A headshot is a specific kind of photograph with a specific job: it needs to communicate who you are to someone who has never met you, in about two seconds. That is a narrow brief. Most headshot problems come from trying to do too much. Too much retouching, too busy a background, too forced an expression. Rather than too little.
Background: neutral is not boring ¶
A neutral grey or off-white background keeps the viewer's attention on the face. This is not a stylistic preference; it is a function of how the eye moves through an image. A busy background. A bookshelf, a branded wall, an outdoor scene with competing elements. Pulls attention away from the subject. Environmental backgrounds work when the environment is directly relevant to the person's work and when it is kept simple. A chef in a kitchen, a sculptor in a studio. For most professional headshots, neutral is the correct choice.
Light: one source, well placed ¶
The most common headshot lighting mistake is using too many sources. Two softboxes, a hair light, a background light, and a reflector. The result looks lit rather than natural. A single large source at 45 degrees to the subject, slightly above eye level, with a reflector or a white wall on the opposite side to fill the shadows, produces a clean, natural result that works across most skin tones. At Smart Peninsula, we start every headshot session with the north-facing skylight and add one LED panel if the ambient level is too low.
Expression: the two-second read ¶
The expression in a headshot needs to read correctly at small sizes. A LinkedIn thumbnail is 400 by 400 pixels. A slight, genuine smile reads as approachable. A neutral expression reads as serious. A forced smile reads as uncomfortable, regardless of how good the light is. The way to get a genuine expression is to keep the subject talking between frames. We ask about the work, the project, the context for the headshot. The camera is running. The good frames tend to come in the pauses between sentences.
What to bring to your session ¶
Three wardrobe options is the right number. Not one, not ten. Choose clothes that fit well and that you would actually wear to a meeting with the person you are trying to impress. Avoid very fine patterns (moiré on camera), very bright colours (they reflect onto the face), and logos. Bring a lint roller. If you wear glasses, bring a pair without lenses or be prepared for a reflection in at least some frames. We can work around it, but it takes more time. Arrive with clean, dry hair; we do not have a stylist on site.
Retouching: what we do and do not do ¶
Our standard headshot retouch removes temporary blemishes, corrects exposure and colour, and sharpens the eyes slightly. We do not smooth skin to the point where texture disappears, and we do not alter the shape of the face or body. If you want heavier retouching, tell us at the consultation stage and we will quote it separately. The reason we default to light retouching is practical: heavily retouched headshots look dated faster, and they create problems when the person in the photo with the person who has seen the photo.
A good headshot is not complicated to produce. It requires the right light, a clean background, and enough time to get a genuine expression. The session at Smart Peninsula runs 60 minutes for executives and includes three wardrobe changes. Book via the contact form.