Author: PixelPose

Every background has a slightly different feel and effect. For instance, a dark background can add a sense of power and drama to a headshot, while an office-setting background communicates the subject’s work environment.

If you want your headshots to have maximum impact, choosing the right background is crucial. This article looks at the ten best backgrounds for headshots to help you make an informed choice. After reading this, you’ll have a clear idea of which backgrounds will work best for your headshots and which ones to avoid.

1. Solid Light Neutral Colors

Solid light neutral colors, such as white or light gray, are a classic when it comes to headshot backdrops. They convey a sense of professionalism, minimalism, and cleanliness, giving headshots a sophisticated, contemporary feel. They also make the subject’s features and clothing stand out, creating a crisp, polished image.

Flattering on the Skin

Light neutral colors also happen to be flattering to a range of skin tones. They reflect light evenly, reducing harsh shadows and creating a soft, natural glow on the subject’s face. Solid light backgrounds are also non-distracting, helping to emphasize the subject’s face, expression, and personality.  

Very Usable

Headshots with light neutral backgrounds can be used across various platforms and media. Whether it’s a website, social media profiles, or a printed business card, a headshot with a light neutral background can be incorporated without clashing with other design elements. Plain backgrounds can also be easily expanded in Photoshop to fit any dimensions.

Versatile

Headshots with solid light neutral-colored backgrounds are versatile and work well for professionals in various industries, including:

• Corporate
• Finance
• Legal
• Healthcare
• Government
• Creative
• And more

2. Solid Dark Neutral Colors

Solid dark neutral color backgrounds, such as dark gray, black, and navy, offer a sophisticated, polished look. Dark backgrounds are known to convey a sense of authority and power, making them an excellent choice for those in executive and leadership roles.

Contrast

Dark neutral backgrounds contrast well against lighter color clothing and skin tones, making the subject’s face and expression really pop in the headshot, standing out with no distractions. However, these backgrounds also work well with darker skin tones, hair colors, and clothing, especially with proper lighting, creating a more subtle contrast and an elegant aesthetic.

Timeless Look

Solid dark colors like black and navy are classic choices that never go out of style. They give headshots a sleek, enduring look, with the simplicity of the background adding to the photo’s timeless appeal. Dark backgrounds are also excellent for adding a sense of drama, mystery, or luxury to your headshots.

Broad Appeal

Solid dark neutral backgrounds are highly effective for professionals in many industries, including:

• Corporate (especially leadership roles)
• Finance
• Law
• Creative industries
• Fashion
• Luxury goods

3. Outdoor Urban Environments

You’ve likely seen outdoor urban backgrounds before, especially if you’ve ever seen headshots for professionals in finance, law, or corporate industries. The classic example is a smart, formally dressed professional in a business suit, standing on the street with modern architecture as the backdrop.

Sets the Tone

The example we just discussed works well because it sends a clear message. The viewer can instantly see that the subject is a professional working in a major, top-tier city, conveying a sense of competence, credibility, wealth, and success. This can be beneficial for those in the corporate world for several reasons.

Other Urban Scenes

Outdoor urban backgrounds can also work well for professionals in other industries, depending on the feel they want their headshots to convey. For example, a brick wall backdrop can evoke a sense of community or history, a graffiti mural can add a creative or edgy touch, industrial areas can create a gritty and raw look, and alleyways can introduce a sense of mystery.

Great For

Outdoor urban backgrounds are great for professionals in the following fields, and more:

• Corporate
• Creative arts
• Marketing
• Journalism
• Architecture
• Photography

4. Outdoor Natural Settings

Outdoor natural backgrounds have become increasingly popular for professional headshots in recent years. With the rise of more casual and approachable corporate cultures, many professionals are opting for headshots that showcase their personalities in a natural, relaxed setting.

Balance

A natural outdoor backdrop can offer a less formal yet still professional look, providing a balanced feel. If the natural background is quite busy, it will normally be blurred to ensure it doesn’t take attention away from the subject. Outdoor natural backgrounds are an excellent way to convey trustworthiness, authenticity, and warmth in professional headshots.

Classic Examples

Classic examples of outdoor natural backdrops that work well for headshots include city parks, which offer a relaxed yet professional feel; forests or wooded areas that create a sense of groundedness and connection to nature; and well-kept gardens, which can add a touch of elegance and refinement. However, people can and do get more creative with their natural outdoor backgrounds.

Work Well For

Outdoor natural backgrounds can work well for a variety of fields and industries, but in particular for:

• Charity and non-profits
• Education
• Wellness
• Corporate
• Creative
• Community organziations

5. Bright Colors

Bright color backgrounds can work well in certain contexts. For example, bright color backgrounds can be great for acting headshots to land roles in commercials or comedic parts. Bright color backgrounds can look bold, fun, energetic, and modern.

Complementary

Bright colors can complement certain features of the subject. For example, if the subject has blue eyes, a blue backdrop can really help to bring out the eyes in the headshot. You might also hear the phrase “wear the backdrop,” meaning that if you’re wearing a dark green shirt, a lighter green background can work well in harmony.

However, it’s important to have a contrast in shade between the clothing and the background to avoid blending.

Attention Grabbing

Bright colors can make the subject stand out and grab the viewer’s attention more effectively. However, the bright color mustn’t look out of place and go against the norms of your industry, unless you’re branding yourself as a disruptor. Bright colors work best when they align with your personal or company branding.

Specific Appeal

Bright color backgrounds are not typically used in formal industries like law and finance unless it’s a trendy startup, but they can work great for:

• Actors and comedians
• Creative industries
• Tech and startups
• Influencers
• Designers
• Entertainment
• Fashion

6. Office Environment

Another classic background for headshots is the office setting. This obviously works great for people who work in offices, such as those in the corporate world, accounting, and IT. You’ve likely seen this type of backdrop many times before; it’s usually slightly blurred or out of focus to avoid distracting too much from the subject.

Workplace Associations

Office-related backgrounds work well because they clearly demonstrate that the subject works in an office environment, which is expected for certain professions and helps them appear credible. For example, when someone visits an IT services company’s website and sees staff headshots with an office background, they might subconsciously think, “They’re working in a nice office, with computers, dressed smartly; they’re probably good at IT and are a professional, trustworthy firm.”

Great for Teams

People usually work in offices as part of a team, so choosing headshots with office backgrounds for all or the majority of staff can convey a sense of cohesiveness, teamwork, and organization, which can help build trust and credibility. It also enhances branding on websites and social media by giving all staff a consistent and harmonious look across company images.

Clear Use Cases

Office setting backgrounds are clearly an excellent option worth consideration for any businesses or organizations that work in an office setting, such as:

• IT
• Corporate
• Accounting
• Consulting
• Marketing
• Human resources
• Banking

7. Workplace Setting

Not everyone works in an office; many people work on construction sites, in healthcare facilities, studios, workshops, and more. Having your headshot taken with a backdrop of your workplace has the immediate benefit of associating you with your field of work. Again, workplace-related backgrounds are usually slightly blurred to avoid distracting from the subject.

Demonstrate Credibility

If a doctor is wearing a white lab coat and standing in a surgical setting for his headshot, it sends a clear and direct message of credibility that is hard to dispute. Similarly, a blacksmith wearing an apron, holding a hammer, and standing in a smoky workshop clearly conveys, “I’m a blacksmith.” Workplace backgrounds help you immediately appear credible, professional, competent, and trustworthy in your field of work when people visit your website or social media.

Authenticity

Having your headshot taken in your actual work environment can look more authentic and less staged than one taken in a studio. This authenticity can make you appear more approachable and genuine, which can be important for building trust and establishing your personal brand.

Who They’re Great For

A workplace-related background is a solid option worth considering for individuals who work in a clearly defined setting, such as:

• Healthcare
• Arts and crafts
• Science
• Construction
• Manufacturing
• Sports and fitness

8. Textured

Textured backgrounds allow you to achieve a wide range of styles and moods for your headshots, with almost unlimited variations to choose from. If you’re working with a photographer, they will likely have a set number of textured backdrops in the studio but may allow you to change the background using Photoshop. On the other hand, AI headshot generators like PixelPose can offer any textured background you request, along with the ability to easily swap backgrounds.

Common Textured Backgrounds

Commonly used textured backgrounds for headshots include solid color backgrounds with a subtle gradient, which adds depth. Soft fabric textures, such as velvet or linen, can create a luxurious or cozy feel. Additionally, smoky effects can add a dramatic atmosphere, while mottled backdrops provide a hand-painted vintage look. With the right textured background, you can achieve almost any vibe or aesthetic.

Non-distracting

Textured backgrounds not only enable you to set the tone of the headshot but, just as importantly, they do not distract from the subject. This is because the textures used for headshots are typically quite subtle and unobtrusive, allowing the subject to stay at the forefront while the background quietly enhances the overall composition.

