Head-Shot Photography

A critical piece of many entrepreneurs’ media kit, venture-capital presentation and social-media presence, are head shots. For some professionals, a dynamic head short can make the difference between acquiring a job or losing it.

A good professional photographer does have the knowledge to make someone relax in front of the camera, try out the best poses according to their nature and provide expert advises to highlight a person’s positive attributes and qualities.

Some tips are mentioned below to achieve the best head shot.

1. Equipment:

In terms of choosing a camera for head shots, a lens with a large aperture (with a small f number) is a must. Such apertures are also available in smartphones nowadays. An in-camera filter can also be used as a substitute.

While photographing head shots, wide-angle lens must be avoided, unless you’re trying to achieve a dramatic, artistic style photo, the subject will appear unrealistic, with imperfections amplified as in a caricature.

2. Background:

Rather than an empty sky (which is dull, reminiscent of passport photos) or one with an isolated element (that can be visible) try to have some design details. The type of background is very much important. A background that will allow your head shot to pop is the key. 

Blur the background as much as you can with the help of a telephoto lens, wide open, if the subject is in a crowd or busy area. Otherwise a plain background works best.

Avoid having the composition being too tight as the background adds context to the image.

3. Facial expressions:

confidence matters, when it comes to facial expressions. People are need to be told that they can choose to smile (just without visible teeth) or not, but never appear too serious. In order to avoid the the dreaded “double chin”, the subject must look at the camera and the camera should always be slightly above.

A photographer should always be aware of the direction of the eyes as this is very important to the composition. A facial expression practice session in front of a mirror can help a subject a lot.

4. Composition:

Avoid symmetry in the person's stance to avoid a passport-type look in a head shot. The subject can stand, sit with one shoulder in front and one turned to the back rather than having the shoulders aligned.

The person will not only appear taller but also stronger and more powerful if the image is taken from a low angle. The opposite effect results, if the shot is taken from above the person. Remember, it can be unflattering for any person while shooting from the bottom up.

If a photography subject chooses to look to the side, then the part of the composition where he or she is looking should have more space than the other side.