Headshot photography is one of the most in-demand genres, and taking portraits is many people’s initial route from passion to paycheck. But while it might seem as simple as pointing your camera at someone and clicking the button, the reality is a little more complex.

When taking personal headshots and professional images, many photographers forget the basics—which unnecessarily puts them on the back foot from the beginning. If you feel like you fall into that category, good news—you’re in the right place.

This article will provide you with eight tips for taking better headshot pictures. And without further ado, let’s jump in.

1. Use the Best Possible Lens for the Situation

photo of a fujifilm camera and lens on the table

Regardless of the manufacturer you use, you will find a huge range of lenses available for your camera body. And while you might only consider focal length when choosing one, you should remember that each lens can significantly change how your headshots look.

Some lenses will compress your image, and they could alter how your subject looks. In some instances, you’ll make the person look more flattering—and in other cases, the opposite will occur. Needless to say, you’ll want to achieve the first result.

You’ll also need to think about the lighting levels you plan to capture your portraits in. If you’re photographing in lower light, you’ll probably need a lens with a maximum aperture lower than f/5.6.

2. Treat the Subject Like Your Friend

two business women sitting and talking by a window ledge

Taking portraits of others is challenging for several reasons, but one of the main ones is that you need to ensure you get the facial expressions you’re looking for. When put in front of a camera, many people might feel nervous—especially if they aren’t used to having their picture taken.

As the photographer, it’s your job to make them feel more comfortable. If you only interact for professional purposes, you’re probably not going to ease their nerves.

What’s the solution, then? Simple—treat them like they’re a close friend of yours.

Before the photoshoot, spend some time casually talking to them. Ask questions about who they are, what their hobbies are, and so on. You’ll also want to choose a relaxing setting; an ideal starting point is your favorite local coffee shop.

3. Avoid Midday if You’re Shooting Outside

Photo of a cityscape on a sunny day

The time of day that you take headshots will dramatically impact the results you achieve. Many photographers love golden hour for several reasons, especially when taking portrait shots. The soft light makes the subjects’ skin look more youthful, and the golden glow gives off a dreamy vibe that few conditions can match.

However, we can’t say the same for midday on a sunny day. Many photographers avoid shooting at this time for several reasons, one being that the lighting is usually quite harsh.

When taking personal headshots or doing the same for professional purposes, you’re better off avoiding midday and opting for a different time. Doing so will give you more favorable lighting to work with, which makes your job much easier.

4. Warm Up Before the Main Shoot

Silhouette of two photographers standing outside holding camera

You’ve got a lot to learn if you’re a beginner photographer, and one of the most common mistakes is to jump straight into things. Doing so poses several problems; if you start taking pictures without preparing yourself beforehand, you can expect suboptimal results.

Photographing a headshot picture has several associated pressures, and the last thing you need is to add extra difficulties. To help you and your subject relax for the photoshoot, you should consider warming up beforehand.

Spend 20 minutes or so figuring out what does and doesn’t work, along with adjusting your camera settings as you feel is necessary. Once you’ve done that, you’ll find that your final images are much better.

5. Think About Colors

photo of a person wearing a red sweater on a green field

Regardless of whether you’re a beginner or advanced photographer, learning about color theory is one of the best things you can do to advance your skills with minimal effort. And when you’re photographing headshots, understanding how different colors work together is critical for getting the best results.

Think about the colors you’d like your subjects to wear, and consider the backgrounds that would work best with them. Examples that you might not have thought of include green and red, along with blue and orange.

6. Isolate the Subject

photo of a person with a blurry background

When you capture headshots, the person should fill most of your frame. And like many other forms of photography, you’ll want to ensure that you create enough distance between the individual and the background.

To isolate your subject when taking a headshot, you’ll want to widen your aperture—regardless of whether you’re going for a “bokeh” effect or not. You should consider going f/5 or wider; doing so will bring your subject in focus and simultaneously blur the background.

7. Focus on the Eyes

photo of a person's head

In most photography genres, your primary objective is to evoke emotions in the viewer. And when taking pictures of people, the best way to do this is by focusing on the subject’s eyes and letting those tell the story.

You can ensure that the eyes are in focus by manually focusing your camera, though doing so is a little trickier if you’re a beginner. An alternative is to use autofocus and move the meter on one of the subject’s eyes.

Focusing on the eyes also ensures that even if the rest of the face is out of focus, you’ll at least have made the most important features sharper.

8. Consider the Platforms the Pictures Will Be Shared On

person scrolling on instagram

From Instagram to Twitter and LinkedIn, and even company websites, people share photos in many places online these days. And as a photographer, this makes your job significantly trickier.

Before capturing your headshots, you must think about where recipients will use your images. If people will use them as their social media profile pictures, research and note the dimensions beforehand—and make sure you frame your photographs appropriately to make room for cropping.

If you’re in doubt, ask the project commissioner for their thoughts. You can also overcompensate by shooting a wide range of dimensions, giving your client more flexibility and choice.

Headshots Are Difficult to Master, but Not Impossible

Headshots are an excellent opportunity to improve your photography skills, but getting them right is quite difficult. Different situations require various lenses and numerous forms of preparation. You’ve also got to think about the subject and ensure they feel comfortable, which will enable you to capture better shots.

Having read this article, you should now have all the information to take better headshots. Of course, you’ll need to practice—but these tips are an ideal starting point.