Suitable For

Textured are incredibly versatile, and can be so subtle that they’re barely noticeable, such as a gradient on a solid neutral color. This means textured backgrounds are suitable for all types of individuals and industries, including:

• Corporate
• Healthcare
• Tech
• Creative industries
• Education
• Fashion
• And more

9. Bokeh

Boken is when the background is deliberately blurred, which can be achieved by using the right camera lens or in post-production. In headshots, bokeh is popular and beneficial because it means even busy backgrounds can be toned down so they become non-distracting. Bokeh comes from the Japanese word boke, which means ‘blur.'”

Subtle Associations

Bokeh backgrounds allow you to use any settings like forests, cityscapes, skylines, workplace environments, and more. The bokeh effect blurs them enough to work well aesthetically for headshots, while still subtly resembling the actual background. This subtle resemblance creates associations with these environments, which can have a subconscious effect on viewers and help convey a specific message.

Emphasize the Subject

As mentioned, bokeh backgrounds are non-distracting while also being aesthetically pleasing. They allow the subject to stand out and be in focus while adding a soft, dreamy, or artistic quality to the headshot. This makes them a popular choice for professional headshots.

Can Be Good For

When used quite subtly, bokeh backgrounds can be suitable for a wide range of industries. However, they can also be quite artistic, making them great for:

• Creative industries
• Fashion
• Actors
• Photographers
• Designers
• Models

10. No Background

Our final background is, well, not a background at all! Having a professional headshot without a background is a valuable asset to have since it is so versatile. You can either request your photographer to provide a headshot with no background or use AI tools or Photoshop to remove the background from an existing headshot.

Unlimited Customization

A headshot without a background can be customized with any background you choose. Throw it into Photoshop or another editing program and have fun placing different background images behind it to see how it looks. If you work for a large company, you can hand over the headshot to the marketing department, and they can add whichever background works best with their current project’s branding.

Use Anywhere

A headshot without a background can often be dragged and dropped onto existing platforms and designs and still work great. For example, if you already have a white, black, colored, or textured background on your website or business card design that you like, the headshot can be added and seamlessly blended in, appearing as if it has the same background.

Excellent For

Since a headshot without a background can be customized in any way, it’s suitable for all individuals and industries, but especially for:

1. Businesses with marketing teams
2. Tech-savvy individuals who can use editing tools

Choosing the Perfect Background

The right background for you depends largely on how and where it will be used and the look you’re aiming to achieve. However, as a general rule, simple, non-busy backgrounds tend to work best. For those in business or corporate roles, a softly blurred office setting or a solid neutral color background is often the ideal choice.

Sometimes, a bit of trial and error is needed to find the ideal background. If you want the flexibility to choose from a wide range of backgrounds at no extra cost—including all the ten best mentioned in this guide—PixelPose is an excellent, highly realistic AI headshot generator to consider.

Different people have different headshot needs. For example, actors typically need a different type of headshot than someone working in corporate finance. That’s why understanding the types of headshots available can help you determine which style is right for you.

In this article, we’ll explore the five most common types of headshots, providing a clear overview of each. We’ll look at what they are, how they are used, and the typical backgrounds, outfits, and poses they feature.

Here’s a quick summary of the five main types of headshots:

1. Business headshots
2. Acting headshots
3. LinkedIn and social media headshots
4. Creative headshots
5. Team headshots

Let’s dive in!

1. Business Headshots

These headshots are a key tool for presenting yourself professionally.

What Are Business Headshots?

Business headshots, also known as corporate headshots, are professional photos used for work, business, or professional purposes. While they are often associated with formal, corporate, or academic fields—such as law, medicine, entrepreneurship, academia, sales, or office work—anyone who wants to present a polished and professional image, regardless of their profession, can have a business headshot.

How Are Business Headshots Used?

Business headshots are commonly used on company websites, business cards, marketing materials, email signatures, CVs/job applications, and media kits. They help create a strong first impression by portraying positive attributes such as professionalism, competence, and friendliness to the target audience, helping you attract clients, land a job, sell your services, build credibility, and more.

What About Executive Headshots?

Executive headshots are a subcategory of business headshots, intended for individuals in high-ranking positions within an organization, such as CEOs, CFOs, managers, and directors. These headshots are designed to look highly formal, professional, and sleek, portraying a sense of leadership, confidence, credibility, and trustworthiness.

While they are used similarly to other business headshots, they are also used for specific purposes related to executive roles, such as leadership pages, media interviews, speaking engagements, and investor presentations.

What Backgrounds, Outfits, and Poses Are Used for Business Headshots?

Here are the types of backgrounds, outfits, and poses commonly used for business headshots:

Backgrounds

Plain gray or white backgrounds are often used, sometimes with a gradient. Additionally, office settings, corporate environments, modern urban cityscapes, or outdoor natural settings, such as parks, may be used but are typically blurred.

Outfits

Outfits are often formal, such as a business suit, or work-related attire, like a lab coat or scrubs for a doctor or nurse, or an apron for a chef. In less formal industries, such as tech and startups, the attire might be smart casual. These outfits are typically in neutral or muted colors.

Poses

Business headshots often feature simple and minimalist poses to maintain a professional appearance. A standard pose includes the subject facing the camera with shoulders squared or slightly angled, often with a natural smile.

2. Acting Headshots

These headshots are essential for any aspiring or established actor looking to land roles.

What Are Acting Headshots?

Acting headshots are professional photographs specifically for actors and actresses. Virtually every actor or aspiring actor needs them, as they are a standard requirement in the entertainment industry. Whether you aspire to be a movie star, act in commercials, perform on stage, or work as an extra in a television show, having a quality headshot is essential.

How Are Acting Headshots Used?

In the entertainment world, casting directors, producers, and agents use headshots to assess an actor’s appearance and suitability for a role. These images are essential for actors seeking auditions and parts in movies, theater, or commercials. When actors apply for roles, they will send their headshots along with their resume and any other required materials. Additionally, actors may use their headshots on their personal websites and social media profiles.

What Backgrounds, Outfits, and Poses Are Used for Acting Headshots?

Here are the kinds of outfits, backgrounds, and poses typically used for acting headshots:

Backgrounds

Acting headshots typically use neutral or simple backgrounds, such as solid colors, gradients, or blurred outdoor settings. This ensures the focus remains on the actor without distractions.

Outfits

Outfits are often tailored to the types of roles being targeted, meaning almost any outfit can be used to reflect the era or style of the genre. However, outfits should always be well-fitting and presentable. Most actors will have at least one headshot in casual everyday clothing and another in formal attire, such as a suit.

Poses

Actors often have multiple headshots with different poses and expressions to showcase their versatility and ensure they can submit the most appropriate one for the role they’re seeking. The goal is to capture a natural and engaging look that highlights the actor’s unique personality and potential character types.

3. Social Media Headshots

These headshots can help you create the right first impression on social media.

What Are Social Media Headshots?

Everyone is on social media nowadays, with many using these platforms to promote their personal brand. Whether you are an avid user of LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, or all of the above, a high-quality social media headshot helps you portray yourself in the best light possible.

How Are These Headshots Used?

Social media headshots can be used for both personal and professional purposes. Whether you are a content creator looking to build an audience, promoting a product or service, aiming to enhance your employability, or seeking networking opportunities, a professional headshot—rather than a poor-quality image—can be used to help you build credibility and create the right impression to achieve your goals.

What Backgrounds, Outfits, and Poses Are Used for Social Media Headshots?

Here are the sorts of poses, outfits, and backgrounds often used for social media headshots:

Background

For LinkedIn headshots, a plain background—either a solid color or a gradient—is often used to achieve a professional look. For other social media platforms, you might choose a blurred indoor or outdoor setting, while content creators may opt for a background that reflects their brand colors or theme, such as neon lights for a gamer.

Outfits

For professional networking platforms like LinkedIn, more formal clothing is often worn, such as shirts, blouses, and suits. However, for other social media platforms, everyday or fashionable clothing may be more appropriate, or industry-related attire if promoting a service or product—for example, sports clothing for a fitness coach.

Poses

A natural, relaxed pose, with the subject either standing or sitting and offering a slight smile, is often used for social media headshots. Shoulders are normally either squared or slightly angled from the camera. The goal is to appear friendly, approachable, competent, and confident.

4. Creative Headshots

These headshots help creatives make an eye-catching first impression that draws attention to their work.

What Are Creative Headshots?

Creative headshots are specialized portrait photographs tailored for individuals in creative fields such as art, music, design, and writing. Unlike traditional headshots, which emphasize professionalism and approachability, creative headshots are designed to showcase the subject’s unique personality, artistic flair, and distinctive style.

How Are Creative Headshots Used?

A professional in the creative industries may use their headshots on their website, in author bios, portfolios, social media accounts, album covers, promotional materials, and more, to create a memorable and interesting impression that attracts attention and interest in their work or events. Creative headshots are a powerful tool for marketing, networking, and developing a personal brand in creative and artistic fields.

What Backgrounds, Outfits, and Poses Are Used for Creative Headshots?

