you, not the background.
On most phones, you touch the screen where the object is to put it into focus. On a DSLR, the focus setting is typically on the side of the lens itself. “M” stands for manual while “A” stands for automatic. When it’s set to automatic, you press the shutter button halfway down and the lens will adjust accordingly based on what you’re looking at in the viewfinder.
An intervalometer is an automated attachment that you plug into your camera. Set it to take a photo every 1, 5, or 10 seconds to change your pose or facial expression after every shot. Intervalometers are typically used to make stop-motion videos or in time-lapse photography. A remote shutter is an attachment that plugs into your camera. It comes with a clicker that you can click from anywhere to take a photo without being behind the camera.
For a business headshot, be sure to relax your arms at your side and stand up straight. Tense arms can make you hunch over a little, which can make you look dishonest or tired. You can stuff your hands in your pockets if it makes it easier for you to relax. If you’re shooting some artful self-portraits, feel free to make whatever facial expression you think works for the image you’re going for.
It is extremely unlikely that your first photo will look right. Don’t worry–the closer you get to the right settings for your shot, the more likely you are to find the perfect self-portrait!
The more images you take, the more likely it is that you’ll capture something truly special. At the same time, it can take a long time to sort through hundreds of photos! Ideally, you should have at least 5 options to choose from.
If the color of the lighting is off, change the white balance settings. To make your image brighter or darker, use the brightness or contrast settings to adjust the light in your photo. Professional headshots typically don’t use flashy camera filters. If you really want to stand out and you’re in a creative industry, feel free to opt for a black and white filter, though! If you’re using your phone, click the “edit” button in the gallery screen to change a photo. You can always edit photos from your camera in a computer program after you edit them, though. In a professional headshot, there should probably be a 2:1 ratio between your body and the background. You want the focus to be on you, not the background.
