10 Pro Tips for Headshots That Get You Hired

Find Your Best Light in 60 Seconds

Stand in front of a window, but don’t face it directly. Turn your body about 45 degrees away from the light. Now look back toward the window. See how one side of your face is bright and the other has a soft shadow? That’s Rembrandt light, and it adds dimension faster than any filter. If the shadow under your nose is a small triangle, you’ve nailed it. I once watched a client’s entire posture change the moment she found this light; her shoulders dropped, and a real smile appeared, because she finally saw herself looking professional in her own living room. Cloudy days are your secret weapon—that soft, even glow is a free professional diffuser. Harsh noon sun creates raccoon eyes; open shade under a tree or a building overhang saves the shot.

What if you only have a phone and a blank wall? Position a desk lamp with a white shade about three feet to your side and slightly above eye level. Use a white poster board on the opposite side to bounce a little light back and fill that shadow. The goal isn’t studio-perfect, it’s avoiding the two worst things: a flat, flash-blinded face or one half lost in darkness.

Pick One Focal Point for the Camera

Your eyes are the contract. If they’re sharp, the viewer feels connected. If they’re soft, the whole image feels accidental. But here’s the trick: don’t just stare at the lens. Look at the top of the camera, or at the photographer’s forehead if you’re working with a friend. This slight adjustment keeps your gaze engaged but not confrontational. Your expression lives in the muscles around your eyes—think of a slight, genuine thought that makes them spark, like you’re about to share a good idea.

I had a client, a software engineer, who kept looking directly at the lens with intense focus. His shots looked aggressive. I told him to look just above my left ear and think about the solution to a tricky bug he’d recently solved. The difference was instant. His face softened, his intelligence became approachable, and that became the shot he used to land his next role. The camera isn’t your audience; it’s a conduit to the person who will see your photo later. Give your eyes a place to land and a thought to convey.

Relax Your Jaw and Shoulders First

Tension is the enemy of approachability. Before you even think about smiling, do this: exhale completely, let your lips part slightly, and gently press your tongue to the roof of your mouth. This relaxes your jawline. Now, roll your shoulders back and down, like you’re sliding your shoulder blades into your back pockets. Most people hold stress right in their trapezius muscles, creating a hunched, nervous silhouette.

A real smile starts in the eyes, not the teeth. Think of something that genuinely amuses you for a half-second—the memory of your pet doing something silly works better than “say cheese.” A forced, toothy grin reads as insincere in a still image. A slight, closed-mouth smile with engaged eyes reads as confident and ready. Which would you trust with a project: the person who looks strained or the person who looks collected?

Avoid the Top Two Fabric Mistakes

First, avoid pure white or jet black shirts. White blows out the camera’s meter, darkening your face. Black absorbs all light and can lose detail. Go for mid-tones: navy, charcoal, burgundy, forest green. Second, banish busy patterns. Tiny checks, narrow stripes, and loud florals create a distracting moiré effect on camera and steal focus from you.

Texture is your friend. A wool blazer, a crisp oxford cloth shirt, or a fine-gauge knit adds visual interest without noise. Iron everything. A wrinkled collar in a headshot subconsciously signals carelessness. For women, a V-neck or scoop neck elongates the neckline; a high, stiff collar can make you look cut off. For men, ensure the shirt collar fits snugly against your neck—a gap there looks sloppy. Your clothing is the frame, not the painting.

Review Your Proofs for This One Detail

When you see your shots, don’t look at your smile first. Look at your eyebrows. Are they slightly raised, giving you an open, receptive expression? Or are they knitted downward, even slightly, creating an unintended look of skepticism or stress? This tiny muscle group dictates the entire mood of your face more than your mouth does.

Check your posture next. Is one shoulder noticeably higher than the other? Is your head jutting forward? These are signs of tension you didn’t feel in the moment. Finally, look at the catchlights—those little white reflections in your eyes. Are they there? If your eyes look flat and dark, the life is missing. Two bright catchlights make you look alert and engaged. Choose the image where you look like you’re listening, not just posing.

Your headshot is a handshake, not a manifesto. It needs to say “capable and here to help” in less than a second. Master these five physical details—light, focus, relaxation, fabric, and expression—and you control that message completely. Now go find that window light and practice your eyebrow lift. You’ve got this.

If this one does not settle the question, Your Headshot, Your Rules: A Photographer's Practical Guide treats the same problem from a different angle.