What is a typical head shot pose?
Most of the time, you see a head and shoulders, head toward the camera, angle straight on pose. That type of pose works well for LinkedIn and resumes, especially in the business world. Most people looking for work or updating their head shot for business purposes need something generic, so this type of head shot works well. Women usually have a little bit of a head tilt, while men usually have a little or no tilt.
This type of head shot conveys approachable, professional, and open.
The first thing to consider, though, is what is the image going to be used for? Is it just to update a profile? Is it for a new website? Once that has been established, the next step is to decide what message is needing to be conveyed. Is it professional, powerful and serious? Or fun, lively, and approachable? Establishing the message is essential to know for posing, clothing, and backdrop choices.
What do you mean, "convey a message?"
The message is your look, attitude, and brand. Are you the head of a company? Are you a musician or artist? Your head shot might need to look different. Hand placement, facial expression, and body posing all makes a difference in the look of an image. For men, crossing the arms across the chest portrays a more powerful look, as does standing straight with one hand in a pocket. For women, sitting on the edge of a chair, legs crossed and arms folded can portray a more powerful professional look; one that means business.
For those in the music field, a more artistic approach is usually best. Using colored backdrops, photographing the instrument and band mates in a more casual, fun way can give off the message that the audience will have fun when they come to the show. If an edgier, gritty look is needed, using darker tones with darker clothing will give the audience a more classic, ready to rock look.
Imagery should match closely with branding, otherwise, there can be confusion when potential clients are learning more about the business or band.
Do clothing and background matter?
Once the message and purpose has been established, choosing clothing and a backdrop that goes along with that is essential. If a more professional look is needed, (as in a business suit), but the attire in the image was a t shirt and shorts, that does not match. On the other hand, if the subject is a CEO of a surf board company and the vibe of the company is relatively casual, wearing a t shirt and shorts and holding the surf board would probably be ok!
Usually gray or another neutral backdrop color works best for all professional business suits and attire. That way, there are no busy distractions and the one in the image will stand out. For musicians or those in the arts field, having a colorful backdrop would work well. Especially if the message conveyed needs to be fun and approachable.
What about the angle and orientation of the image?
Most typical head shots are straight on (the photographer is directly across from the subject) and in the vertical orientation. We, however, love to photography horizontally and at different angles. Why? Having a horizontal image gives our clients more variety and flexibility. The horizontal image can usually be cropped vertically, so technically, there are two orientations for two different looks. A vertical image cannot be cropped horizontally, though, and still look good.
The angle of view makes a difference, too. Standing above the subject usually gives a very pleasing look, or in some cases, photographing from the ground will give the subject a very commanding look. Overall, there are a lot more options when the angle, orientation, and look are different.
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