How to take a great headshot (and why it matters)

Simple steps can make the right impression on employers, clients and even yourself

Upon seeing a face, it takes a viewer a fraction of a second to decide how much they’ll trust a person.

jeanette sesay, edmonton photographer and nait gradThat might sound unkind, but it’s natural. Researchers see the reflex as biological – if something about that face is unwelcoming, the survival instinct compels you to get away.

Or, you scroll away.

Like all of us, Jeanette Sesay (Photographic Technology ’10) has done that, like when she’s seeking out a place for therapeutic massages.

“When I'm [looking for] a therapist, I look at the photos,” she says. She wants someone who looks “professional and reliable, or trustworthy.”

Otherwise, she adds, “you might not want to see [them].”

As a photographer who specializes in headshots, and the owner of JSP Photography, Sesay  wants to make sure her pictures don’t set off those primitive alarm bells that can dissuade potential clients, customers or future employers.

Here are her tips for not just setting online viewers at ease, but making them want to stick around to learn more about the person behind the picture.

Shine a light on yourself

headshot by by edmonton photographer and nait grad jeanette sesay

A headshot needs to be well lit, but squinting into the sun isn’t a great look. Head indoors, but avoid overhead lighting that can lead to shadows around the eyes, darkening them to your disadvantage.

Instead, use the soft, indirect sunlight from a north-facing window, says Sesay. “The ‘catch light’ in the eyes is what makes a photo pop.” That is, give the irises, or coloured parts of the eyes, the chance to catch and reflect the diffuse, natural light, and sparkle because of it.

Keep things simple

headshot by by edmonton photographer and nait grad jeanette sesay

Bright, solid colours also help a photo “pop,” says Sesay. “You don’t have to go overboard with a fancy shirt.” In particular, she likes “jewel tones,” such as ruby, emerald, sapphire. “They’re so rich and they really catch the eye.”

That applies to backgrounds, too; they shouldn’t be complicated. Sesay suggests buying coloured poster boards from a craft or framing shop to place behind you. A three-by-four-foot sheet works for a close up, and they’re cheap enough to buy in multiple colours.

These backgrounds can also counter a patterned shirt, in case your personal brand absolutely depends on elaborate fashion.

Pay attention to details

headshot by by edmonton photographer and nait grad jeanette sesay

If you’re investing your time in landing your dream job, consider also investing money in a haircut and makeup – women and men alike. For the latter, that might involve a little powder to “cut down on the texture and the shine,” on some heads, says Sesay.

She also suggests grooming, gentlemen. Focus on facial hair. Don’t forget the eyebrows.

Don’t force a smile

headshot by by edmonton photographer and nait grad jeanette sesay

While a look of brooding indifference may not win over viewers, neither will a disingenuous grin. Sesay finds that many of her clients don’t like the look of their own full smiles anyway. In this case, subtlety is the key to happiness. “One trick is making sure you're smiling with your eyes.”

It’s a little like a squint, says Sesay, where you slightly raise your lower eyelids. Practise in front of a mirror, she adds. “Some celebrities on the red carpet just walk around like that.”

Relax your body language – but not really

headshot by by edmonton photographer and nait grad jeanette sesay

Posture matters. Stand up straight, put your shoulders back, but relax them. Jut your chin out a little to sharpen your jawline. “It's almost like a turtle sticking its neck out of the shell,” says Sesay.

Enjoy your own photo

headshot by by edmonton photographer and nait grad jeanette sesay

Your headshot is as much for you as it is for other people, says Sesay. Done well, it can be a source of confidence and pride, giving you a boost every time you see yourself on a device.

“If you're logging into your email and see this terrible photo of yourself, what feelings are you bringing up every time you see that,” asks Sesay, “as opposed to seeing this amazing shot of yourself where you look like a rock star? It makes such a difference.”

A smartphone can do the job

“As long as you get nice lighting, [smartphone cameras] are pretty good for capturing something like this,” says Sesay.

“I think it's worth taking the time to even just try it, as opposed to cropping yourself out of a photo you already have.”

jeanette sesay, edmonton photographer and nait grad

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