Six Tips For Taking Your Own Headshot

How to take a decent profile picture of yourself

1. Camera. If you own a cellphone made within the last few years you already possess better technology than cameras professionals used 10 years ago. Its more than enough to get a good profile headshot. Advantages over a camera if you are doing this yourself is the cell phone will get the focus right - sometimes tough to do with a camera on your own.

2. Light. Make sure your face is well-lit and especially that your face is not dark against a bright background. Find a north facing window or if outside just under the edge of an overhang. Avoid direct sunlight or deep shade. Make sure the background behind you is not lit up (eg don’t stand in front of a brightly lit window or in front of a wall illuminated with direct light). It doesn’t have to be black, just not brighter than your face.

3. Fill the frame. Your headshot is about your face, right? Make sure the camera is close enough to cover from the top of your head to just under the top or your shoulders.

4. Check yourself. Have a look in the mirror to make sure your hair is the way you want it, none of your lunch is on your cheek, and your clothing is neat. Also, if your shirt is drawing more attention than your face, maybe wear something else.

5. Not too close. The closer your phone is to your face, the more it will distort your features, so use the full length of your arm. If this results in a picture which doesn’t fill the frame (see tip 3 above), crop in after you take it.

6. Hire a pro. OK, this is not doing it by yourself! But a good headshot specialist will take care of all of the above AND understands the psychology of how others look at your headshot - they like and trust people who project confidence and warmth - and how to coach you so your headshot has these qualities.

If you need a killer headshot which builds trust and rapport before people actually meet you, book now at www.rogerknopfphoto.com!