You look at your headshot and it just doesn’t feel right.
You know it’s technically fine. It’s sharp, well lit and clearly you.
But something about it makes you hesitate before uploading it to your website or LinkedIn profile. You might even apologise for it when someone mentions it.
I see this reaction all the time, and I’ve felt it myself.
The reason your headshot feels wrong is rarely about how you look. It’s almost always about how the photograph was made and how disconnected it feels from who you really are.
Most people come to a headshot session carrying a lot of assumptions. They think they need to look more serious, more formal or more polished than they are in real life. They choose clothes they don’t normally wear and put on an expression they think looks professional.
The camera picks up on that tension straight away. You end up with a photograph that looks like you trying to be someone else.
I’ve had plenty of clients tell me they hate having their photo taken. What they usually mean is they hate how they’ve felt during past photo shoots.
Rushed sessions. Awkward posing. Being told to smile without any reason to smile.
If you’re uncomfortable, the photograph will reflect that, no matter how good the camera or lighting is.
When I work with someone on a headshot, I slow things down.
We talk first. I want to understand how you work, who you work with and where the photographs will actually be used.
A headshot isn’t a standalone image. It’s part of your wider story. It sits on your website, your social profiles and your marketing. If it doesn’t match the way you show up in real life, it will always feel wrong.
Expression is a big part of this. Most people don’t walk around smiling on command.
A real expression comes from feeling relaxed and understood. That’s why I don’t start shooting the moment you step in front of the camera.
We ease into it.
I’ll give gentle direction, but I’m also watching for the moments when your face softens and your eyes come alive. Those moments are where you start to recognise yourself.
Lighting plays a role too, even if you can’t quite put your finger on it.
Harsh or flat lighting can make your face look unfamiliar. It can exaggerate features in a way you don’t recognise from everyday life.
I favour soft looking light because it feels honest. It’s closer to how people see you when they meet you in person.
When the light feels right, people often relax without even realising why.
Clothing is another area where headshots often go wrong. People wear what they think they should wear rather than what they actually wear when meeting clients.
If you’re a relaxed, approachable person who usually works in casual clothes, a stiff outfit will make you feel awkward. That discomfort always shows.
I encourage clients to wear something that feels like a good day at work, not a costume.
There’s also the issue of self perception. We all carry a mental image of ourselves that’s a few years out of date. When a headshot doesn’t match that image, it can feel confronting.
My job isn’t to change how you look or make you into a different version of yourself. It’s to help you see yourself as others do, at your best and most approachable.
Context matters, especially if you work locally.
If you’re based in Cranleigh or around the Surrey Hills, there’s a good chance the people viewing your headshot will meet you in person. When they do, the photograph needs to make sense.
If your headshot promises one thing and you deliver another, trust takes longer to build.
I believe a good headshot should feel familiar. It should feel like you on a good day, meeting someone you’re happy to talk to.
When clients see their final images and say, that actually feels like me, I know we’ve done it right.
That reaction doesn’t come from camera tricks or heavy retouching. It comes from a process that puts people at ease and gives them permission to be themselves.
If your current headshot makes you wince or avoid using it, that’s not vanity. It’s a sign the photograph isn’t doing its job. You deserve an image that supports your work, not one you tolerate.
If you’d like a headshot that feels natural, honest and genuinely like you, I’d love to help. Get in touch and let’s talk about creating a portrait you can use with confidence.
