The Headshot Reimagined: A Guide to the Best Headshots for LinkedIn
We’ve all seen them. Those headshots that look like they were taken decades ago, sitting in stark contrast to your otherwise modern branding. We’re nostalgic for the 80’s too, but it’s time to bring the corporate headshot into the 21st century with the rest of your brand.
Companies and job-seekers have begun to embrace modern corporate headshots that reflect their brand and highlight their individuality. Whether it’s for your LinkedIn profile photo or the bio page on your company website, your headshot is a crucial component of your online presence.
Environmental Headshots Are In
No more posing by that wall of old law books. Environmental headshots for LinkedIn are a great way to inject some personality and character into your headshot. These samples were taken on the streets of NYC and at a client’s office — both backdrops are great ways to add interest and context to your headshot.
In addition to close-ups, environmental headshots often feature wider portraits which can broaden the use case for your photos. Headshots aren’t just for LinkedIn — having some more relaxed professional portraits are great for media and PR outreach, as well as use across professional social channels. Just be sure to choose a background that complements your brand rather than one that pulls attention away from your face.
Style Guidelines for LinkedIn Headshots
Work with your photographer to create a look that fits with your company's brand while also letting your personality come through. Consider your brand's aesthetic and color palette — wearing something complementary will seamlessly integrate your headshot with your corporate or personal branding.
Solid colors are always a good bet, but don’t be afraid to try something with more character if it matches your personality. Bright and vibrant colors work well against a spring and summer backdrop, while more muted earth tones pair nicely with the colder months. Above all, make sure that your outfit feels like you.
Avoid busy patterns that might pull focus away from your face. We want your personal style to come through in your headshot, but your face should still be the star.
Timing Matters
If your session will be outdoors, aim to schedule it early in the morning or in the last couple of hours before sunset. Natural light is most flattering when the sun is lowest in the sky — this makes for much softer shadows and more even lighting. If shooting in a busy area, you’ll also benefit from a calmer backdrop during these off-peak times.
If you can’t avoid the midday sun, look for a shaded area. Your photographer will also have some tools to work through these lighting conditions — whether adding in some subtle flash or using a reflector to fill in any shadows produced by the overhead sun.
Another benefit to shooting in the morning is having fresh hair, makeup and wardrobe. If your session will be after a long work day, be sure to bring along everything you’ll need for touchups, and consider wearing a separate set of clothes until it’s time for your shoot.
Allow yourself at least 15 minutes for your headshot, though ideally a full 30 minutes would be best. It can take time to settle in and get used to being in front of the camera, and the best headshots often come towards the end of the session when you’re more relaxed. This extra time will also be useful when working outdoors, as you’ll be at the mercy of wind and traffic and may need to pause from time to time.
Smile Like You Mean It
Your expression is the most important part of your headshot. Smiles that are perceived to be genuine impart feelings of trustworthiness from your audience, whereas a smile that appears insincere will have the opposite effect.
It can be daunting to smile naturally on demand, especially while in front of a camera, but your photographer should have some tricks for helping you to achieve an authentic smile. If you’ve ever worked with us, you might have heard me tell some dad jokes — they’re terrible, but they work!
Check out our post here for more tips on how to smile for your headshot.
Aim For Variety In Your Expressions & Poses
While a smiling headshot is always great to have, you may find use cases for other expressions as well. Depending on your industry or profession, you might wonder whether you should smile for your headshot. Smiles are linked with an increased perception of warmth and altruism, but a more serious expression tends to boost perceptions of competence and expertise. Certain professions will lend themselves more to one or the other, but capturing a range of expressions will ensure that you have a headshot for any need.
We’ve put together a more comprehensive posing guide for headshots separately, but here are a few tips for nailing your pose:
Lead slightly with one shoulder. A bit of an angle is more flattering than straight-on.
Incorporate your hands: whether in your pocket, on your hip, clasped in front or behind, giving your hands a purpose will always look more natural than just leaving them at your sides.
Keep your chin forward. Imagine that there’s a string tied to your forehead and it’s being pulled away from you. Bringing your chin slightly forward will give definition to your jawline which leads to a much more flattering headshot. Subtlety is key here, don’t overdo it!
Don’t hold a pose for more than a few seconds. The longer you hold a pose, and especially the longer you hold a smile, the stiffer it will become. Keep things fresh by changing your pose regularly.
Building on the above, break eye contact with the camera every few seconds. This will give you a moment to mentally reset and keep your expressions looking fresh.
Aim for variety. Try a number of poses and different degrees of smiling & serious headshots. Change angles, roll up your sleeves, move your hair from one shoulder to the other, ditch the blazer, and any other quick adjustments to get more mileage out of the shoot.
Review! There’s nothing worse than getting your headshots back and realizing that you didn’t like how you wore your hair, or you wish that you had fixed your tie. Take breaks every few minutes to review the photos with your photographer to make sure that you’re happy with how things are looking.
Takeaways
With first impressions increasingly taking place online, it’s crucial that your headshot represents you well. A considered approach towards your backdrop and thoughtful style choices will help to bring a modern feel to your headshots, and a winning expression with a confident pose will bring it all home. When you’re ready for an update, use these tips and you’ll come away with a modern headshot that feels fresh and authentically captures your brand.
The Best Headshots for LinkedIn in NYC
Your headshot is one of the first insights into your personal brand. Johnny Wolf Studio specializes in creating modern headshots with a branded feel that will set your LinkedIn profile apart. If you think it might be time for an update, get in touch and we’ll bring your personal brand to the forefront.
