Whether you are seeking employment or trying to create a brand for yourself, a headshot is often what employers and customers see first. While tons of new and creative photography trends have emerged over the past year, one that certainly deserves to stay is the DIY professional headshots. Keep reading for some awesome tips and tricks to get AWESOME headshots right from your phone!
Be Authentically You
Aside from being well-lit and welcoming, one of the most important aspects of a professional portrait is its ability to capture your authentic self. While you want to be sure you’re painting yourself in the best light possible, it is important to keep it simple and accurately portray your best qualities. A photo speaks a thousand words so it’s nice for your customers to feel like they have the chance to get to know who they are doing business with when they can see you.
Study Your Angles
One of the perks of having a professional photoshoot done is that the photographer is likely to tell you exactly how to pose to look the most “natural.” Thankfully, you can do this yourself, with a bit of extra work. Start your session off by taking a lot of different photos of yourself to figure out which angle works best for you (and don’t be afraid to try a few new poses). You never know what might end up being the best combo!
Choosing the Right Background and Outfit
When choosing the perfect background, you want to stand out. Be sure your background contrasts everything from the clothes you are wearing to the color of your hair. Additionally, if you will be wearing bright-colored clothing, it may be best to take your photos outside to get the best possible lighting.
As for clothing, it is best to wear something classic in a color that flatters your skin tone. While clothing options are virtually endless, keep in mind that something that is too bright, white, black, or heavily patterned can affect exposure and may even be a huge distraction. Fashion is incredibly personal, but it is important to create a headshot that won’t look dated six months down the road. You can also try a couple of different options to see how they look.
Photography Tips and Tricks
Striking a pose may seem like the most important part of taking a professional photo, but there is so much more that needs to be done in the background to ensure your photo comes out as good as it possibly can. Here are some tips and tricks to make sure you get the most out of your photoshoot:
Camera Settings
Choosing the best possible image quality will give you more flexibility when it comes time to start the editing process. If your smartphone allows it, choose a RAW format. This will allow you to have more control over how the final image turns out. After selecting your image format, check your white balance to ensure that your final image doesn’t come out too warm or too cool.
You may be wondering how on earth you’re supposed to capture a photo of yourself without assistance from a friend. Thankfully most smartphones have the option to set a timer and take a continuous shot “burst” of photos. This will make it so that you don’t have to keep going back and forth between the camera and your preferred spot.
Equipment
After you’ve taken your test shots, you’ll likely want to keep your phone in whatever position worked best. Investing in a tripod is the easiest way to ensure consistency, but there are other substitutions for a tripod for those not wanting to make the investment. (You can find cheap ones on sites like Amazon.) Though as long as you are able to rest your phone on a solid surface that will keep it still, you’ve got yourself a winner!
The Final Steps
After all of the preparation, it is FINALLY time to start taking your photos! Choose the poses that feel most natural to you, and just go for it! The best part of taking your own photos is that no one is watching you. Once your moment in the spotlight is over, and you’ve chosen your final image, see if there needs to be any edits made. Just be mindful that you don’t overdo anything, and that you still look like yourself.
Taking a professional headshot can be intimidating, but hopefully, these tips and tricks will help you ease into the process. As always, feel free to contact us with any questions you may have, and happy shooting! 📱
Source: Sibonney, Claire. “How to Take a Slick, Professional Headshot With Your Phone.” Wired, Conde Nast