The typical poses, outfits, and backgrounds used for creative headshots can be:

Background

Backgrounds in creative headshots can differ significantly from the plain, neutral backdrops commonly seen in business headshots. They often align with the subject’s style or the branding of their current work. This means you might see vibrant colors, black-and-white photos, outdoor or in-studio locations, dramatic lighting, or themed or abstract backdrops.

Outfits

Clothing worn in creative headshots can range from smart casual to vintage garments to unique costumes that make a bold statement, and everything in between. It all depends on what clothing aligns with the artist’s brand. Props related to the artist’s craft are often included, such as a guitar, paintbrushes, a typewriter, or a camera.

Poses

With an interesting outfit, background, lighting, and colors, a standard face-the-camera headshot pose may be all that’s required to capture a creative yet professional look. Others may prefer experimenting with unique angles, holding props, or using dramatic or theatrical expressions to make their headshots even more intriguing.

5. Team Headshots

These headshots help companies and organizations present a professional, cohesive image that leaves a positive impression on customers, investors, and others.

What Are Team Headshots?

Team headshots refer to a collection of individual headshot photos featuring members and staff from the same company or organization. The objective is to maintain a consistent style throughout, ensuring that the branding and aesthetic are cohesive and professional. Often, the headshots are all taken at a similar time by the same photographer to ensure consistency.

How Are Team Headshots Used?

You’ll often find team headshots on the ‘About Us’ or ‘Our Team’ pages of a business’s or organization’s website. However, team headshots are also frequently used in press releases, business cards, marketing materials, email signatures for staff accounts, and sometimes social media profiles. They help to convey the professionalism, values, and culture of the team, which could help the company land new clients, attract talent, and appeal to investors.

What Backgrounds, Outfits, and Poses Are Used for Team Headshots?

Team headshots will often feature the following types of backgrounds, poses, and outfits:

Backgrounds

Team headshots, especially those for corporate companies or large organizations, often feature a plain gray, navy, or white background, perhaps with a gradient, or a blurred office or workplace setting. This helps to create a professional, uniform look across all staff members. Smaller businesses and teams may opt for more creative backdrops that match their branding, but these will typically be consistent across all team members to ensure cohesion.

Outfits

Outfits depend on the type of company or organization, but they are typically formal in traditional industries like finance, smart casual in creative industries like tech, or work-related in fields like medicine. A dress code is often provided to ensure that everyone wears similar colors and styles of clothing.

Poses

Poses are often very consistent across the team, with the most common being a standard pose of looking directly into the camera, with shoulders square or slightly angled away from the camera, usually accompanied by a smile or neutral expression.

How to Determine Which Headshot Type Is Best for You?

The truth is, there’s a lot of overlap between different types of headshots. For example, you might have an acting headshot that looks very much like a business headshot because it suits the acting role you’re pursuing, or you might have a business headshot that appears more like a creative headshot because you work for a trendy startup.

The most important thing is to consider how and where your headshots will be used, and then choose the types of backdrops, clothing, poses, and expressions that will be most suitable for that context.

Many people find that they need various types of headshots—such as a team headshot for the company website, a formal business headshot for LinkedIn, and a more casual or smart-casual headshot for social media. It pays to make a list of all the places you might need headshots!

Fortunately, if you work with a professional headshot photographer or a leading AI headshot generator, such as us here at PixelPose, you can usually fulfill all your headshot needs in one place. In fact, if you need multiple headshots, AI platforms are probably your best bet, as they are far more cost-effective and fast.

That said, before choosing a provider, it’s always wise to look at examples of their work to ensure their style matches what you’re looking for.

Putting It All in Focus

Choosing the right types of headshots is essential if you want to make the best impression. Whether you need business headshots, acting headshots, LinkedIn headshots, creative headshots, team headshots, or a combination of these, this article has hopefully provided some helpful guidance on your options.

If you’re looking for a versatile solution that covers all your headshot needs, PixelPose offers a fast and cost-effective way to create professional-grade AI headshots in any style.

A Lawyer’s headshot is the first visual representation any potential client will see. A lawyer headshot is a business portrait representing the lawyer’s professional persona. Headshots are presented on business cards, online profiles, law firm websites, and press releases.

Most attorneys require an especially high-quality headshot for use on their business cards and the websites for most law firms. The headshot needs to communicate the values that potential clients will care about most.

Why Lawyer Headshots Are Important

Potential clients seeking an attorney for any reason are looking for assurance. While it’s unwise for anyone to “judge a book by its cover”, the science demonstrates that we do exactly that. People see professional photos and judge the character of the person they see in less than a second.

These facts aren’t lost on most professionals. But lawyers, in particular, need to be abundantly well aware of them.

People expect their attorneys to possess certain virtues and qualities:

• Professionalism 
• Competence
• Confidence
• Approachability
• Affability

It takes a long time to develop oneself to the point where people see these qualities in you. But people judge quickly. Their fast, initial judgements of you will boil down to the first image they see of you.

A great headshot is the first step in building a powerful reputation. It helps you make a better impression, get hired, and attract new clients.

Instant Judgements

If you think about it, you can probably relate to the judginess most people demonstrate. Have you ever met someone and immediately liked or disliked them? Did you ever get a good or bad feeling right as you saw them and introduced yourself?

Many of these judgements are passive. You can probably explain part of what gives you those feelings, but much of your judgment is on “autopilot”.

These findings don’t matter much in many social situations. But in professional fields, especially law, those fast judgments have a large impact on:

• Establishing trust
• Hiring or purchasing decisions
• Perceiving someone as “worth listening to”

If you’re still looking for a job, you should remember all of these factors when uploading your next LinkedIn profile picture. Hiring managers at law firms take your professional image at least as seriously as potential clients do. A profile with a headshot that appears to be low-effort or inappropriate will quickly be swept aside. In other words, a good headshot is a foot in the door during many crucial decisions.

Fair or not, a lawyer’s headshot is going to be judged quickly and harshly. But following the standards for headshots of practicing lawyers can turn this fact into a great personal asset.

Lawyer Headshots: A How-To Guide

Lawyer headshots follow the same photography standards of headshots for other professionals. In addition to the standard headshot guidelines, there are additional expectations for an appearance of formality and competence for people practicing law.

What Are Professional Headshots?

A professional headshot is the visual representation of one’s professional persona. Unlike casual social media posts, professional headshots attempt to communicate a strict and narrow set of ideas to viewers.

Headshots, in general, must provide a feeling of:

• Friendliness
• Openness
• Competence
• Confidence
• Pride

To these ends, the focus of a headshot is your face. Your face will be centered, with the lighting set up to ensure there are no shadows on it. Photo studios use lights, reflectors, and mirrors to ensure your face is bright and focused. At a professional studio, you’ll be prompted to keep your head upright, with a confident and friendly smile. Your eyes will be facing the camera.

Your upper torso is also included in headshots to some extent. Your attire and posture are not the main focus of a headshot but compliment your overall appearance. In professional headshots, you’re expected to be wearing attire appropriate for your work. In general, your posture should be good and upright, displaying confidence and energy.

Most professional headshots are taken against a bright, blank background. A white or bright gray background keeps the focus on you. In some cases, other backgrounds can be used if they support the virtues and qualities you’re trying to communicate. But the photographer will still keep the background out of focus so all attention is on you.

Unlike other forms of personal photography, professional headshots don’t have a foreground. There’s nothing in front of you that can distract from your face.

To further cement the focus on your face, all professional headshots have a vertical focus. You need to keep this in mind if you plan to crop your headshot into an online social media profile. But the final result should always be more vertical, as humans are vertical beings and we’re trying to focus on your human appearance!

Lawyer Headshot Guidelines

Professional headshots for lawyers meet the same requirements as those for other professionals. The main differences are:

• The standards are higher for lawyers
• There’s little room for creativity and experimentation

1. Keep It Orthodox

If you practice law, you will be trusted with things of deep personal significance to others. Depending on what you practice, clients’ entire futures are in your hands. Their finances, freedom, and trust in justice will to some extent depend on their trust in you. They aren’t looking for creativity or exquisite personality traits.

2. Formal & Conventional Attire

Professional attire is a must. A well-fitted suit and tie or a formal blouse are appropriate. Solid and cool colors with the exception of white shirts will work best. A custom-tailored bespoke suit for women or a 3-piece suit for men are ideal. In any case, trustworthiness, seriousness, and professionalism are what your attire should communicate.

3. Non-distracting Background

The background of a lawyer headshot should be simple gray or white. If you deviate from this, it should be extremely minimal and the focus should be edited to be almost entirely on your head.

Compared with other types of professional headshots, it’s best to be conservative with lawyer headshot backgrounds. The best backgrounds for other professional headshots aren’t the same as those for lawyers.

4. Posture

When it comes to posing for professional headshots, posture is another area where lawyer headshots are a bit different. You should not worry too much about a serious or dramatic pose. You can be standing up or sitting in a confident upright position. Your arms can be rested in any one of many positions, as long as the pose isn’t overly dramatic. Again, the focus should be on confidence and competence, not on an overly theatrical flair. Having your arms crossed or laying on your legs (while seated) in a confidently relaxed manner can come across excellently.

