Turn Your Tablet Into a Teleprompter for Perfect Portraze Headshots

Set up your tablet and Portraze app for teleprompting

First, find a tablet stand. I use a $25 adjustable one from a tech store; it’s sturdy and tilts. Prop your tablet in portrait orientation, just like your final headshot frame. Open the teleprompter app—there are several free ones—and adjust two settings. Set the text background to a solid, neutral grey. A bright white screen will blow out the light on your subject’s face and create harsh reflections in their glasses. Next, slow the scroll speed way down to about 10 words per minute for now. You’ll adjust this later, but starting slow prevents that frantic, news-anchor feel. This whole setup takes three minutes.

Create a short script that cues genuine facial cues

Your script is not a speech. It’s a series of gentle commands designed to trigger micro-expressions. Write three to five lines, maximum. Each line should be a simple, sensory instruction. For a warm, approachable look, the script might read: “Think of your favorite coffee order.” “Remember the smell of rain.” “Let a small, private smile happen.” See the difference? You’re not telling someone to “smile,” which creates a frozen grin. You’re giving their brain a tiny, pleasant task. Their face responds authentically. I keep a library of these for different moods: confident, thoughtful, friendly. Each script is under 30 words total.

Position the tablet to match eye line and test focus

This is the make-or-break step. The tablet must sit directly beside your camera lens. If it’s even three inches too low, your subject will look like they’re staring at your shoes. Use your stand to get the center of the tablet screen level with your camera’s lens. Now, do a live test. Have your subject look at the text. Look through your viewfinder. Their iris should be centered, with no visible white of the eye at the bottom—that’s the telltale sign of looking down. Lock your focus on their eye, then take a practice shot while the text scrolls. Check it: are their eyes connected and level?

Avoid the common mistake of reading too fast

The biggest flub I see is racing through the script. Your subject isn’t a speed-reader. Set the scroll to a glacial pace—I often use 5 words per minute for the final take. The goal is for their eyes to move naturally, almost imperceptibly, not dart back and forth. Practice with them once. Say, “Just absorb the words; don’t feel rushed.” Watch their forehead. If you see tension or squinting, slow the scroll further. The magic happens in the pause *after* they read a line. That’s when the memory or feeling you cued actually hits their face. That half-second is your shot.

Capture a polished, expressive headshot in seconds

You’re ready. Your subject is relaxed. Start the scroll on your app, and your camera’s burst mode. Don’t shout instructions. Just let the tool work. As they read “Think of your favorite coffee order,” you’ll see a slight, genuine softening around their eyes. Click. As they read “Remember the smell of rain,” a more thoughtful, inward look appears. Click. You’re not directing anymore; you’re harvesting reactions. In one 30-second scroll, you’ll capture 15 to 20 frames where their expression is subtly shifting but always authentic. You’ll end up with a choice of perfect, nuanced shots, not just one stiff pose.

The teleprompter removes the awkward “what do I do with my face?” panic and replaces it with a guided, natural thought process. Your job shifts from cheerleader to observer, which is where the best photography always happens. Grab your tablet tomorrow and try it with just one client; you’ll see the difference in their eyes immediately.