Your Headshot Is a Handshake. Make It a Good One.

The One Thing Your Headshot Must Do

It must look like you on a very good Tuesday. Not like you at a wedding, not like you on a 3 a.m. coffee run. Your best, most approachable professional self. Think about the last time you met someone great for coffee; you smiled, you listened, you were present. That’s the energy we’re after. A recruiter glancing at your LinkedIn for six seconds should feel like they just got a firm, friendly handshake from you through the screen. Everything else—lighting, outfit, background—serves that single goal.

Your 5-Minute Pre-Shot Checklist

Do this right before you walk into the studio or set up your camera. First, check your collar. Is it lying flat? I’ve fixed crooked collars for CEOs. Second, look at your teeth. A quick mirror check for spinach or lipstick is non-negotiable. Third, shake out your shoulders. Roll them back three times. Most people hunch when they’re nervous, and it makes your neck disappear. Fourth, pick a spot six inches above the camera lens to look at. This opens your eyes just enough. Finally, think of one person you genuinely like smiling at—your dog, your funniest friend. Hold that thought. It changes your entire face.

How to Pose Without Feeling Awkward

Forget “posing.” Think “leaning.” If you’re standing, put 70% of your weight on your back foot and slightly turn your shoulders. It instantly looks more natural than square-on. Now, here’s the trick: move your chin forward, like a turtle peeking out of its shell. Do it until you feel a little ridiculous. I promise it eliminates the double chin the camera creates and defines your jawline. The photographer will say “chin down,” and you’ll already be there. When they start shooting, exhale slowly through your mouth between shots. It keeps your face relaxed, not frozen in a grin.

The Single Biggest Mistake People Make

They try to look “powerful” by going completely blank. The result is a cold, disconnected stare that reads as unfriendly or bored. I see it in lawyers and engineers all the time. They think intensity equals competence, but on a tiny profile picture, it just looks like you’re mad at the viewer. Think of a great talk show host—they have a slight, engaged smile even when listening. Your expression needs that hint of warmth. Practice in your phone’s camera: neutral face, then activate a tiny smile that just reaches your eyes. That’s the 5% difference that gets you the callback.

From Photo to Profile in 10 Minutes

You have the perfect shot. Now, don’t ruin it with bad cropping. For LinkedIn, download the square version from your photographer. Your eyes should be exactly one-third of the way down from the top of the frame. That’s the sweet spot. Use a plain, untextured background 95% of the time. A busy office plant or bookshelf distracts. For your file, rename it clearly: “FirstName_LastName_Headshot_2025.jpg”. This matters when a harried assistant is uploading it for a conference website. Finally, update everywhere at once in one sitting:

• LinkedIn (profile picture and background banner)
• Your company’s internal directory
• Your email signature (link the image to your LinkedIn)
• Any industry association profiles

Consistency is professional. It tells people they’ve found the right you.

A great headshot isn’t a vanity project. It’s the first sentence of your professional story, and you get to choose what it says. Get the details right—the collar, the chin, that hint of a smile—and the photo does the quiet, confident work for you, long after the session is over.