5. To Smile or Not To Smile? It Depends… But You Should Probably Smile!

The question of whether to (and how to) smile is controversial. Research on the question is slightly ambivalent, but leaning towards expressing positivity with a smile. Your smile, so long as it’s genuine (yes, people can tell!), makes you appear more approachable and sociable. These are both good qualities to have potential clients perceive in you.

In general, there’s nothing immature or inappropriate about smiling. In almost all sales and marketing contexts, a smile is a helpful feature of photography. It’s the easiest “hack” to your non-verbal communication. 

The only time you shouldn’t use a headshot that includes you smiling is if the smile isn’t genuine. People are sensitive to subtle details in your facial movements. If your smile is forced and you’re not fully comfortable, people will pick up on it. The feeling of awkwardness will then cause your efforts to appear approachable to backfire.

6. Don’t Be Too Serious!

The main mistake you can make in this regard is feeling that, as a practitioner of law, you need to appear more “stern” or “serious” than others. A face that appears too stern will certainly repel most people who check out your profile, so you don’t want to look uninviting. Lawyers are humans too, and your potential employers and clients will understand that. So, if you opt not to smile, maintain a confident yet relaxed expression on your face.

7. Pay Attention to Grooming & Small Details

Lastly, remain particularly aware of your grooming! Professional headshot photography entails a brutal level of attention to detail. Any wardrobe malfunctions, bad hair days, makeup mishaps, or spots you missed while shaving are bound to be noticeable.

How To Get a Great Lawyer Headshot?

Now that you know what details to pay attention to, the main question is where to go.

Professional/Corporate Photo Studios

The best professional photo studios will have the equipment and expertise to provide an excellent headshot. It’s important to make the right decision in a photo studio if you go this route. 

Many photo studios can provide great photo quality. With the right industry-standard equipment, a professional can maximize your appearance. They can take the best possible shot with the right angle, lighting, and more. Then, they can edit your headshot in a way that it remains lifelike but with any small issues corrected.

Equipment and technical skill are great, but the other part of great photography is setting and social skills. A great photo studio will be able to coach you into the best possible position and mindset for a photo. Their photographers will make you feel relaxed and comfortable, which will translate into an expression of relaxation and confidence in your headshot.

Especially good photographers are also humorous; they’ll coax that genuine smile, which is the golden layer of your photo! 

The social aspect of a good photo shoot can make a huge difference in the final outcome. So, it’s best to go somewhere comfortable, quiet, and relaxing.

This may sound overwhelming, but that’s why some professional photo studios charge so much money. Every little detail contributes to your final lawyer headshot outcome. And remember, that final outcome can pay back dividends if it’s truly the best possible picture!

Corporate photo studios charge more money than alternatives and the photo shoot may take some time. But the value of the final headshots they provide to corporate clients are what makes them the elite option for professionals like lawyers.

Local Photo Studios

Other photo studios, including ones in or near your neighborhood, may suffice to produce a great lawyer headshot. They’re likely also a lot easier to find and will probably come with a lower price tag.

You can find photo studios in your area with a simple Google search, or even by just going on a drive. Many people use photography studios for different purposes, so you can ask around for recommendations. You should also check for online reviews from people purchasing professional photos from there.

Many local photo studios don’t specialize in just one type of photo. They provide headshots for work, photos for schools, passport photos, and so on. So, be aware that while they may offer a great headshot that you’ll love, they might not specialize in headshots for lawyers.

AI Generated Headshots

Generative AI has come a long way in recent years. In the last year alone, it has reached a stage where many AI-generated images aren’t easily distinguishable from real images. 

Image generators can produce lifelike images with the right engine and the right prompts. But the new development in headshots is highly specialized AI headshot generators. You simply provide photos or selfies of yourself, and they generate a headshot. You can then use the AI settings to change all the details including:

• Backgrounds
• Poses
• Lighting 
• Clothing

AI headshot generators use generative adversarial networks (GAN) to set two neural networks against each other. They take turns replicating the photo you’ve fed them and scrutinizing each other. This repetitive and iterative process leads to progressively more realistic recreations of a human face. It doesn’t take long though, compared to going to a photo studio, and you come away with affordable, AI-generated headshots.

If you choose to use AI for a professional headshot, there are a few things you can expect.

First, it’s many times cheaper than most formal alternatives. An AI “photoshoot” for several dozen headshots should cost between $20 and $40. 

You can expect an AI headshot generator to produce a set of headshots with varying degrees of quality. This is normal, which is why they provide many options for you to choose from. You’ll need to take a moment to look closely at each headshot the AI generator produces to make the best choice. While this and the two hour wait to get your headshots take some time, it’s a far faster option than any physical photo shoot.

The other time- and cost-saving feature of AI headshots is that you don’t need great attire. Headshot generators focus on capturing your facial and upper torso structure. But they have no problem transferring your facial features and torso into AI-generated clothes. In fact, most AI headshot generators provide a list of presets for clothing, poses, and facial expressions.

The one thing to keep in mind if you use an online AI headshot generator is that it will need quality inputs to produce quality results. So, make sure you use photos or selfies with high resolution, good lighting, and a clear focus on your face. This makes the GAN iteration process better, with the final results looking very realistic. 

Overall, you can expect AI headshot generators to look slightly less realistic than traditional photos. However, these apps have come a long way and are getting better by the month. Right now, they provide a fast, inexpensive, and convenient alternative to photo shoots.

Check LinkedIn or Networking Events

If you’re looking for a job or want to develop your career, you’ll likely end up browsing LinkedIn and visiting professional events. While you’re going to expos and similar events, keep your eye out for photo opportunities. Some events will have other businesses present, including professional photography services.

These opportunities can be especially convenient. On-site and prompt service from professionals known to the legal community can be one of the best options if you find yourself running into them.

Using LinkedIn, you can search for photographers close to your home or workplace. You can check those studios’ and professionals’ recommendations from your colleagues. You can also message colleagues or make a post asking for advice.

It’s also worth checking out other people’s profiles on the platform to find LinkedIn headshots you like for inspiration.

Final Thoughts

Lawyer headshots are serious tools in any attorney or lawyer’s arsenal. As your first impression, they deserve close attention and scrutiny when they’re being produced.

Getting a great lawyer headshot is much like getting any other kind of professional headshot. Most of the differences are simply accommodating the public’s image of what a good lawyer looks like.

With the 7 points we’ve covered in mind, you can step into the process with the right foot forward. With a deep breath and following a few instructions from your photographer, you can get a great headshot.

Or, with a few inputs into an AI headshot generator like PixelPose, you can quickly create multiple hyper-realistic headshots to choose from.

In this day and age, getting into your chosen profession is harder than ever. The job market around the world is in a tough spot, with many people finding it difficult to enter into their dream jobs. However, something that can help set you apart from the herd is a solid professional headshot. 

Taking the time to invest in a professional-quality headshot is a great idea. Depending on the field you want to get into, a headshot can help to show off your proficiency in certain skills. For example, in modeling or acting careers, a headshot is one of the most important parts of your resume. 

Even for people just looking to get into a standard office job, a professional headshot can help make your application look and feel personalized, and make your prospective employer interested in you. 

With all these benefits, you want to make sure you’re taking a good quality headshot. However for most people, access to professional level camera equipment can be prohibitively expensive. In this case, it’s a good idea to know how to get the best out of your phone camera.

To avoid having to shell out for a top-notch professional photographer, follow the below tips on how to take a professional headshot with your phone. 

1. Check the Camera Quality

Ultimately, you’re going to be limited in the quality of the picture by the quality of the camera you use. The plus side, though, is that most modern day smartphones come equipped with some pretty fantastic cameras.

Now, each and every person has their own personal smartphone preference and, honestly, there isn’t a massive divide in the quality of cameras between most modern phones. 

Something that’s important to know about your phone’s camera is the aspect ratio and resolution. Aspect ratio refers to the relationship between the width and height of an image while resolution determines the number of pixels displayed in the image. 

Aspect ratio and resolution work together to create the overall sharpness of your image, and can have a significant impact on the quality of the image if it needs to be resized. Because headshots can be used in a variety of ways, you should think about what size of image you’re likely to need as well as the format it will be displayed in to determine which aspect ratio and resolution you should shoot in. 

Most smartphone cameras have an aspect ratio of 4:3 but the resolution of the cameras differ wildly. Try to ensure you have a camera with a high number of pixels to give yourself flexibility in what the images you take can be used for. 

2. Select an Appropriate Outfit

When taking professional headshots, it’s important to remember that these images will represent you in your workplace or when you’re trying to make an impression on hiring managers. As a result, you should carefully consider what to wear, and make your choice based on how the outfit can suit your needs. 

Having a goal for your headshot can help you to select the best outfit option. For example, if you’re looking to land a job in a specific industry, like as a chef, having a headshot of you in a chef uniform will help to immediately show hiring managers and collaborators what your specialty skills are.

On the other hand, if you aren’t certain what industry you want to get into, or if there isn’t a set uniform for that industry, the outfit you wear can help to show off your personality and show attributes that can be generalized to many industries. 

