In today’s visually-driven world, where first impressions matter more than ever, your headshot has become a powerful tool for shaping your brand and leaving a lasting impact on colleagues and clients. While traditional headshots with a white background have their merits, breaking away from the norm and adding a touch of personality can make your headshot stand out from the crowd. This blog post will explore five creative ideas to inject personality into your professional headshots and create a lasting impression.
1. Use your city's skyline
A city’s vibrant energy and dynamic atmosphere can infuse your headshots with a modern and lively vibe. Explore urban landscapes with exciting architecture, street art, or cityscapes as your backdrop. This choice of headshots can be particularly effective for professionals in creative fields like marketing, design, or entrepreneurship, embracing the innovative vibe the cityscapes offer the photo. Tracy and Diane took their headshots at Zilker Park, an iconic public park in Austin, Texas, with a beautiful view of the city skyline, reinforcing their professional image while adding a touch of personality to their headshots.
(Can we take a moment for that pink blazer? #girlboss)
2. Incorporate a prop
Adding props and accessories is an excellent way to infuse your headshots with personality. Consider items that reflect your interests, hobbies, or profession. Alex, owner, and freelance florist of Delight’ful Blooms, holds a floral arrangement she created in her headshot, a great way to showcase your work. The floral arrangement adds visual interest and provides insights into your passions and areas of expertise.
Pro tip: Make sure your prop is relevant and doesn’t distract from your face, as the primary focus of the photo is you!
3. Use a unique, indoor location
If you prefer an indoor setting but want to break away from the traditional white background, consider shooting your headshots in unique locations that reflect your personality or profession. Think outside the box and choose spaces like art galleries, libraries, cozy cafes, or even your own workspace. These locations can provide context and tell a story about who you are and what you do. Brian is posed in a library with tons of natural light, and the books add professionalism to his unique headshot.
Pro tip: Make sure the background doesn’t overpower your presence, and the scene has enough light so the photo isn’t too dark.
4. Take advantage of Golden Hour
Golden hour is my absolute FAVORITE time of day to take photos, with dusk being a very close second. The golden sky adds warmth to a picture and elevates the overall mood and ambiance. The soft, golden light bathes everything in a hazy glow, enhancing the colors and textures in the frame. Why not also take advantage of the beauty of nature? Nature’s breathtaking surroundings provide a visually appealing background and create a relaxed and authentic atmosphere. Golden Hour adds an extra magic touch, infusing your headshots with a captivating and warm ambiance that truly stands out. Shannon also utilizes a prop in her headshot to showcase her incredible skills as a professional florist.
5. Monochromatic Styling
In addition to exploring unique backgrounds, another powerful way to add personality to your professional headshots is through your wardrobe and styling choices. Monochromatic outfits create a cohesive and harmonious look, drawing attention to your face and allowing your features to take center stage. Scared to go full hot pink power suit? Experiment with different shades and tones within the same color family as your background to create depth and visual interest in your photo. Jenny’s green dress perfectly complemented the vibrant greenery, creating a visually exciting portrait that focuses on her and adds a dreamy sea of green. Whether you opt for a sleek all-black ensemble, a sophisticated all-white look, or any other monochromatic combination, this styling approach can add a touch of elegance and modernity to your headshots, leaving a lasting impression.
Final Thoughts
Adding personality to your headshots is an opportunity to break away from tradition and showcase your unique individuality. Be YOU, and do what makes you comfortable and passionate when you take your photos; your headshots should authentically represent who you are and what you stand for. My final tip, choose a photographer you trust! If you are nervous or don’t know where to begin planning your headshot photos, contact a trusted and skilled photographer! An experienced photographer will guide you through the process, provide helpful feedback, and bring out the best in you. Good luck with your next headshot photos!
Accepting clients for Fall 2023!
Such good tips. I love this & my headshots you took!!