The Ultimate Guide to Business Headshots for Men

Dos and Don’ts

Let’s start with the basic rights and wrongs of male headshots. It’s not complicated, but there are some important details to remember. When getting a business headshot, always remember to be confident and relaxed. This is the most important part. People want to hire you if you look like you know what you’re doing, even if you actually don’t. While the photographer probably isn’t behind the camera telling knock-knock jokes to get you to smile, looks like you’re authentically smiling anyways. A forced smile may appear fake and a tad overwhelming. Speaking of photographers, make sure you do the research to guarantee you select the right photographer for you. Talk to friends about their headshots and hop online to do some research on portfolios. Once you’re set up with a photographer, make sure you settle on a price beforehand. Nothing will ruin your confidence like a dispute over pricing. A week before your shoot, make sure to get your haircut. Get it a week out to give it plenty of time to settle into the new style. On the morning of, trim all facial hair. If you want the perfect headshot photo, make sure to iron and steam all clothing and bring a lint roller with you. Since there will be plenty of lighting, many details are shown. One important thing not to do is get into your own head. Don’t try to think negatively about your appearance, this will show. Don’t wad your clothes up to take them to the studio. Make sure they are on hangers and have a sort of covering over them to protect them from any potential damage or wrinkling. When at the studio, don’t release all control. While the photographer does control the shoot, for the most part, go in with an idea of what you want, and you can even bring examples. If you don’t like something about the shot and know it can be fixed, don’t be afraid to respectfully mention it to the photographer.

What to Wear

The most difficult part of business headshots is deciding what to wear. While you don’t have to go full tuxedo and bow tie, it’s important to put your best foot forward. Dress like you are going to an important business meeting or job interview. Don’t dress too casually or like a slob. Settle with business slacks, a button-down shirt, and a dark-colored jacket. Don’t have anything on it with crazy colors or patterns. Stick with navy blue, black, or dark grey. One thing you can have a pattern on is a tie. However, make sure it is appropriate and goes nicely with your skin tone and the rest of your outfit. If you are taking full body or 3/4 body shots, make sure to have a belt that ties your entire ensemble together. Other accessories like glasses and watches are okay but stay with pieces that are slick instead of overbearing. Stay away from wearing just a white shirt with no jacket over it. The bright white can draw attention to the shirt and away from your face. Wearing only a polo is a risky move because it may appear too casual. Bright colors like red, yellow, and green on shirts or jackets may appear too distracting. Before your shoot, try everything on and look in the mirror from all angles. If you need extra help, ask a close friend or relative for their opinion. Trying clothing on before a shoot is important.

What Makes Good Business Headshots?

If you’re still a tad lost on successful headshots, don’t worry. Think about who is going to be seeing the photos and what you want to say with your photo. Pictures that shouldn’t be used on any sort of business profile or resume or photos taken with a phone or photos taken at a social event. You don’t want the first picture an employer sees to be a photo of you holding a can of beer. If money allows, always have business headshots taken by professionals with good equipment. This will show your future employer you care enough to take the time for professional photos.

Other Things to Remember

Once you take your professional headshots, make sure your social media matches them. While your Instagram doesn’t have to be all business, make sure it is appropriate for employers to look at. There’s no need for photos of you heavily intoxicated or in questionable situations. Don’t be afraid to show your fun side, but it’s best to maintain a level of professionalism when doing so. Employers do take the time to scan through social media, and you don’t want to ruin your chances with a risky photograph. Be the best version of yourself! Lastly, as we have said many times, preparation and confidence are key when getting your photos taken. Know what you want, who you are, and what you want to portray. Businesses love confident men.

Ready, Set, Snap

Now that you are all ready for your shining moment, don’t forget to smile. Go ahead and schedule a barber appointment and make sure your iron is out and ready to go. Well-taken business headshots hold a heavyweight in deciding the position for a job. If you are interested in any of our photography or video services, make sure you check out our site and portfolio.