Try doing some research on what others in your industry are wearing, and look at how those clothing options make you feel about the person wearing them. For example, if you’re working in an office, does having a headshot in a suit give off the impression that you’re put together and capable when compared to a button up shirt giving off a more approachable and friendly vibe. 

Once you have down what sort of outfit you’ll be wearing, you can go about selecting the clothing items themselves. There are several important considerations to factor in when selecting specific items for use in a headshot. 

For example, the color of clothing that you wear in a headshot can have a major impact on the overall quality of the photo. Bright colors like neons can draw attention to the clothes so think carefully about using them in a headshot photoshoot. Normally, you want the focus to be on your face. 

If you go with a more neutral color palette, make sure to pick muted hues that don’t wash you out. This refers to choosing colors that work with the natural undertone of your skin to reduce shadows and avoid reflection of light onto your face when taking the picture. This can help make your face look brighter and can make you seem more alert and awake in the image—good qualities for a professional headshot. 

These outfit considerations are especially important to think about when taking professional photos at home with a phone camera. Unlike in a more traditional scenario, you won’t have the advice of a professional photographer, nor are you likely to be trained in careful editing of shadows and spots from the skin. Taking the time to reflect on your outfit choices can help reduce the potential need for touch ups later. 

3. Choose the Best Poses

Much like how different outfit choices can change the viewer’s perception of your image, so can different poses. You should put an equal amount of thought into the pose you want to use for your professional headshot and think about what this pose says about you and the way you work. 

For example, posing while performing an action like working in a laboratory can show off specialty qualifications or experience you have without the need for the viewer to go into your CV. This can help attract recruiters for particular roles who might be scanning through thousands of potential candidates on sites like LinkedIn. 

If you aren’t looking to show off a particular skill, you can also use poses to display attributes. For example, posing while sitting at a desk may give off the impression that you’re hard working while smiling straight into the camera might signal your approachability and congeniality. 

In addition, having the right pose for your particular face or body type can help make you look professional. Make sure to show good posture and try changing the angle from which you take the image to explore how it affects the way light plays on your face. 

Changes in lighting can allow you to avoid shadows on your face, which can make you look tired or withdrawn. Taking a photo from the best angle can give you the best output for your camera and make it so you don’t have to do touch-ups later. 

When taking photos on your phone at home, you don’t have the benefit of a professional photographer to give you tips on what looks good in a professional setting. So here are some general rules for taking professional headshots:

• Avoid covering your face. The face should be the focus of the image, so make sure to take pictures that give a clear and unobstructed view. 
• Avoid having distractions in the photo. It can be tempting to use props in professional headshots, but this can sometimes give a contrived quality to the photos if too much focus is drawn away from the subject of the photo (you). 
• Make eye contact. In most cases, making eye contact with the camera will enhance your photos. It can help to give a sense of connection between the viewer and you, and will make them more likely to be interested in meeting and talking to you. 
• Be aware of your hands/clothing. The worst feeling is when you take a really nice photo of your smile and then realize that you were doing something weird with your hands and the photo is unusable. Keep in mind what your whole body is doing—or at least the parts that will be visible in frame. 

Luckily, using an AI headshot generator like PixelPose simplifies posing by automatically creating pose variations from your pictures (but more on that soon!) 

4. Find an Appropriate Background

The background you choose for your photo can have a significant effect on the overall quality of the image. This can impact many factors, from how visible you seem in the image to showing off past collaborators to even creating negative experiences through clutter or distractions in the background. 

Picking an appropriate background usually is the first thing you should decide when taking your photo. The background will give you an idea of the location of the photo, which can be incredibly important when determining factors like lighting. 

It also helps to establish the goal for the image. For example, taking a photo on a sunny beach will have a much different vibe than taking a picture against a solid colored wall. In general, try going for a neutral background to avoid taking focus and awareness away from your image. The only exceptions to this should be when the location or background has a potential benefit in showing expertise. 

Make sure to clear your background if you’re using something like a contemporary office or taking a picture at home. Not everyone has the space for a solid colored wall good for taking photos against. And if you do decide to take your picture in a setting,like in front of a bookshelf, then ensure that you have at least tidied up the area around where the picture will be taken. 

Making sure to have a clean space around you helps give off that professional quality you’re looking for in headshots for work purposes. This will help you maintain your image as a professional and makes you look far more competent than if you’re in the middle of a cluttered image. 

5. Consider the Lighting

Another major consideration for taking a professional headshot at home is the lighting. Lighting has a massive impact on the quality of images, from being able to erase dark shadows on the face to giving highlights and making you seem bright and aware. 

Having bad lighting can make your image seem dark and unprofessional. Bad lighting often looks like light coming in from the wrong angle as to where the image is being taken from. If you have a light source, you generally want to take the photo with you facing into the light source. 

You can play around with the effects of light in terms of changing the angle of your face. This will help create contrast and reduce the impact of blemishes and changes in skin tone. It can also help create mood for an image. In general, bright lighting gives off cheeriness whereas darker lighting gives off a more moody and mysterious vibe. 

Bad lighting can also be too harsh. Most artificial lights can be overly bright in photos, and this can create shine that looks like sweat or oil on your face as well as creating overly heavy shadows in contrast areas. This often results in a poor-quality photo. 

Most people find natural lighting to be their best bet for taking a good photo. Softer natural light is more forgiving and can help hide blemishes or imperfections to make you seem more professional. However, there are issues with natural lighting in that it’s often hard to find in the appropriate background. It can also be transient. If the sun goes behind a cloud at the wrong moment, it can completely change the outcome of the image.

Professional photography studios often have incredibly complex lighting rigs in order to ensure that they have a good quality of light no matter the time of day. Because you’re only trying to take photos for one person, you may have more flexibility in the time you’re able to take your photos. So consider taking photos throughout the day to determine where your best lighting is. 

Alternatively, you can purchase lighting aides like ring lights, which help create that natural light effect while also being strong enough to give good lighting in the evening hours. Depending on your time and money constraints, investing in some lighting tools may help to give photos taken on your phone a more professional look and feel. 

6. Utilize AI 

Artificial intelligence has come a long way in recent years, with a variety of apps and tools created specifically for solving different puzzles. When it comes to taking professional quality headshots, there are several ways that AI tools like PixelPose can help to make your life easier. 

These tools can range from simply helping you select a background, outfit, or pose, or go all the way to generating artificial images of you to use as the headshot itself. Whether you use the artificial image is up to you and you can always simply recreate the image once you’ve selected your favorite pose, background, and outfit. 

Try searching through a range of options in terms of outfit, pose, and background. These artificial images can be a great way of planning out what you want your photo to look like if you decide to recreate it in real life. There’s nothing worse than spending money on a particular outfit only to decide later that it doesn’t fit in with the background you had planned. 

Artificial intelligence has some significant benefits in that it can help make professional quality images from simple phone cameras. These pictures are generated in incredibly short time frames, anywhere from a few hours to 30 minutes depending on the tool you use.

These pictures come from a variety of “seed” images that you upload onto the AI photo generator website, which gives the generator’s algorithm the ability to recreate your face. It’s important to make sure you use good quality photos from a range of angles to ensure that your image is accurate. You want to make sure that your headshot is recognizable so that if you meet with recruiters or collaborators in person you look as expected. 

Photo generation through AI tools can be a great way to explore a variety of options or help you get over insecurities. Some people are shy when taking photos, or feel unphotogenic. AI tools can help give you a good quality image that you have full control over to make you more confident. 

To learn more about the process for generating AI images, or to create your own custom gallery of professional quality headshots without the need for fussing around with your phone, check out PixelPose today!

For anyone looking to take their career or personal brand to the next level, getting professional headshots done is a no-brainer. Headshots make you look polished and competent, and they can also be utilized across various platforms, like your website, LinkedIn, company directory, or professional portfolio.

However, if you want to get the best quality professional headshots, the costs can vary. While it may not be the cheapest investment for your professional career, it can be made affordable if you use the right option. And the impact it can bring to how others perceive you is immense.

The Cost of Professional Headshots 

The cost of professional headshots will vary depending on a number of factors. 

• Your location 
• The location of the photography studio (if you’re getting them done on-site)
• The headshot package (how many headshots you want)
• The headshot format 
• The Photographer’s experience
• Any extras (post-image editing, retouching, printing, off-site photography)

Generally, one headshot can range in price from $100 to $1,500 if you’re getting them taken by a professional photographer. However, AI-generated headshots can range in price from $10 to $80, and you’ll get a selection of headshots to choose from. 

Another big factor that affects the final cost of professional headshots is the type of headshot you want. For example, luxury headshots will be more expensive than corporate headshots, while AI-generated headshots will be cheaper than any type of studio headshots. 

Types of Professional Headshots: Advantages, Disadvantages, and Cost

1. Studio Headshots 

Studio headshots are taken in a photographic studio setting, usually by a professional photographer and sometimes an additional team of lighting experts and photography assistants. Compared to environmental headshots, studio headshots offer a clean, minimalistic, and simple end-result that can be applied to various professional careers—like acting headshots or modeling headshots. 

