Your headshot is doing more work than you might think.
It’s on your LinkedIn profile. Your website. Your speaker bio. Your email signature. Your company page. Your proposal. Your press profile. Maybe even your dating profile, if we’re being honest.
It’s often the first proper look someone gets at you.
Before they read your bio, check your experience or decide whether to get in touch, they’ve already formed an impression.
Do you look approachable?
Do you look credible?
Do you look current?
Do you look like someone they’d trust?
That’s why choosing the right photographer matters.
A headshot isn’t just a quick picture of your face. It’s a small but important part of how you show up in the world.
So how do you choose the right person to take it?
Look at their portfolio
Start with the obvious bit.
Look at their work.
Not just one strong image on the homepage. Look properly.
Do the people in the photos look comfortable?
Do the expressions feel natural?
Is the lighting flattering?
Is there consistency?
Do the portraits feel like real people, or do they look stiff, overdone or awkward?
A good headshot photographer should be able to photograph different faces, ages, styles and personalities while still producing work that feels polished and professional.
You’re not looking for someone who makes everyone look the same.
You’re looking for someone who can bring out something honest and useful in each person.
That’s the skill.
Choose someone who understands people, not just cameras
Technical skill matters.
Of course it does.
Lighting, lens choice, backgrounds, composition and editing all make a big difference.
But headshot photography is also about people.
Most clients don’t arrive feeling thrilled about being photographed. They’re often nervous. They don’t know how to pose. They worry they’ll look awkward. They think they’re not photogenic. They’re very concerned about what to do with their hands, which is fair, because hands are ridiculous.
The right photographer knows how to guide you through that.
They’ll help you relax.
They’ll give clear direction.
They’ll spot when you’re tense.
They’ll know when to talk, when to pause and when to take the photo.
That’s what creates a headshot that feels like you, rather than a technically correct image of someone trying very hard to look normal.
Make sure their style fits what you need
Different headshots do different jobs.
A corporate headshot for a law firm might need to feel calm, sharp and trustworthy.
A portrait for a creative professional might need more personality.
An actor’s headshot needs to show casting potential and character.
A business owner’s profile photo might need to feel warm, confident and approachable.
There isn’t one perfect headshot style.
There’s only the right style for you.
So think about what you need your image to say.
Do you want to look more professional?
More relaxed?
More confident?
More creative?
More approachable?
More current?
A good photographer will help you work that out before the shoot, rather than simply placing you in front of a backdrop and hoping for the best.
Ask about the process
The process matters as much as the final image.
Before you book, find out what actually happens.
How long is the session?
Where does it take place?
Can you change outfits?
Will you be guided through posing?
Can you see images during the shoot?
How many final images are included?
Do you choose your favourites?
How are the images edited?
When will you receive them?
These questions are not fussy.
They’re sensible.
A professional photographer should be able to explain the whole process clearly, so you know what to expect.
If everything feels vague, rushed or awkward before you’ve even booked, that’s not a great sign.
Find out how they help nervous clients
This is a big one.
If you don’t enjoy having your photo taken, choose someone who understands that.
Not someone who says, “Just relax.”
That is possibly the least useful instruction in the history of photography.
A good headshot photographer will have a plan for helping you feel comfortable.
They’ll start gently.
They’ll show you what’s working.
They’ll give clear, simple direction.
They’ll make small adjustments that improve the image without making you feel like you’re being inspected.
They’ll help you stop overthinking.
Most people don’t need to be transformed.
They just need to feel safe enough to look like themselves.
Check what’s included in the price
Headshot pricing can vary a lot, so make sure you know what you’re paying for.
A cheaper session isn’t always better value if it includes very little, leaves you with rushed images, or charges heavily for every extra file afterwards.
Ask what’s included.
How much time do you get?
How many edited images are included?
Are extra images available?
Is retouching included?
Do you receive high-resolution files?
Can you use the images online and in print?
Are there any extra charges?
Clear pricing builds trust.
You should know exactly what you’re booking before you arrive.
Ask about editing and retouching
Editing matters.
A good headshot should look polished, but still natural.
You don’t want an image where every line, texture and sign of real life has been removed until you look like a waxwork.
You also don’t want an unfinished image with distracting blemishes, shiny patches, stray hairs, dust, creases or background distractions left in place.
The best retouching is subtle.
It tidies temporary distractions and finishes the image properly, while still keeping you looking like you.
Ask how the photographer edits their final images.
Their answer will tell you a lot.
Consider location
Some people want a clean studio headshot.
Others prefer something more relaxed outdoors or in their workplace.
Both can work well.
A studio gives control. Good lighting, simple backgrounds and no weather surprises. It’s ideal if you want a polished, professional look.
Outdoor or workplace headshots can add more context and personality. They can work brilliantly for small business owners, creatives and people who want something that feels less formal.
The right photographer will help you choose the best setting for the kind of impression you want to make.
The location should support the portrait, not take over.
Read reviews and testimonials
Reviews are useful because they tell you what the experience is like.
Look for comments about more than the final photos.
Did people feel comfortable?
Was the photographer helpful?
Were they professional?
Did they give clear direction?
Was the process easy?
Did the images arrive on time?
Did the client actually enjoy the shoot, despite expecting to hate it?
That last one is often the giveaway.
A photographer who can make nervous people feel at ease is worth paying attention to.
Choose someone you feel comfortable with
This might be the most important point.
You need to feel comfortable with the person behind the camera.
Not best friends.
Not lifelong soulmates.
Just comfortable enough to trust their direction.
If the photographer makes you feel awkward, rushed, judged or talked down to, that will probably show in the photos.
If they make you feel listened to, guided and properly looked after, that will show too.
The final image carries the feeling of the session.
So choose someone whose approach feels right.
Your headshot should feel like you
A great headshot isn’t about looking perfect.
It’s about looking like someone others would want to meet, trust, hire, book, recommend or work with.
It should feel current.
It should feel confident.
It should feel natural.
It should feel like you on a good day, not a strange, polished version of you that nobody would recognise.
That’s what the right photographer will help you create.
Not just a photo of your face.
A first impression that actually does its job.
If your current headshot no longer feels like you, or you’re ready for something stronger, clearer and more professional, I’d be very happy to help.
