Tips for Capturing the Perfect Headshot?

[eleanormiles]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking to improve my headshot photography skills and would love some advice from experienced photographers. What techniques do you recommend for lighting, posing, and composition to make a headshot really stand out?

How do you balance natural expression with professionalism, especially for corporate or LinkedIn-style portraits?

Are there any favorite lenses or camera settings you swear by? Also, any tips for editing without overdoing it would be super helpful.

I want my subjects to look polished yet approachable.

Looking forward to your insights and practical advice!

 

[eleanormiles]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking to improve my headshot photography skills and would love some advice from experienced photographers. What techniques do you recommend for lighting, posing, and composition to make a headshot really stand out?

How do you balance natural expression with professionalism, especially for corporate or LinkedIn-style portraits?

Are there any favorite lenses or camera settings you swear by? Also, any tips for editing without overdoing it would be super helpful.

I want my subjects to look polished yet approachable.

Looking forward to your insights and practical advice on professional headshots!

thanks in advance for any help

 

[兹未 (Ts’why) Ye]

Hi，eleanormiles（I hope my translation is correct and I haven't made any typos.）
The lens would suggest using a large-aperture prime lens, which will give you a better picture quality experience. Regarding business portrait photos, what you need to do is to make the other person relax. You can chat or do other things... At this time, the other person will be more cooperative with you and more likely to show their unique charm. Since I don't know whether you are shooting indoors or outdoors, I can't give you an accurate suggestion. But remember that the purpose of using light is to make the subject more three-dimensional and more vibrant. Also, people of every age have their unique charm. Approach from your perception and the feeling the other person wants to convey. Highlight the subject and simplify the background. If possible, please send some of your works.Utilize AI or manually perform operations such as adjusting the high and low frequencies, and neutral gray to make the skin appear more transparent.There are too many details involved. Based on what you roughly said, the only things I can reply to are these. The most important point is to make good use of the tools you have at hand.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Continuing on these thoughts, it’s important to note what is the age and sex of the subject, the purpose of the headshot so you know what’s at stake.

Chat to know their sensitivities. For example, to birthmarks, lines and wrinkles. Some are offended if a birthmark is removed, while others may expect it, but for an industry headshot to get selected for a production, birthmarks can’t be hidden.

Work in layers. That allows you to come back and ease the contribution each correction layer has to the final result.

I tend to decrease lines and wrinkles by having a close giant diameter light and by “frequency separation” in post processing.

With the latter, I need to return to the work the next day and decrease the “correction” by as much as possible. Sometimes 15% of the original correction is sufficient. The person gets a subtle flattering benefit, but you haven’t departed from “the truth” that the casting director will see it for a dating service a potential partner might be disappointed by.

For most folk, a light to the left or right of the camera, above and to one side of the subject angled down so that it seems like sunshine provides “Rembrandt Shadows” at an angle below the nose and on the opposite side of the face and below the chin.

Look up “Rembrandt lighting” to see that.

I also recommend “Portrait Professional”, either to use as a standalone program or as a filter plugin when using photoshop
Or Lightroom or I believe other programs like ON1.

That allows for relighting the face so even if you took the picture in suboptimal light, you can greatly improve by putting light so the cheek bones and jar etc fit what you would like.

Celebrate the truth in each face and actual post by lighting. A hair light above and behind at an upwards or down oblique angle will add dimension. A backlight from below and behind the subject lighting the subjects very edges, will define him or her beautifully against your background.

Try not to go overboard with actual structural changes as to shape of features otherwise there will become complaints by the-end recipient as too much foolishness will be a major source of your client’s immediate ridicule and rejection.

Backfire the shoot ask to get a series of snaps shots from different angles by the mirror. Study the features and look out for what you need to emphasize and what you need to suppress. What angle should the chin be. Is there wrinkled sagging neck skin or is the jaw bone seemingly split at the chin. Don’t over emphasize such potential “ridges or hills” with side or oblique lighting!

Best share some examples as 兹未（Ts'why) Ye suggested so we can better address your needs.

Asher

 

[Asher Kelman]

Eleanor,

Let me be more formal.

Professional Headshot Starter Guide (For Novice Photographers)​

The primary goal of a professional headshot is to create a compelling, confident, and approachable image that focuses entirely on the subject's eyes and face, while remaining a true and honest representation of the person.

Part 1: The Essential Do's (What to Focus On)​

Focus Area	Core Instruction	Key Details
1. Lighting	Use soft, flattering light.	Natural Light is easiest: Position the subject facing a large window (or in open shade outdoors). This provides soft, even light. Avoid: Direct, harsh sunlight, which creates unflattering shadows under the eyes and nose.
2. Expression	Capture genuine connection and confidence.	Engage the subject in conversation to get a relaxed look. Tell them to "smile with their eyes." Always focus on the eyes. A slight lean forward can add energy and connection.
3. Background	Keep it simple and non-distracting.	Use a solid, neutral color (gray, off-white, or navy) or an outdoor setting where the background is intentionally blurred. Ensure there are no distracting objects, patterns, or bright spots.
4. Posing	Shoot from the chest up and keep the posture relaxed.	Have the subject sit or stand up straight. For a flattering look, ask them to slightly push their forehead/chin forward towards the camera to define the jawline. Use a professional-grade lens (like an 85mm) to avoid facial distortion.
5. Technical	Ensure the image is sharp and high-resolution.	Check that the eyes are perfectly in focus. Frame the shot so the head and shoulders fill most of the frame. Use camera settings appropriate for a sharp portrait (e.g., a shallow depth of field, like f/2.8 to f/4, to blur the background).

---

Part 2: Ethical Editing and Critical Don'ts (What to Avoid)​

Area to Avoid	The Mistake	The Result
Physical Alteration (CRITICAL)	DO NOT physically alter the person's bone structure, body shape, or permanent facial features.	This disqualifies the person for the intended purpose. The viewer must not be "tricked" into believing the person looks different from reality. Edits should be limited to temporary issues (e.g., blemishes, flyaway hair).
Focus & Clarity	Using blurry, dark, or low-resolution images.	This immediately looks unprofessional and will be rejected by clients.
Retouching	Over-editing, heavy filters, or excessive skin smoothing.	The image must look like the person walking into the room. Excessive retouching looks artificial and damages client trust.
Clothing	Distracting outfits, busy patterns, or logos.	The eye should go to the face, not the shirt. Stick to solid colors that complement the subject's skin and industry.

Part 3: Non-Destructive Editing Workflow (Your Professional Standard)​

When editing, adhere to a non-destructive workflow using software like Photoshop or similar programs that utilize layers:

1. Work in Layers: All changes (retouching, color correction, dodging, and burning) must be done on separate layers or adjustment layers.
2. Maintain Control: This layer-based method allows you to leave the project and return later to decrease or adjust the effect's opacity as needed.
3. The Minimalist Goal: The final goal is to reduce temporary distractions (like shine, temporary blemishes, or lint) until the benefit of the effect is achieved without it being noticed by the casual observer. If the edit is obvious, it is too much.

Do you have any questions about specific editing tools or techniques you'd like to be addressed?

The secret to success is to list what you are going to do and get subjects to practice.

We always make mistakes. By finding them you set yourself up for improvement and certain success.

Critique your own work in a new layer in photoshop, where you use a paint brush and a bold contrasting color to circle areas where mistakes have been made. Then as soon as possible repeat the shoot until it’s perfect to your eyes!