Advantages 

• Get optimized lighting. In a photography studio, there’s ultimate control about the type and intensity of the lighting, ensuring a consistent photoshoot. 
• Stable background. In other settings, getting the background just right can be tricky. Fluctuating weather, people walking past, or even dirt and grime on an otherwise appropriate wall can impact the final headshot. In a photography studio, you’ll get a consistent and non-distracting backdrop every time. 
• Use sitting and posing props. Convenient props that support how you sit or stand are readily available in a studio setting. 

Disadvantages 

• Limited creative freedom. There are only so many types of headshots you can have taken before it gets repetitive. If you’re looking for more creative or out-of-the-box headshots, you may not get it with studio photography. 
• Need to travel to the studio. Because these professional headshots will be taken on-site, you’ll have to travel to the studio, which can be time-consuming and inconvenient. 

How Much Do Studio Headshots Cost?

Depending on the experience of the photographer, the length of the session, and if there are any outfit, prop, or background changes throughout, you can expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $800—or more!—for a studio headshot session.

Some studios will offer extra services like makeup artistry, headshot retouching, or longer sessions for additional fees. 

2. Corporate Headshots 

As a type of business portrait photo, corporate headshots are all about displaying working professionals in the best light possible. Because corporate headshots are usually used on professional networking websites like LinkedIn, on business cards, and for company websites, these headshots focus on making you look confident and approachable. They can be taken at your office or workplace, at a photography studio, or at another location with an appropriate backdrop. 

Advantages 

• Make the perfect first impression. When you’re applying for a new job or want to stand out to potential clients, corporate headshots provide the optimal polished look. 
• Build trust and credibility. Corporate headshots show that you are who you say you are and can help employers and clients see you in a trustworthy light. 
• Clean appearance. Unless you’re in a particularly creative industry, corporate headshots have a simple, clean, and straightforward look. 

Disadvantages 

• Lack of originality. Business-casual clothing and neutral backgrounds are common for corporate headshots, which can be uninteresting. 
• Can only be used for professional applications. Due to the formal nature of corporate headshots, it’s unlikely that you’ll want to use them for more casual settings, like social media profiles or dating apps.

How Much Do Corporate Headshots Cost?

Corporate headshots usually cost between $500 to $1,500 for a session, however this will also vary depending on how many headshots you want and whether they’ll be taken in your office or at the photographer’s studio. 

Some corporate headshot photographers will offer extra services, like bringing backdrops to your office, licensing the images (for use on business cards or company websites), retouching, and airbrushing. 

3. Outdoor Headshots 

Despite popular belief, outdoor headshots can be used for professional purposes and they’re actually an extremely popular choice for people who want a unique professional headshot in a more relaxed setting. During these photoshoots, both the photographer and the subject can leverage environmental elements for stunning backgrounds and lighting. 

Advantages 

• Utilize the beauty of nature. The beauty of outdoor headshots lies in their organic and natural feel. Trees, parks, and even flower shrubs can provide visual interest to headshots and bring out certain colors and shades in your face. 
• Able to play around with colors and poses. Unlike corporate or studio headshots, outdoor headshots suit relaxed stances. Lean against a tree, sit on a park bench, or simply incorporate movement and fluidity, like the environment around you. 
• You can stand out from the crowd. Since corporate headshots taken in a studio have become the norm, taking headshots outside can help you stand out. Just make sure it looks professional enough! 

Disadvantages 

• Post-image editing is needed. Outdoor headshots aren’t taken in a controlled setting. This means it’s likely that post-image retouching is needed to remove unwanted passers-by, tidy up the background, and ensure the lighting hits your face just right.
• Unpredictable photography sessions. Nature is beautiful, but it can also be unpredictable. The weather, time of day, and other factors can impact the final headshot, making the outdoor environment more unpredictable than headshots taken in a studio. 

How Much Do Outdoor Headshots Cost?

For outdoor headshots, pricing usually ranges from $200 to $500 for a session. However, in some cases, they can go up to $1,000. This is due to the necessary expenses of transport to the location, setting up equipment, organizing the day, and the need to be flexible due to timing and weather conditions. 

Outdoor headshots can be taken at your local park or at a more exotic location, like on a mountain top or in front of a lake. If you decide on an exotic location, it’s likely that extra costs will be added on top of the base price. 

4. Luxury Headshots 

If you want to bring a touch of luxury and glamor to your headshots, then opt for luxury headshots. Characterized by strong poses, subtle yet elegant clothing and accessories, and vibrant backdrops that are beautiful yet lavish, luxury headshots can make you look wealthy, powerful, and ready to achieve everything you set their mind to. 

Advantages 

• Elevate the perception of your brand. If you want to be perceived in a certain way that sets you apart from the crowd, luxury headshots can help you do so. 
• Reinforce professionalism. When your hair, makeup, and outfit look luxurious and high-class, luxury headshots can greatly reinforce your prestige and credibility. 
• Adds visual interest. Unlike corporate headshots, which are usually shot with a neutral and simple backdrop, luxury headshots can be taken in front of a yacht or plush lounge area, which adds visual interest. 

Disadvantages 

• Expensive to prepare for. To match the luxurious environment that you’ll be shooting in, you’ll need to have the right hair, makeup, accessories, and outfit to match. This can be expensive to prepare to ensure you look as polished as possible. 
• Potential for negative connotations. You’re likely to be perceived as high-class and glamorous. But in some cases, luxury headshots can make you look elitist and out-of-touch, especially if it’s taken overboard. 

How much do luxury headshots cost? 

Like the name suggests, getting luxury headshots taken of you means you’re choosing a premium level of service that goes above and beyond a typical professional headshot. It’s likely that you’ll undergo a consultation with the photographer beforehand and discuss how you can customize the final headshots so they look as high quality and personalized as possible. 

Because of this, pricing for luxury headshots usually cost between $800 and a few thousand dollars. Additional services like complimentary hair and makeup appointments, snacks on set, sophisticated props, and exclusive locations will incur extra fees. 

5. AI-Generated Headshots 

With the rise of AI technology in so many areas of our society, it’s no surprise that AI-generated headshots have exploded in popularity in the last few years. If you aren’t the most comfortable being in front of the camera, AI-generated headshots provide an ideal option. You simply need to upload a few existing selfies or casual photos of yourself and let the AI software create professional headshots in no time. 

Advantages 

• No preparation needed. If you’re wondering what to wear or how to pose for a professional headshot, AI headshot generators take care of your outfit, pose, and even optimize how your hair and makeup looks. 
• Cost-effective. Unlike professional headshots taken by a photographer, AI-generated headshots are cost-effective, saving you hundreds of dollars. 
• Convenient and accessible. No need to travel to a photography studio—AI generated headshots can be created in the comfort of your own home. You’ll just need the AI platform and some good photos of yourself, and a reliable internet connection. Since the images are created on the platform, they can be delivered as soon as they’re generated—usually in under an hour. 

Disadvantages

• Can look unrealistic. Low-quality AI headshot generators utilize AI machine learning that may not be as skilled as better generators. To avoid that unwanted “uncanny valley” look that can originate from AI images, it’s worth going for high-quality and credible AI headshot generators like PixelPose. 
• Concerns around data security and privacy. Because AI headshots are created by processing your personal data, concerns around privacy and data security have been raised. It’s recommended to opt for AI headshot generators with clear policies around how they process and protect your data. 

How Much Do AI-Generated Headshots Cost? 

The cost of AI-generated headshots is noticeably lower than professional headshots taken by professional photographers. Packages usually range in cost from $20 to $100. You’ll also usually receive a selection of 30—100 headshots to choose from, giving you more control about picking the headshot(s) that look the best. 

Some AI headshot generators also offer prompts for extra customization, like adjusting the poses or outfits. In these cases, the total cost may be more, but it’s likely to be only a $10—$20 difference. 

Where To Get Professional Headshots Done 

An easy way to search for places to get your professional headshots done is by looking up “professional headshots in *your city or location*” or “professional headshots near me” in Google or other internet search engines. The results will show a list of photography studios or freelance photographers that can take headshots for you. 

If you want to be even more specific, you can search specific keywords pertaining to the type of headshot you want. For example, “luxury headshot photography near me” or “headshot photography in nature.” 

And if you don’t want the hassle of traveling to an in-person studio or meeting a headshot photographer, AI headshot generators can be accessed from the convenience of your own home. Best of all, these AI generator platforms aren’t limited to your location, so you can choose the best one for you. 

If you’re looking for incredibly lifelike AI-generated headshots created by cutting-edge technology and AI experts, PixelPose is a realistic AI headshot generator. Packages currently range from $29 to $69, depending on the number of headshots you want and your preferred turnaround time. 

Frequently Asked Questions: Professional Headshots 

Why Are Professional Headshots so Expensive? 

There’s more than meets the eye when it comes to taking professional headshots. Sure, you’re paying for the photographer’s time and expertise, but there’s also a lot that goes on behind the scenes and into the preparation of a professional photoshoot. 

