Thursday, September 14, 2006
What is your best tip for a professional head shot...
The professional head shot photo.
Argggghhh!
I have had many throughout my business career. And I have arranged many for client marketing collateral.
What other "marketing must" creates as much foot-dragging and hand-wringing?
Why does the executive head shot cause so much angst?
Possibly because the results catch you in an unnatural habitat. Seldom am I framed with a clean-looking, simple blue or gray screen as my background. I rather rely on wires, speakers, paperwork, bookshelves, and general chaos in the background to steer my viewer's eyes away from my wrinkles and other facial flaws.
Or could it be because I am seldom as elegantly coifed as I am in a professional photo? In real life, my hair usually sticks out in random little bunches, as a result of my habit of frequently running my hands through it as I write or drive.
And there is usually more lipstick on my coffee cups than on my mouth at any given moment. (Unless you count my teeth....)
And it's not just me. Other people have their issues.
Two very handsome male executives pointed out to me last month that they loathe having their pictures taken. Their reasons?
"I just don't look as good in a headshot as I do in real life."
(Indeed, the results proved their statements to be horribly true. I was alarmed to learn that 90% of their dreamy handsome-ness must be derived from their personalities.)
On the flip side, a rather plain-looking executive hated to have his head shot taken, as well.
"Nobody wants to look at my ugly mug in real life," he moaned dramatically. "Why make a permanent record of it?"
(He looks great in his professional photo, all warm and what-the-heck.)
Another exec kept putting off her photographer's appointment.
"Too busy," she kept saying. "I have too much to do. I don't have time..."
Yeah, right. Excuses, excuses!
(She ended up looking like a stiff. A tight, angry corpse.)
So for all you hang-wringers out there, here is what you can do to get a better shot:
Lighten up.
The best professional photographs take place when you are relaxed and happy. When you decide to enjoy your photo shoot with a positive attitude. When you work with a photographer and a crew you trust.
When your boss doesn't threaten you with termination if you don't get your butt into the studio, pronto. (That was my worst head shot, ever.)
At the moment you get your picture taken, everything else is out of your hands. Trust the photographer do his or her job. Let the hair and make-up people fuss over you a little.
For an hour or so, you can relax and enjoy being the center of attention.
You can't always blame a bad professional photo on the photographer. It's not just your looks. Your attitude is a big part of the equation.
For me, a great executive head shot includes a genuine smile -- not one that is pasted on for the occasion. That's why having good rapport with the photography team is a must.
Phony smiles are the worst. (I should know. I have a dozen headshots with me grimacing falsely at the camera.)
What are your best tips for a great professional head shot?
Other than showing up drunk? ¶ 9/14/2006 11:53:00 AM
The professional head shot photo.
Argggghhh!
I have had many throughout my business career. And I have arranged many for client marketing collateral.
What other "marketing must" creates as much foot-dragging and hand-wringing?
Why does the executive head shot cause so much angst?
Possibly because the results catch you in an unnatural habitat. Seldom am I framed with a clean-looking, simple blue or gray screen as my background. I rather rely on wires, speakers, paperwork, bookshelves, and general chaos in the background to steer my viewer's eyes away from my wrinkles and other facial flaws.
Or could it be because I am seldom as elegantly coifed as I am in a professional photo? In real life, my hair usually sticks out in random little bunches, as a result of my habit of frequently running my hands through it as I write or drive.
And there is usually more lipstick on my coffee cups than on my mouth at any given moment. (Unless you count my teeth....)
And it's not just me. Other people have their issues.
Two very handsome male executives pointed out to me last month that they loathe having their pictures taken. Their reasons?
"I just don't look as good in a headshot as I do in real life."
(Indeed, the results proved their statements to be horribly true. I was alarmed to learn that 90% of their dreamy handsome-ness must be derived from their personalities.)
On the flip side, a rather plain-looking executive hated to have his head shot taken, as well.
"Nobody wants to look at my ugly mug in real life," he moaned dramatically. "Why make a permanent record of it?"
(He looks great in his professional photo, all warm and what-the-heck.)
Another exec kept putting off her photographer's appointment.
"Too busy," she kept saying. "I have too much to do. I don't have time..."
Yeah, right. Excuses, excuses!
(She ended up looking like a stiff. A tight, angry corpse.)
So for all you hang-wringers out there, here is what you can do to get a better shot:
Lighten up.
The best professional photographs take place when you are relaxed and happy. When you decide to enjoy your photo shoot with a positive attitude. When you work with a photographer and a crew you trust.
When your boss doesn't threaten you with termination if you don't get your butt into the studio, pronto. (That was my worst head shot, ever.)
At the moment you get your picture taken, everything else is out of your hands. Trust the photographer do his or her job. Let the hair and make-up people fuss over you a little.
For an hour or so, you can relax and enjoy being the center of attention.
You can't always blame a bad professional photo on the photographer. It's not just your looks. Your attitude is a big part of the equation.
For me, a great executive head shot includes a genuine smile -- not one that is pasted on for the occasion. That's why having good rapport with the photography team is a must.
Phony smiles are the worst. (I should know. I have a dozen headshots with me grimacing falsely at the camera.)
What are your best tips for a great professional head shot?
Other than showing up drunk? ¶ 9/14/2006 11:53:00 AM
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Great tips, Laura. I'm a personal brand designer, and I tell my clients to get professional headshots for their websites. I'm about to get my own headshots redone and thought I'd see what advice there was on the net - found you on Google.
Being relaxed and happy is the most important bit, and you're absolutely right about a natural smile. Here are some more tips:
Choose a simple top that doesn't have stripes or patterns (they can look bad in digital images). Go for a flattering colour, but not one that's too overpowering. This is about you, not your clothes. Take a choice of tops and scarves (shirts and ties) along to the studio. The photographer can help you choose the most flattering items.
Make-up: foundation is a good idea to even out the skin tones. A light dusting of powder will prevent shine. Men should consider it too, to avoid a greasy look. Apply eye make-up and lipstick which is flattering and natural - not too glamorous or it will look unnatural.
Look on the net for headshots you like or cut out magazine pics. This will help the photographer to capture the look you want.
Whether in print or on a web page, it is a golden rule that you don't face outwards, as it looks like you're not connecting with the content of the page. You need several shots with your shoulders angled slightly one direction or the other so that which ever side of a page your photo appears, you are inclined towards the center.
Have a choice of backgrounds - one dark and one light - so that you can choose the best shot for any given situation.
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Being relaxed and happy is the most important bit, and you're absolutely right about a natural smile. Here are some more tips:
Choose a simple top that doesn't have stripes or patterns (they can look bad in digital images). Go for a flattering colour, but not one that's too overpowering. This is about you, not your clothes. Take a choice of tops and scarves (shirts and ties) along to the studio. The photographer can help you choose the most flattering items.
Make-up: foundation is a good idea to even out the skin tones. A light dusting of powder will prevent shine. Men should consider it too, to avoid a greasy look. Apply eye make-up and lipstick which is flattering and natural - not too glamorous or it will look unnatural.
Look on the net for headshots you like or cut out magazine pics. This will help the photographer to capture the look you want.
Whether in print or on a web page, it is a golden rule that you don't face outwards, as it looks like you're not connecting with the content of the page. You need several shots with your shoulders angled slightly one direction or the other so that which ever side of a page your photo appears, you are inclined towards the center.
Have a choice of backgrounds - one dark and one light - so that you can choose the best shot for any given situation.
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