Start with where the headshot will be used
Before you think about clothes or poses, write down where the photo is going. The answer sets the crop and the background, and it saves you a reshoot.
- LinkedIn or another professional profile. A photo matters here: LinkedIn reports that members with a photo receive 21 times more profile views2. LinkedIn also recommends framing from the waist or chest up rather than head-only or full body2.
- A company website or team page. Ask whoever manages the page for the crop shape, background color and whether the other team photos share a style. Matching them is the safer choice.
- Acting. Agents and casting contacts often have their own preferences for framing and styling, so ask before you book a session.
- A speaker bio. The photo may run small in a program or large on a screen. A clear, warm face against a simple background works at both sizes.
Once you know the use, the rest of these headshot ideas become choices rather than guesses.
Headshot ideas for backgrounds
A background should support your face, not compete with it. Two approaches work almost everywhere.
A plain wall. Penn State advises a "clutter-free background" and says a solid-colored wall at home "should be perfect"3. Pick a wall without frames, shelves or light switches near your head. Soft gray, warm beige or muted blue stay quiet behind a face.
A softly blurred background. This looks like an office, a garden or a street with the detail melted away, and you get it with distance. Stand well away from whatever is behind you and stay closer to the camera. On a phone, portrait mode can help, but check the edges of your hair and shoulders for odd smudging.
Either way, keep the background from matching your outfit exactly. A little contrast keeps your shoulders from disappearing.
Light for a headshot: window light or open shade
Light usually matters more than which camera you use. Soft, even light is kind to nearly everyone.
LinkedIn advises avoiding direct sunlight, shadows and fluorescent lighting2. For a home session, Penn State suggests setting up next to a window and turning off any artificial light sources in the room3.
Here is how to use that:
- Face the window, or turn about a quarter of the way from it, so light falls gently across your face.
- Turn off ceiling lights and lamps. Mixed light can give skin an uneven color.
- If the window gets direct sun, hang a sheer curtain or wait for a cloudier hour.
- Outdoors, look for open shade, such as the shaded side of a building or a covered porch, where the light is bright but not harsh.
Squinting means the light is too strong. Move until your eyes relax.
What to wear for a headshot
Clothing should look like you on a confident day and stay out of the way. These choices tend to photograph well:
- Solid colors. Blues, greens, deep reds and neutrals are reliable. Busy patterns and small stripes can look distracting on camera.
- A good fit. Clothes that pull, bunch or slide off a shoulder show up immediately, especially when you sit.
- A neckline that frames the face. Crew necks, collars and open necklines all work. Check that collars lie flat.
- Little jewelry and no large logos. People should notice your face first.
- Two or three options. Bring them and try each in the light you will use. A color that looks great in the mirror can look different at the window.
Pose ideas: angle, chin and shoulders
Stiff photos usually come from squaring up to the camera like a passport picture. A small turn changes a lot.
LinkedIn's advice is to stand with your body in a
“¾ angle to the camera, placing one foot slightly ahead”
2. Then turn your face back toward the lens.
A few adjustments help:
- Chin forward and slightly down. Lead with your forehead a little. It defines the jawline and keeps the neck from folding.
- Shoulders down and back. Lift them toward your ears, then let them fall.
- Weight on the back foot. This gives a natural lean and lets the front shoulder relax.
- Hands loose or out of the frame. Clenched hands show.
Waist-up or mid-chest up is the crop LinkedIn recommends2, and it leaves room to trim to a square or a circle later.
How to look relaxed and get a real smile
Many people feel stiff in front of a lens for the first few minutes. Expect that, and plan for it.
Breathe out before each frame. A slow exhale drops your shoulders and softens your face.
Let the person behind the camera talk. A photographer or friend who chats with you and asks about your week will get a better expression than a countdown. A real smile usually follows a real reaction, so ask your friend to mention someone or something you like.
Take several expressions. Try a closed-mouth smile, a smile with teeth and a calm, warm look. Different uses call for different ones, and you will not know which is best until you see them side by side.
Keep changing between frames. Penn State advises you to "look into the camera lens" and "change up your pose"3. Small shifts in angle, chin and shoulders give you more to choose from. The natural frame is rarely the first, so keep shooting past the point where you feel done.
Headshot ideas for a phone and a friend
You do not need a studio. You need a window, a wall and a patient friend.
- Pick a room with a window and a plain wall. Turn off the artificial lights3.
- Place the phone at eye level on a tripod, a stack of books or in your friend's steady hands. Penn State recommends keeping the phone eye-level and steady, with settings on HD or the highest quality option3.
- Clean the lens with a soft cloth. Fingerprints make photos look hazy.
- Stand well away from the wall so the background softens, and face the window.
- Take a test shot and check for shadows under your eyes and glare on glasses. Adjust your position.
- Shoot a lot of frames, changing your pose and expression between them.
- Review the next day. Frames you loved in the moment can look stiff, and quiet ones can turn out to be the best.
Ask your friend to tell you when your chin drifts up or your shoulders creep toward your ears. They can see what you cannot.
How often to update your headshot
There is no fixed schedule. Many people refresh their photo every few years, or sooner after a change in hair, glasses, role or appearance. The test is simple: if someone meeting you for the first time would hesitate to recognize you from the picture, it is time for a new one.
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Preview · price pendingFAQ
What are good headshot ideas for LinkedIn?
What should I wear for a headshot?
Wear a solid color that suits you and contrasts a little with the background. Pick something that fits well and feels like you on a good day. Skip busy patterns, large logos and anything you keep adjusting. Bring two or three options and check collars and hair before the first frame.
How do I pose for a headshot?
Turn your body slightly away from the camera, with one foot a little ahead, then turn your face back to the lens. LinkedIn suggests a ¾ angle2. Bring your chin slightly forward and down, drop your shoulders, and change your pose between shots.
How can I look relaxed in a headshot?
Breathe out before each frame, let your shoulders drop, and have your photographer or friend talk to you instead of counting down. Think of a person you like or a story that makes you laugh. Take plenty of frames, since the natural one is rarely the first.
Sources
- Association for Psychological Science How Many Seconds to a First Impression? – Association for Psychological Science – APS Accessed 30 Sep 2026
- LinkedIn (Sales Solutions blog) Picture Perfect: Make A Great First Impression with Your LinkedIn Profile Photo Accessed 30 Sep 2026
- Penn State University (Los Angeles/COVID updates site) At-Home Headshot Tips – Liberal Arts Community Covid Updates Accessed 30 Sep 2026
† marks a line still being checked before publish.