• Studio space and rental
• Lighting equipment
• Upkeep of backdrops and props 
• Camera equipment 
• Business expenses (if it’s a photography studio)
• Insurance 
• Travel fees 
• Use of editing software 

Because of all of the above factors, professional headshots aren’t the cheapest type of photography out there. However, if you’re serious about establishing your personal brand or advancing your career, getting a good selection of professional headshots is highly recommended. 

Should I Use an AI Headshot Generator or Work with a Photographer? 

Both AI headshot generators and professional photographers come with advantages and disadvantages. Ultimately, deciding between the two will boil down to your budget, if you have the time to travel to an in-person location, and whether you’re looking for a more niche type of headshot. 

While most headshot photographers don’t offer free trials, you may be able to work out an initial trial or “beginner” deal with them, especially if you don’t want to commit to a full-length headshot photoshoot. Sometimes, you won’t be sure if you’re comfortable with a photoshoot until you’ve done a trial. 

Some AI headshot generators offer free headshot generation, especially for first-time users to their platform. Others will offer free headshot generation, but with a watermark attached. The watermark can only be removed by purchasing digital tokens or a subscription plan. Either way, this is a great way for you to decide whether AI headshots are what you’re looking for. 

Which AI Headshot Generator Should I Choose?

Choosing the right AI headshot generator for you is a highly personal choice. However, there are several factors to consider that give you the best chances at finding the AI software that works the best and is a joy to use. 

• Check the price range of each platform. Which one is within your budget? 
• Check if they offer customization. Is there a specific type of headshot you’re looking for? 
• Check any additional services that may be provided. Do they offer post-generation editing tools? 
• Check that their website provides clear information about the AI headshot generation process and what you can expect. Does this align with what you’re comfortable uploading? 
• Check if they provide examples of the AI headshots that can be generated by their software. Do they look realistic and high-quality? 

It’s also important to read customer reviews of the AI platform to ensure the website is credible, safe, and trustworthy. Read up on their policies around refunds (if the results are completely off the mark), data security, and how they process your personal photos and the created headshots.

Getting professional headshots done can be intimidating, especially if you’re not used to being in front of a camera. Along with finding the perfect outfit and getting your hair and makeup just right, learning how to pose correctly can help you look more professional, confident, and approachable in your headshots—all the qualities you’ll need to impress potential employers, clients, or colleagues. 

In this guide, we’ll go over some of the most important dos and don’ts when it comes to posing for professional headshots, including what to do with your hands, face, the rest of your body, and where to focus your gaze. 

We’ll also go over how AI-generated headshots can help you find your most flattering angles, producing stunning photos without the risk of feeling shy or awkward under the harsh lights of a photo studio.     

Without further ado, here are the top tips from professional photographers, the dos and don’ts to keep in mind when posing for your headshots.  

Do: Know Your Best Angles

Good preparation can make all the difference in how your photos turn out, so you can feel as relaxed and comfortable as possible when the time comes to get the perfect shot. Everyone has a “good side” or an angle that highlights their best features and downplays their least favorite. Do you know yours?

If you’re not sure what your best angle is, there’s no time like the present to find out. Don’t wait until the day you take your headshots to experiment with different angles or poses. Take plenty of practice shots with your phone or camera—and this doesn’t mean just selfies. If you don’t have a friend to help you, use a tripod and the timer countdown to take them yourself. 

You don’t have to get dressed up or get your hair done. Just make sure you have good lighting and take plenty of photos with your head and shoulders at various angles (use the tips in this article as a guide). 

This won’t work as well in front of a mirror, as we appear much differently in photographs versus real life. Also, even if you do discover a good angle in a mirror, you’ll have a hard time recreating it exactly without a static image to review later.  

Don’t: Face the Camera Directly

Angles create texture and interest in any photo. For headshots, the best way to create angles is to shift your head and shoulders in different directions. Not in an extreme way—this isn’t fashion modeling, after all—but when you move your body at an angle, keep your gaze forward so your eyes are still connecting with the camera.

You can play with different versions of this, changing the angle that your body is facing, bringing a hand to the hip, or crossing your legs if you’re seated. Experiment with a slight head tilt to one side or the other, allowing the light to hit your face from a new direction.   

Changing your pose can be as simple as shifting your weight from one foot to the other. Don’t overthink it, just make subtle adjustments here and there and try not to stiffen up or stay in one spot for too long. 

Do: Make Eye Contact

They say that the eyes can be a window to the soul—this may be even more true when you need to make a good first impression through a photo. Maintaining eye contact with the camera is important for headshots because it creates the illusion of familiarity and makes you appear more approachable. 

One technique you can try to keep your expression more natural (rather than an intense stare) is to turn away from the camera, then imagine your best friend is calling out to you from just behind it. When you turn back to look at the camera, your expression should be open and inviting, maybe a bit curious. 

If you can pull off this technique, whoever looks at this headshot will get the sense that they already know you, and you’re someone they can trust. Whether you’re using your headshots for your professional profile or personal social media accounts, eye contact is the key to connecting with your target audience.     

Don’t: Slouch

Your posture can have an effect on how you feel as well as how you’re perceived by others. When you’re hunched over, it’s more difficult to take deep breaths, and shallow breathing limits the amount of oxygen your brain gets. This can lead to poor focus, decreased energy, and just a bad mood in general. 

When you make a conscious effort to roll your shoulders back and stand or sit up straight, this can have an immediate impact on your presence and confidence, whether you’re in a crowded room or in front of a camera. Even if you are leaning slightly forward or have your arms crossed, keep your back straight (but not stiff!), and you’ll notice a big improvement in your results.   

Do: Watch Your Chin Position

The position of your chin is an important but often overlooked part of posing for headshots. If you’re working with a photographer, they may instruct you to raise or lower the chin, or tilt it to one side or the other. Try to relax, even if the position feels a bit unnatural. A subtle shift of your chin can make a big difference in how the light hits your face.   

To avoid the “double chin” effect, remember to always keep enough space between your neck and chin. If the camera is at eye level, the shadows created by the lighting can give you the appearance of a double chin in photos, even if you don’t actually have one. It might feel uncomfortable or awkward to thrust your chin forward a bit more than usual, but no one will be able to tell. 

Don’t: Cover Your Face

A professional headshot should provide a clear, unobstructed view of your face, and you should avoid having anything distracting in the background or the foreground. Some people like to get a few shots of themselves holding an object that relates to their profession, like an instrument for a musician, or a pen for a writer. 

But be aware that any extraneous items in the photo can draw attention towards it and away from you. So, if you hold an object in your headshot, make sure it is down below your shoulders and nowhere near your face. 

The same rule applies for hats, oversized earrings, shiny jewelry, or even your hands. The next section will give you some tips about what to do with your hands in your headshot, but one thing you don’t want to do is bring one or both of them onto or even adjacent to your face.   

Do: Be Aware of Your Hands

If you’re nervous in front of the camera, the two parts of your body that are most likely to tense up are your shoulders and your hands. Most headshots only show your head and shoulders, or perhaps the top half of your torso in a wider shot. So your hands most likely won’t be in the frame at all (which saves you from struggling with the all-important posing decision—what to do with them). 

But even if your hands are outside the frame, tensing them up or balling them into fists can have a ripple effect throughout your body. Your arms will start to flex, your neck and face could stiffen up, and you’ll end up looking like a stressed-out hot mess in your headshots. 

An easy way to avoid this disaster is to take a few moments to shake out your hands, arms, legs, and check in once in a while to make sure they stay relaxed so you can get the best shots possible. And if one or both of your hands does appear in your photos—as part of your crossed-arms pose, or tucked into a pants pocket—remember to keep them loose and limber for a more easygoing vibe.                

Don’t: Exaggerate Your Facial Expressions

Bigger isn’t always better, especially when it comes to the facial expressions you use for your headshot. Smiling at the camera is good. But smiling like a maniac with all your teeth showing and your eyes unnaturally wide could give the impression that you’re desperate or trying a bit too hard. 

Think of the audience you want to reach with this image, and present yourself for the camera as you would if you were introducing yourself in person. Your smile should be easy and natural, but if smiling doesn’t come naturally then you can opt for a more neutral expression. With some practice you can convey a lot about your personality with your eyes alone.

One way to ensure that the final headshots will have the look you want is to practice different expressions in front of the mirror or by taking some practice photos at home. Experiment with different types of smile, or just turn your lips up at the corners for a serious yet approachable look. 

If you’re taking photos to submit for AI-generated headshots, make sure that you use the same type of expressions that you want to see in the final photos. No one wants a headshot with their tongue sticking out or with one eye closed!     

Bonus Tip: Relax and Breathe

If you take only one thing away from this guide, it should be this: getting a good headshot is important, but it doesn’t need to be that serious. If the whole process feels unnatural and stresses you out, you’ll end up with a pile of stiff, awkward photos that barely resemble you.

