How to Take Professional Headshots With A Smart Phone (Updated 2024)
In the age of remote work, professional headshots are becoming increasingly important for making a good first impression online. In this article, we’re going to teach you how to create a DIY professional headshot with an iPhone. (Or any high-end smart phone.) You won’t even need a fancy office in the background or professional lighting, because this guide covers how to take a professional headshot at home…and STILL make it look good. While the quality of the photo may not exactly match a photography session at a studio, the photos you will take in this guide will be 50x better than most selfies and other low-quality photos on LinkedIn these days.
Smart Phone Requirements and Camera Settings
Luckily, you don’t need the latest gadget to take a professional headshot at home. You can actually use any high-end smart phone created in the last 3 years. Models that work include Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, and other high-end androids. As long as your phone has a reasonably good camera, and was made within the last three years, you’re going to be OK.
However, if you ARE taking your headshot with an iPhone, you need to change your camera settings before getting started. iPhones automatically shoot in a file format called “.HEIC”, which isn’t ideal for professional headshots at home. iPhone headshots require that you go into the “Settings” app. Then click “Camera” -> “Formats” -> “Most Compatible”. This process will ensure that you get higher resolution photos from your smart phone headshots. The final format of your photos should be a “JPG”.
Step-by-Step Preparation Guide
What to Wear for Your DIY Shoot
In short, solid colors look best. Make sure your clothing is wrinkle-free and appropriately positioned (collars in particular). Avoid company logos and bold patterns, as these types of tops are distracting. For the purposes of making a good first impression online, we’d HIGHLY recommend not wearing a regular t-shirt or hoodie in your photo. A collared shirt, sweater, or anything a step above casual/pajamas will make a MUCH better impression on people. T-shirts and hoodies look sloppier than you realize.
For your at-home headshot, you’ll also want to consider your background. Try to wear an outfit that has high contrast with your background. A light-toned shirt with a dark blazer is a classic professional look – and if you have the standard off-white walls, will help you stand out nicely.
Hair and Makeup Styling
Make sure your hair is styled exactly how you like it. We’d avoid haircuts that are unusual for you or likely to look messier than intended. For stray hairs, a little hair spray or water can go a long way. If you have long hair, make sure it isn’t resting on your shoulders or the middle 25% of your chest.
If you wear makeup, we recommend simple makeup that you’d wear to a business meeting. Avoid the temptation to “overdo” it — our editors can remove acne and minimize other blemishes via editing, but we can’t remove makeup.
Understanding Different Types of Headshots
To help you choose the right style, here is a breakdown of the standard headshot types used in acting, modeling, and business:
| Type of Headshot | Framing Range | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| One-Quarter Headshot | Mid-to-upper chest to above the head. | Provides a clear view of facial features and expressions; catches eyes of casting directors. |
| Half-Body Shot | Waist to above the head. | Communicates look and personality; great for actors and models. |
| Three-Quarter Portrait | Mid-thigh to above the head. | Highlights facial characteristics while giving a view of the body; essential for comp cards. |
| Full-Body Shot | Entire body (standing, sitting, or lying down). | Presents size, physique, and proportions; important for modeling portfolios. |
Posing and Techniques for Professional Results
- Highlight your personality through facial expressions and body language.
- Make eye contact with the camera to make a bold impression and demonstrate confidence.
- Slight posing changes can lead to vastly different images. Try tilting your head, leaning forward, and doing different hand positions.
- Be aware of where the light is coming from and position yourself to avoid harsh shadows hitting the subject’s face.
5 Embarrassing Mistakes Professionals Make on LinkedIn
- Profile Photo Is More Than 2 Years Old: Over time, our face, our hair, and our eyes tend to change. You don’t want to show up to a job interview looking completely different from your profile photo.
- Inappropriate Clothing or Background: If you’re looking for a job in corporate finance, you can’t have a casual photo in your backyard. If you’re looking for a job at a tech startup, you can’t have a corporate stuffy photo with a gray felt backdrop.
- Using a Selfie: Franky, using a selfie makes it look like you didn’t care enough to go get your photo taken. There’s no comparison on which person looks more professional.
- Using a Graduation, Wedding, or Vacation Photo: Many studies have shown that photos obviously taken from other uses make you look less professional and credible. If you’re using a wedding photo with someone’s shoulder kind of cropped out, you are not fooling anyone.
- Profile Not Taken By a Specialist: A professional headshot photographer will know how to pose you in flattering angles, get great expressions, and keep an eye on details like wrinkles on clothing or objects in the background.