Avoid These Common Mistakes When Taking DIY Headshots

In a digital age, a polished headshot is a significant asset. Whether you're an entrepreneur, corporate professional, or artist, a well-executed headshot can vastly influence how you're perceived online. While DIY headshots may seem cost-efficient, they often lack the professional touch. Here’s a guide to avoid common pitfalls when taking your own headshots.

An example of outdoor headshot photography, this was taken against a white wall which was also casting a shadow over Shola.

1. Poor Lighting

Lighting is crucial in headshot photography. Opt for natural light, ideally during the ‘golden hour’—just after sunrise or before sunset. This provides a warm, flattering glow.

Avoid harsh shadows by steering clear of direct overhead lighting or camera flash, ensuring natural light headshots. If you do use house lighting, ensure it’s all of the same colour (or ‘temperature’) so there are no unflattering colour casts on your face.

2. Distracting Backgrounds

A simple and clean headshot background ensures the focus remains on you. Avoid cluttered or busy backdrops; a plain (or lightly textured) neutral colour, or softly blurred outdoorscape works best for your headshot background.

3. Unflattering Angles

Photographing from the wrong angle can misrepresent your features. Avoid low or high angles; instead, position the camera at eye level and angle your face slightly to present a natural look. Use the best angles for headshots to ensure a flattering appearance.

Personally, I don’t like photos that mean the viewer will be looking down or up at you; we want to be treated as equals, as we would treat others, and our photos should represent that.

4. Inappropriate Attire

Attire plays a crucial role in professional headshots, so choose clothing that matches your personal brand and the message you want to convey. Unless busy patterns specifically match your brand image, solid colours without busy patterns are ideal.

Ensure your attire is wrinkle-free and reflects a professional yet approachable image. Hair, makeup and jewellery should all also be considered; like your clothes, these should not distract from your face but, rather, should complement your brand message.

5. Camera Quality

While smartphones have advanced cameras, good quality DSLRs or mirrorless cameras provide superior images for a number of reasons. If you’re serious about DIY headshots, invest in the best camera for headshots you can afford, a high-quality suitable lens, and proper lighting equipment.

6. Lack of Expression

A blank or rigid expression can make a headshot look lifeless.

Instead, aim for a natural, genuine smile or a confident look (that stays away from arrogance) to make your photos more engaging. At a base level, your expression should reflect approachability and professionalism, essential for expressive headshots.

That being said, headshots can say much more than the individual than how approachable and professional they are, so research the topic widely.

7. Neglecting Post-Production

Even excellent shots can benefit from post-production. Use photo-editing tools and techniques like frequency separation to adjust brightness, contrast, colour balance and to remove blemishes, enhancing the final image while keeping it looking natural.

Post-production is key in headshot editing, but don’t over-do it!

8. Poor Composition

Ensure your face is the focal point of the photo, occupying a substantial portion of the frame. Follow the rule of thirds for a balanced and aesthetically pleasing composition in your headshots.

9. Inconsistent Style

Maintain a consistent style across multiple headshots to establish a cohesive personal brand. Consistency in backgrounds, lighting, and poses can make your profile look professional and put-together, crucial for consistent headshot style.

Summary

Creating professional headshots on your own is challenging but achievable by avoiding these common mistakes. Good lighting, an uncluttered headshot background, proper angles, appropriate attire, quality equipment, natural expressions, thoughtful post-production, well-composed shots, and consistent style are key to stunning DIY headshots.

If in doubt, consider investing in professional help to ensure your headshots effectively represent your personal brand. If you’d like to learn more about how to take headshots yourself, or if you need any help, please do drop me a message.