Corporate Headshot Photography Tips for Beginners
Headshot photography requires a mix of technical skill, creativity, and an eye for detail. Capturing a professional headshot can be both challenging and rewarding. The goal of a great headshot is to portray someone’s personality, professionalism, and approachability, all in a single frame.
In this guide, we’ll walk through some key tips to help beginner photographers master headshot photography, from lighting and composition to creating a comfortable atmosphere for your subject.
1. Understand Your Subject and Their Needs
Before you even pick up your camera, take time to understand your subject’s purpose for the headshot. Is it for corporate use, social media, or something more casual? Different industries require different looks, and knowing what your subject is aiming for will help guide your creative direction.
Corporate Headshots: These typically require a formal, clean look with neutral backgrounds and conservative attire. Professionalism is key.
Creative/Artistic Headshots: For creatives like actors, musicians, or designers, there’s often more room for personality and creativity in both posing and background choices.
Social Media Headshots: These tend to be more relaxed, often capturing the subject’s authentic and approachable side.
Communication is essential. Ask your subject how they plan to use the photos and what kind of tone they want to project. This will shape everything from lighting to styling.
2. Lighting: Soft, Even, and Flattering
Lighting is the heart of photography. In headshots, it’s all about creating flattering, even light that highlights your subject’s best features. For beginners, a softbox is a great tool to diffuse harsh shadows and create a smooth, even glow across the face.
If you’re just starting out, shooting outdoors or near a window can be a great way to start without having to invest in lighting gear. The best time for shooting headshots is either during golden hour when the light is soft and warm, or during the day if the sky is overcast. Avoid direct sunlight, as it can cast unflattering shadows.
Once you’re comfortable using artificial lighting, you can start with positioning your light source in front of, and a bit off to the side of your subject, slightly above eye level. This will ensure the face is evenly lit, reducing any harsh shadows.
It’s important to avoid overly dramatic lighting setups until you’re comfortable with basic techniques. Simple, even lighting can go a long way in making your subject look professional and polished.
One of the most popular lighting techniques often used for headshots and portraits is Rembrandt lighting. This involves placing the light at about a 45-degree angle from the subject, creating a small triangle of light on the cheek opposite the light source. This technique adds depth and dimension to the face without overwhelming it.
3. Master the Background
The background can make or break a headshot, so it’s important to choose something simple and complementary that won’t distract from the subject. For professional headshots, a neutral backdrop works best. Solid colors like white, gray, or light blue create a clean, unobtrusive background.
Outdoor Locations: If you’re shooting outdoors, opt for simple, blurred backgrounds like greenery or cityscapes. Use a wide aperture (f/2.8 or f/4) to create a nice bokeh effect that keeps the subject in focus while blurring the background.
Studio Backgrounds: Keep it minimal. Plain backdrops or lightly textured ones allow the subject’s face to be the star of the show.
4. Posing: Relaxation is Key
Many people get nervous in front of a camera, so as a photographer, it’s your job to help them feel relaxed and confident. Here are a few beginner-friendly tips for guiding your subject into natural, flattering poses:
Posture: Encourage your subject to sit or stand tall with shoulders slightly back. This creates a strong, confident posture without appearing rigid.
Jawline: Ask your subject to push their chin forward and slightly down. It feels a bit unnatural, but it helps define the jawline and eliminates the appearance of a double chin.
Smile or No Smile?: Whether your subject smiles or maintains a more neutral expression depends on the intended tone of the headshot. A slight, natural smile often comes across as approachable and friendly, while a neutral expression can convey seriousness and professionalism.
Pro Tip: Avoid hands on the face or awkward arm placements. Keep things simple—folded arms, hands in pockets, or a relaxed stance usually work best.
5. Camera Settings: Keep it Simple but Sharp
When shooting headshots, you want to keep the subject in sharp focus while ensuring the background is slightly blurred to maintain depth. Here’s a quick breakdown of basic camera settings to get started:
Aperture: Shoot with a wide aperture (around f/2.8 to f/4) to create a shallow depth of field. This helps blur the background while keeping the subject in sharp focus.
Shutter Speed: To avoid any camera shake or motion blur, use a shutter speed of at least 1/125 or higher.
ISO: Keep your ISO as low as possible (ISO 100 or 200) to avoid introducing noise. If you’re shooting indoors, you may need to raise it slightly to compensate for lower light, but avoid going too high.
Focus: Always focus on the subject’s eyes. This is the most important part of a headshot—sharp, engaging eyes make the image come alive.
Experiment with different focal lengths. A 50mm or 85mm lens is ideal for headshots, as it avoids distortion and provides a flattering, natural perspective.
6. Create a Comfortable Atmosphere
The success of your headshot session largely depends on how comfortable your subject feels. As a beginner photographer, focus on building rapport with your client. Talk to them throughout the shoot, provide gentle guidance, and show them a few test shots so they feel involved in the process.
Music: Playing some soft background music can help ease nerves and create a relaxed atmosphere.
Feedback: Give your subject feedback in real-time. Compliment their posture or smile to boost their confidence, but also gently guide them if something isn’t working.
7. Post-Processing: Less is More
Once you’ve captured the perfect headshot, the final step is post-processing. As a beginner, it’s easy to get carried away with editing tools, but the goal is to keep your subject looking as natural as possible. Stick to basic adjustments like:
Exposure and Contrast: Ensure the lighting is even and the photo is neither too dark nor too bright.
Color Correction: Adjust the white balance to maintain natural skin tones.
Retouching: Remove minor blemishes or stray hairs, but avoid altering the subject’s natural features.
At Headlight, we use advanced retouching techniques from the fashion industry, but we always aim to keep our edits subtle and natural. Even in the professional world, authenticity shines brightest.
8. Experiment and Learn
Don’t be afraid to experiment as you go. Headshot photography is a craft that gets better with practice. Try different lighting setups, explore outdoor versus indoor shoots, and most importantly, build your own style over time. At Headlight, we gravitate towards shooting with a top-down lighting setup, and our clients have come to love its unique look.
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned photographer, the world of headshot photography is full of opportunities to grow your skills. We believe in pushing boundaries, and we’re always looking for new ways to elevate the art of headshots.
