As a professional photographer, I’ve seen my fair share of headshots that have made me cringe. You may also have come to a point where you hate your headshots.
It’s not uncommon to feel a little unsure about your headshots. You might hate how you look or feel like the shots don’t capture who you are and are just a bad picture. But don’t worry! There are plenty of reasons why you might feel this way, and most of them have nothing to do with your actual photos. Many things go into creating great headshots – so read on to find out more.
In this blog post, I will share some of the most common mistakes people make when taking their headshots and what you can do to avoid them. Keep reading for tips on how to look your best in your next headshot!
It looks like a glorified passport photo
If you’re like me, you’ve probably had a lousy headshot taken at some point in your life. Maybe you were trying to be severe and ended up looking stiff and uncomfortable, or perhaps the technician was rushed and didn’t bother to fix your hair correctly.
When you’re paying for a professional headshot session, you want to make sure that it looks great. Unfortunately, not every headshot photographer have the photography skills to take good headshots. As a result, you may end up with a photo that looks like a glorified passport photo and this could be a reason to hate your headshots.
Bad retouching
It’s happened to all of us. We agonize over our headshot for weeks, trying to get the perfect angle and lighting, and then we finally take the picture and eagerly upload it to our social media profiles. But then we notice something’s not quite right…our flawless skin looks a little too smooth, or our eyes are unnaturally bright. It could be worse, you might see you double chin and now your becoming hyper critical of your photos. That’s because we’ve fallen victim to lousy retouching!
We’ve all seen them – those headshots that have been so horribly retouched, the person looks like a cartoon character. Why do people think this is okay? It’s not. A bad headshot can ruin your chances of getting the job you want, or worse, make you look like you don’t care about your appearance. So how can you make sure your headshot is as perfect as possible? By hiring a professional to do the retouching for you. They’ll be able to make sure your photo looks natural and polished, and you’ll be glad you did!
You don’t look genuine
Have you ever seen a lousy headshot? I don’t mean an unflattering shot; I mean a photo that looks fake? You know the kind – where it seems like the person is trying too hard to look calm or severe, and it doesn’t quite come off? It can be off-putting, can’t it? It’s like they’re not being genuine and are just full of negative emotions. And that’s precisely why bad headshots happen – because people try to be something they’re not. They think that if they look cool enough or severe enough, they’ll get the job or the partner or whatever it is they’re after. But when you’re not genuine, it shows in your photos. So avoid bad headshots by simply being yourself!
Your expression is stiff
Stiff expressions in headshots can make you look unapproachable, unfriendly, or even angry. This is why it’s essential to learn how to relax your face and show your personality in your photos.
A lousy headshot will cost you jobs no matter how talented you are. If your headshot looks stiff or uncomfortable, people will assume that you’re not relaxed in front of the camera, is lacking self-confidence, and won’t take direction well. In other words, they’ll think you’re not a team player. So before you book your next photo session, make sure to practice some relaxed expressions in front of the mirror. And if all else fails, smile – everyone looks good when they smile.
It’s dated and taken all those years ago
It’s been a few years since your last headshot, and you’ve let yourself go a bit. You’re not sure if it’s the right time to get a new one just yet, but you know that the old one is outdated. You take a look at it and cringe – your hair was shorter then, you were thinner, and your skin was better. It’s so embarrassing to use outdated headshots that people hate it and would not want to share it with anyone.
How do you know that it’s time for a fresh set of headshots? Read on this article to learn more and not ending up to hate your headshots!
Your personality doesn’t show
Are you familiar with the term “stereotyping?” It’s when we make assumptions about a person or group of people based on their appearance. For example, we may think that all blondes are dumb, or all Italians are passionate chefs. The same thing can happen when we get our headshots taken – we might assume that we need to have a stiff expression to look professional. However, this isn’t always the case! Having a natural and relaxed face can often look more polished and put-together. So don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through!
It’s not always easy to strike the perfect pose for your headshots. Sometimes, you might feel stiff and uncomfortable when trying to smile naturally for the camera. If this is the case, don’t worry – you’re not alone! Many people find it challenging to loosen up and show their true personality in front of a lens. However, with a little bit of practice, you can start to feel more comfortable in front of the camera and produce better headshots.
Lighting isn’t ideal
We’ve all seen them: the bad headshots. They’re the ones where the person squints, and an awful light source lights up their face. Maybe they’re standing in front of a window, and their shadow is overshadowing them, or they’re sitting in front of a harsh fluorescent light that’s making them look like a ghost. If you don’t want your headshot to end up looking like one of these, then read on for some tips on how to avoid lousy lighting, or better yet, hire a professional photographer to take your headshots!