What Is A Professional Headshot?

Years ago this term Headshot was mostly used by actors, models, and authors to update their portfolio, look book, comp card or bio. However now with this digital world we often need a headshot for professional profile photo for LinkedIn, other social media, Zoom, an About Us page, and formal introductions. This term Head Shot or Headshot is becoming a common phrase for businesses who have new hires and onboarding. Professional headshots are a type of portrait photography typically used for websites, press releases, publications, and social-media profiles. The term “head shot” or “headshot” just means that the portrait photo is cropped in the upper body – so that the focus is on your face. Often the cropping style ratio of 8 by 10 like a Three-Quarter Headshot will include the shoulders and if a person has a jacket will include the first top button. Social media profiles like LinkedIn will require a square cropping that will be a tighter close up of the face taking up 60% of the image.

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What is the difference between 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 headshots and a full body portrait?

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What Is A 1/4 Headshot?

A 1/4 headshot or quarter headshot focuses on the face taking up 60% of the photo. 1/4 headshots are the perfect way of showing your personality especially for a profile photo like LinkedIn. Every with a business card, website, social media profile photo, and LinkedIn needs a headshot. A professional headshot also connects you to your online presence. If you are doing Zoom or doing public events in front of prospects and clients, you will need to put your best image forward with a great headshot. In the modern digital world you need an amazing headshot to captivate your audience. This is why you need headshots by Headshot Professional. Headshots are a must for making the right connection, because first impressions only happen once.

What Is A Square Headshot?

Many profile photos like LinkedIn require a square photo which is likely a 1/4 headshot or quarter headshot that focuses on your face so people can know who you are simply from the thumbnail image displayed in your bio. The cropping of a 1/4 headshot may crop into the shoulders and is tighter on the face taking up about 60% of the headshot photo.

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Professional Half Headshot Portrait

What Is A 1/2 Headshot Portrait?

A 1/2 Headshot Portrait or Half Headshot Portrait show more of your attire, so dress to impress! Usually if you are wearing a business suit or jacket then the cropping is right below your top button and includes your shoulders in the photo. This image is normally a 8 by 10 ratio. Your Headshot should reflect your personality, profession, and where it is shown!

For conservative industries like law and finance, it is standard for the suit jacket with or without a tie, or lady’s business dress attire. If you need to relate with your audience then dress for the occasion to engage as your are speaking. Dress up or dress casual, but think about who you are speaking to so they can relate with you as you are the authority of your topic or industry.

Do some homework and look at what others in your industry are wearing on LinkedIn. When you look for examples, take notes from the best in the industry who have lots of followers, connections, and success. They are doing something right and you can make it your own style.

If you are still not sure, then ask us! We are happy to provide some tips so you get the Professional Headshot you deserve.

What Is A 3/4 Headshot?

A 3/4 headshot or three-quarter headshot is cropped above the head and above the knees. You won’t get away with the Covid Zoom call with a Sport Jacket and pajama pants in a 3/4 Headshot! Think about your personal image and get a dress that goes below the knees to be more professional. If you wear pants, think about matching with your entire outfit. This type of cropping is not for a profile photo on LinkedIn, but is great for branding and marketing material.

What Is A Full Length Portrait?

Unlike a headshot focusing on the face, this is a photo that focuses on the entire person cropped above the head and below the feet. This is great for Magazine Covers and editorials.

Can I Get Branding Photos With My Headshot?

Every professional needs at least 1 professional headshot for their public speaking image, LinkedIn profile photo, website about us image, Zoom profile, and other social media and broadcasting platforms. We recommend 2 or more professional headshot photos so you can have one for social media profiles, then at least another for main events and public speaking. It helps to engage with your audience showing your personality with branding photos to share your personal story and energy. You can have a variety from being a confident leader to being approachable, warm, and friendly. During a photoshoot we get at least 1 great headshot photo and average about 5 final choices so you can offer multiple main photos and several branding photos to promote your personal brand and business.

How Do I Prepare For A Headshot?

There are keys to preparing for your headshot ahead of time. If you have a friend or someone special, bring them too to help lift the spirit in the Studio! Get plenty of rest, exercise, and consider a healthy diet if you can plan ahead. Try on the clothes that you want to wear to make sure that they fit well or so that you can confirm what you want to wear and it looks great. Do not do chemical peels, microneedling, microdermabrasion, nor extreme tanning right before. Take care of your skin and hydrate so that you look natural as possible. Get a hair cut or prepare your hair before you come. Ladies, wear light beauty makeup. Men please check your shave from your neckline to your nose.

What Do I Wear For A Headshot?

Your Headshot should reflect your personality, profession, and where it is shown!

For conservative industries like law and finance, it is standard for the suit jacket with or without a tie, or lady’s business dress attire. If you need to relate with your audience then dress for the occasion to engage as your are speaking. Dress up or dress casual, but think about who you are speaking to so they can relate with you as you are the authority of your topic or industry.

Do some homework and look at what others in your industry are wearing on LinkedIn. When you look for examples, take notes from the best in the industry who have lots of followers, connections, and success. They are doing something right and you can make it your own style.

If you are still not sure, then ask us! We are happy to provide some tips so you get the Professional Headshot you deserve.

How Do I Pose For A Headshot?

We focus on helping you get grounded and comfortable for your Headshot. We will be focused on your upper body in comfortable poses. In most cases we will help quide you showing your best expression smiling with your eyes and bringing out your best features. We will show live view of our session so you can see what you look like and we can go over confidence with your shoulders and helping get your jaw line beautiful or handsome.

At the beginning of your session, we can warm up with simply talking about good news and something that makes you happy, so your genuine smile will come out naturally. We will then work your angles from the lights to the camera. It is actually really easy and you will do great!

We can help guide you with a few things to do with your hands, like putting one in the pocket or both in the pockets if you have them, or even joke around like “pretend you are holding a sandwich!”

Most likely your hands will not be in the photo, but it will help your shoulders relax and let your eyes and smile engage with your audience.

We will make it super easy and have markers on the floor. We will begin with putting your feet in place to have the lighting that we set up work its magic.

What Backdrops Are Best For Headshots?

Neutral backdrops based on white, gray, or black compliment you and can go on most mediums. Depending on your hair color and clothing we will change it up to make sure that you are coming off of the background and give contrast to your professional headshot photo.

In our studio we can control the lighting and in here there is no wind to keep your hair and clothes just like you want. However if weather permits we can consider outdoors or onsite location services. Usually it is nice to have a variety of gray and white backgrounds with a change of attire to give yourself options in the future and to have different images on multiple platforms.

Can I Bring Someone With Me To My Headshot Photoshoot?

We encourage everyone to bring someone special like a friend, coworker, boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife to bring out the best in you! Usually this can help a person relax even if they are not used to a camera and we can get a genuine and authentic smile when you feel grounded and are happy with good company!