Look Like You Belong: 5 Corporate Headshot Rules

Forget the Selfie: Set Up Your Space Right

Your phone's front camera is a liar. It warps your face, making your nose look 30% wider and your ears disappear. For a real headshot, you need a real camera or a friend with a newer smartphone on the back camera. Set it up eight feet away from you. This distance flattens perspective and looks professional.

Find a plain wall. Off-white, grey, or a dark navy works. Stand three feet in front of it to avoid casting harsh shadows. Now, light is everything. I once had a client take his photo in his home office with the overhead light on. He looked like a suspect in an interrogation. The fix is simple: face a large window. Do not stand directly in the sun's beam; stand just beside it where the light is soft and even. If it's nighttime, grab a lamp and position it to the side of your computer monitor to fill shadows on your face. The goal is no squinting and no dark eye sockets.

Wear This, Not That: The 3-Item Wardrobe Rule

Open your closet and panic. Stop. You only need three items: one top, one bottom, and one layer. The camera sees from the chest up, but wearing pajama pants will make your whole body feel sloppy and it will show in your shoulders. Choose a solid color top in a medium tone—a heather grey sweater, a cobalt blue blouse, a burgundy polo. Avoid pure white (it glows) and tiny patterns (they create a dizzying moiré effect on screen).

Your layer is your secret weapon. A structured blazer, a cardigan, or a simple jacket instantly adds authority. It frames your face and creates clean lines. Iron it. Wrinkles scream "last minute." For jewelry, pick one piece. Stud earrings or a simple necklace. Not both. You want people to remember your eyes, not your glitter.

How to Sit So You Look Confident (Not Stiff)

Do not sit back in the chair. This is the most common mistake. It makes you slouch and your collar bunch up. Instead, perch on the front third of the seat. Now, roll your shoulders up, back, and down. Feel that? Your spine just straightened. Lean forward from your hips toward the camera, just an inch or two. This engages your core and projects energy.

Your head is next. Imagine a string pulling the crown of your head toward the ceiling. Now, push your forehead forward slightly. It feels weird, but it eliminates the dreaded double chin without you having to strain your neck. Keep your hands in your lap, relaxed. Do not interlock your fingers tightly; just let them rest. This posture says "approachable and ready," not "rigid and terrified."

The One Expression Mistake Everyone Makes

You're thinking "I need to smile." So you force it. The result is a tense, toothy grimace that doesn't reach your eyes. The mistake is focusing on your mouth. Your expression starts higher. Think of a mildly pleasant thought—your dog, your favorite coffee, finishing this task. Let that feeling warm your eyes first. A tiny crinkle at the corners is good. Now, let your smile happen naturally, if it happens at all. A slight, closed-mouth smile often reads as more confident and thoughtful than a big grin.

Practice in a mirror. Say the word "money." Seriously. The "m" sound relaxes your lips into a perfect, neutral-ready position. Hold it. That's your starting point. When the photo is about to be taken, breathe out slowly and think that pleasant thought. Your face will soften. I tell clients to ignore the camera and look at the lens like it's a person they're mildly pleased to see. That connection is what gets you the job.

From Upload to Approval: Using Portraze

You've taken 50 photos. Great. Now, upload the 3-5 best to your chosen retouching service. Be specific in your instructions. Don't just say "make me look better." Write: "Remove the stray hair on my forehead, reduce the shine on my nose and left cheek, and soften the shadow under my chin. Please do not smooth my skin completely—keep my pores and natural texture." This prevents that weird, plastic look.

Approval is your final check. Zoom to 100% and scan for artifacts: Is my sweater texture still visible? Do my eyelashes look painted on? Does my skin still look like skin? If something feels off, ask for a revision. A good service will tweak it. Your final file should be a JPEG, high resolution (at least 2000 pixels on the long side), and saved with your name in the filename: "Jane_Doe_Headshot_2025.jpg".

Your headshot is a handshake. It's the first physical impression you make in a digital room. Getting it right isn't about vanity; it's about clarity. It tells your story before you speak a word. So take the hour, follow these rules, and get a photo that doesn't just look like you—it looks like the you who gets the call back.