Grooming for a Lawyer's Headshot: Build Trust in 5 Steps

Start with Your Hair and Skin

Your hairline is your photo’s frame. Get a trim one week before your session, not the day before. Fresh cuts can look too sharp, like you’re trying too hard. A week lets it settle. For men, watch the neckline and sideburns; a stray hair against a white shirt screams “distracted.” For women, style as you would for your most important court appearance—polished, but recognizably you. I once shot a partner whose usual sleek bun was perfect, but a single flyaway hair caught the studio light like a tiny antenna in every shot. We fixed it with a single drop of water on a fingertip. Skin needs moisture, not makeup (unless you normally wear it). A non-greasy moisturizer applied an hour before you shoot prevents a dry, chalky look under bright lights. For guys, a close shave is obvious, but shave at least two hours prior to let any minor redness subside. The camera sees the five o’clock shadow you don’t.

Choose the Right Collar and Fabric

Your collar is the handshake between your face and your suit. A spread collar (the points sit wider apart) is universally flattering and authoritative. A button-down collar is too casual; it can look like you’re headed to a weekend barbecue. The collar must lie flat against your neck with no gaps. Bring two options: a classic white or light blue shirt, and a darker navy or gray. What fabric works best? A medium-weight cotton or a fine wool blend. Avoid thin, flimsy poplin—it wrinkles if you so much as look at it. And never wear silk or high-gloss fabrics for a studio headshot; they create distracting hot spots of reflected light right under your chin. I keep a steamer in my studio because 80% of clients arrive with a shirt that looks like it was balled up in a gym bag. We spend the first ten minutes fixing that.

How tight should the collar be? You should be able to fit one finger comfortably between your neck and the collar. Any tighter, and it will pinch your skin and make you look strained. Any looser, and it will create a sloppy, gaping triangle of shadow. This is the single most overlooked detail by intelligent, busy people.

Control Light and Shadow on Your Face

Light builds trust. Shadow creates doubt. Your photographer handles the main source, but you control what the light hits. Angle your shoulders about 30 degrees away from the camera, then turn your head back toward the lens. This creates a slight shadow on the far side of your face, adding dimension and making your features look stronger, not flat. What if you have deep-set eyes? Ask your photographer to lower the main light. A light placed too high will cast shadows from your brow right into your eye sockets, making you look tired or severe. A lower light fills those sockets and makes your eyes—the most important feature—bright and engaged.

I watched a litigator practice her “confident” smile in a mirror before our session. When she stepped to the mark, the studio’s key light was slightly above her. That practiced smile vanished, replaced by a squint. We lowered the light stand six inches, and her entire face opened up. The difference wasn’t in her expression, but in where the shadow fell.

Avoid These Three Common Mistakes

First, the “death grip” pose. Clasping your hands too tightly in front of you tenses your shoulders and jaw. Rest your hands lightly on your lap or let them hang loose. Second, the “statement” jewelry. A large, shiny pendant or bold tie clip pulls the viewer’s eye straight to your chest and away from your eyes. Wear simple stud earrings or a classic watch. Third, and most common, is the “last-minute change.” Do not get a radical new haircut, a spray tan, or try a “face-firming” cream the morning of your shoot. The result never looks like you; it looks like someone trying to disguise themselves. I had a client who, wanting to look refreshed, used a strong facial peel two days before. On shoot day, his skin was glowing pink and slightly shiny. We had to diffuse the light heavily and shoot mostly in profile to soften it.

• Mistake 1: White shirts under studio lights. They can blow out and blend into a white background, leaving you a floating head. A light blue or gray is safer.
• Mistake 2: Assuming black is always slimming. A solid black suit against a dark background can merge into a shadowy blob. Add texture with a faint pinstripe or a mid-gray tone.
• Mistake 3: Forgetting the back of your jacket. If you shoot seated, your jacket can bunch up around your neck, creating a hunched look. Stand for the final shots, or have the photographer check that drape.

How to Check Your Final Image

When you review the proofs, don’t look at your smile first. Look at your eyes. Are they sharp and clear? Do they feel connected? A technically perfect photo with dead eyes is useless. Then, check for symmetry. Is one shoulder noticeably higher? Is your tie knot centered? Our brains are wired to spot asymmetry as “off.” Next, zoom out. Look at the photo as a thumbnail on a screen. Does it still read as a competent, approachable professional, or does it become a dark suit-blob? Finally, sleep on it. Choose your top two, then look again with fresh eyes in the morning. You’ll almost always gravitate to the one that feels most naturally authoritative, not the one where you think you look “thin” or “young.”

Your headshot is not a vanity project; it’s a tool. The best one feels like a genuine, confident introduction, not a performance. It’s the photo people see before they hear your voice, and it should make them want to listen.

Where this stops short, How to Photograph a Sunburn or Rosacea for a Great Headshot picks the thread up.