Jake, BPM’s in-house professional portrait photographer, has taken thousands of portraits over the past 13 years, from high school senior portraits and family photos to corporate headshots. While some standard tips and tricks apply to all types of portraits, today’s blog focuses specifically on business headshots. Professional business headshots can play an important role in building trust in your brand. Potential clients and business partners like to know who they’ll be working with. These portraits can be used on your LinkedIn profile, in publications, and on your website. Let’s dive into how to prepare and what to consider when having your headshot taken.
Take care of yourself prior to your shoot.
Getting a good night’s rest will help you feel relaxed and arrive at the shoot in a positive mindset, something that will be reflected in your portraits. Drink plenty of water and stay away from alcohol for 24 hours. Hydration can help reduce under-eye bags and give your skin a youthful glow.
Pick the right clothing.
Choosing the best outfit for professional images can feel stressful. One tip we always recommend is choosing something timeless. Nothing will date a portrait quicker than a trendy, patterned top. We suggest an outfit you would wear to a business meeting or a first meeting with a potential client or partner. For example, if you are a lawyer, a classic suit would work very well. If you are a doctor, maybe your white coat would be appropriate as your patients will most likely see you in this outfit upon your first meeting. For office workers, business attire is appropriate, like a button-down shirt, blouse, or pants suit. Don’t forget to iron your outfit the night prior so it is ready to go. There is nothing worse than having a wrinkly shirt in your headshots making you look frumpy.
As weird as it sounds, practice smiling.
We all smile in our own unique way. Some of us have huge toothy grins while others tend to squint when they smile. Practice in front of a mirror to learn how your face reacts when you smile. Sometimes, a soft grin is more effective than flashing all your pearly whites.
Select the right pose.
Your photographer will likely guide you based on the specific setting and desired tone of the images. In some cases, a strong, assertive pose, like crossed arms and a slight smile, conveys authority. Lawyers and business owners look great when posed in this manner. Doctors, on the other hand, need to give off a friendly smile, ensuring their future patients feel at ease around them. Another thing to think about when posing is the background. Headshot photographers usually have numerous backdrop styles to either match your website feel or the look you are going for. With some industries and businesses, the facilities can be your background. Jake loves taking headshots of people in their work environments. If you are a CNC machine operator, a great background would be the machine you work at. This adds personality and authenticity to your portrait.
Now that we’ve run through some of the basics, it’s time to update your headshot. At BPM, we offer a variety of photography packages, from headshots to full website refresh shoots. All you need to do is reach out with a quick overview of your project’s scope and desired look, and we’ll take care of the rest. Sit back, relax, and most importantly, smile!