A great headshot doesn’t just happen magically, even if you have the most professional outfit, ideal lighting, and the perfect pose. A headshot should express who you are as a person, and the best way to show that is to relax, take a deep breath, and try to have a bit of fun. Most importantly, be yourself!. You might be pleasantly surprised with the results. 

How does posing work for AI-generated headshots?

In this article we’ve gone over just how much your posing techniques can affect the final look of your professional headshots. But if you opt for an AI headshot generator like PixelPose, you won’t have to do nearly as much work to get the best photos possible—because your most flattering poses will be automatically generated as part of the process. 

Using a variety of photos that you’ll upload of yourself, the AI model will create hundreds of headshots featuring you with different hair and makeup styles, with various backgrounds, and with a variety of poses and facial expressions that match your personality style preferences. 

For optimal results, your submission photos should be as high quality as possible and should be taken from different angles and with varied backgrounds and lighting. Use this guide to help you create or choose the “seed” photos that will produce the best results for your AI headshots.     

When it comes to finding the perfect pose, here are some of the advantages of AI-generated headshots over a traditional photo shoot:

• You’ll save time, because you won’t have to spend hours practicing different poses in advance to try to figure out your “best angles.” The headshot generator is trained on the photos you submit to determine your best features and most flattering angles, which guarantees you’ll be more than happy with the results. 
• You don’t have to guess which poses or expressions will help you give the best impression or come across as more professional. The generator is designed to create photos that embody your most confident, approachable self. 
• You don’t have to hope that your best facial expression is captured along with your most flattering pose in the same photo. With AI headshots you can mix and match your facial expressions with different poses and angles to get the perfect shot. 

To learn more about the process of getting your own AI-generated headshots, explore how PixelPose works today.

As an actor, headshots are hugely important to your overall success. They are the first impression that will be made on casting directors, given out to agents that you are asking to represent you, and will show the world how you represent yourself as an actor looking for work. 

This means that having a strong headshot is often the difference between success and failure at getting noticed in the entertainment industry. While breaking into the industry is often the hardest part about getting started as an actor, this makes having a good headshot one of the most important parts of being an actor overall. 

In this guide we will cover the best practices for an acting headshot, as well as how to go about getting one. 

What Is Your Acting Headshot?

A headshot is just as it sounds: a (photo) shot of your head. The picture is taken at a close range from the shoulders and up and shows an image of the face, with good enough lighting to make out all your features.  

You can think of your headshot as a visual resume. It’s a picture that represents you as a brand. It is asked for at auditions, in online applications, and by managers before they’ll agree to represent you. 

Headshots can also be used as advertisement material. You can hand them out to people you meet in the industry, or post them on your personal websites or social media pages. It works to remind people of who you are, and should be thought of as your personal pitch for work. 

Headshot Formatting Requirements

Like any formal document, there are actually quite stringent standards for an actor’s headshot. It can be either a printed photo (usually submitted at theater auditions or when interacting with a casting director or agent), or a digital headshot (common for film, commercial, or print auditions). 

Printed headshots should be portraits 8 by 10 inches and printed in color. You should also include your name on the front of your printed headshot. On the back of the headshot you should include your resume, scaled down to fit on the back of the photo. It should be stapled to the headshot with the pinched sides of the staples on the back (resume side) in all four corners, about ¼-inch away from the sides of the photo. 

This ensures that your photo stays with your working history, and allows the casting director or agent to easily look at both what you look like and what you have done in the past to ascertain whether they would like you for a role. Keeping the headshot nice and tidy helps to promote a professional demeanor. 

Digital headshots should be compressed into photo files in .jpeg, .png, .jpg, or .tiff format. These photos should be kept high resolution but don’t require your name on the front. These are likely to be submitted with online applications, so will remain digitally attached to your resume. 

Best Practices for Acting Headshots

1. Dress Well

Make sure that you wear nice, flattering clothing that suits your coloring. You will want to avoid dressing in anything that takes attention away from your face, so try to avoid bright patterns or large statement pieces of jewelry.  

As a general rule, it’s a great idea to wear solid colors. Try going for shades that flatter your skin tone or that bring out the color of your eyes. If you have any pieces of clothing that often get you compliments on how they look against your skin, this is the time to wear them. 

Most people should avoid wearing white, as it tends to leech the warmth from your skin and hair and make you look washed out. It can also blend into the background and make you seem to disappear when standing against neutral colors. 

Black is also usually best avoided, as it absorbs all the surrounding lighting. This means it can cause some artificial trickery with the camera, creating unwanted shadows in the images. 

You can also tailor your wardrobe to a particular role if you tend to be typecast. For instance, if you often play bright and bubble characters, opting for lighter and brighter shades in your headshots would fit that image. If you often play dark, depressed detectives, a layered outfit with a leather jacket might be the best look. 

2. Posing 

Choosing your pose is an essential part of your headshot. Posing allows you to create a story with your headshot that can help to tell the viewer more about you as an actor. As a general rule, there are three poses that are often used:

• Straight on facing the camera: This classic pose is the most basic, but gives the viewer a nice shot of the face and can show off all of the features that you have. 
• Slightly leaning forward: A more dynamic version of the classic, this pose helps to engage the viewer in the picture, while also showing your face clearly. This pose helps to create connection with the camera and can invoke a friendly tone. 
• Over-the-shoulder: The most dramatic of all of the poses, this pose is great for storytelling. You can use it to show all kinds of emotions depending on your facial expressions, but the downside is that it tends to obscure some parts of the face. 

Choosing the right pose for you can be difficult, but it is easier if you think of the picture as a moment in time that you are striving to capture. This helps to make the photo feel more dynamic and less like a still image, which adds dimension to your headshot and makes your picture stand out. 

Whichever pose you choose, you should make sure you are comfortable with it. Remember, this headshot will represent you, so it’s important that you can comfortably express those emotions in your headshot in front of others when the time comes to act them out. 

3. Background

The background of your headshot is also important to consider. As a general rule, a well- lit, uncluttered background is the best environment for your headshot, as you want the focus of the image to be on you. 

You can add different elements to the photo through the background and lighting to enhance the story. For instance, if you are going for mysterious and flirty, an over the shoulder pose with a dark backdrop and muted lighting will go better than the same pose against a light background under bright white lights. 

You can also choose to take your pictures in different locations, such as outside for soft, natural light. This type of lighting often creates natural highlights and shadows in the face and thus looks nicer, but can be subject to changes in the weather. 

How to Get an Acting Headshot?

There are a few different methods for going about getting your own acting headshots. Some of those methods are better than others, and each of them have their own pros and cons. 

1. The DIY Method

So long as you have access to a camera, you can take your own acting headshots. However, unless you are a professional photographer, it is very unlikely that doing your own acting headshots will get you the most optimal results. 

Don’t forget, your acting headshots are vital for your acting career. It’s the very first thing that will be seen by everyone who is looking to hire you, and it quite literally represents who you are and how you work as an actor. 

Although it might be tempting to just quickly snap a few selfies when you think you are looking nice, this will ultimately work against you. Having a strong, professional portrait, with an appropriate background, that has been clearly taken by a different person is the best way to get your acting headshots. 

You might also be thinking about asking some friends to help you out with a quick home photoshoot. This might result in some nice photographs at first glance, but it’s also important to think about the differences between home photography, and the professionals. For instance, do you have the ability to retouch your photos and edit any imbalances in the lighting? 

For such a key part of your acting career, it’s important to invest in a professional photo. 

2. Professional Photography

If doing it yourself is out of the question, the next option is finding a professional photographer in your area to take some acting headshots for you. This can be quite a task, so here are some tips from the industry to help make the search easier. 

Try asking around those in your acting circle for referrals. If you have a group of people around you who act professionally, chances are that they have also had to go through the process of getting their headshots taken. 

Make sure that you look at the type of photography that they have had done, and be sure it aligns with the vision you have for your own headshots. If they have a completely different type of acting career, and thus went for different choices in their headshots, it might be worth investigating the photographer’s portfolio further to be sure they have the range to do your ideas justice. 

Another option for finding a photographer is to search your local area on the internet. You can also use tools like social media to find portfolios of artists you like, and see where they are located. If they’re visiting your area soon, maybe you could seize that moment to book a session with them. 

Once you have found your photographer, there are a few things to consider. The first is price. Different photographers will have variable costs depending on what is included in their packages and their experience in the industry. 

You should also be sure to ask about exactly what is included in the photography bundle you decide to purchase. For example, what kind of editing or retouching is included in the cost of the session? 

Unfortunately, for many people the cost of a professional photoshoot is prohibitive, with photographers charging anywhere from $400-$1500 per session. This is also a running expense, with headshots needing to be updated at least every two years, or whenever you have a significant change in appearance like coloring your hair, or losing or gaining weight. 

3. AI Photography

One of the most fortuitous inventions of modern times for the struggling young actor is the invention of AI photography. With the ability of AI to create images, you no longer need to rely on professional photography to create high quality, high resolution, professional style headshots. 

Instead, you can simply upload several images of yourself into an AI image generator, and watch as it creates an abundance of AI headshots for you. These headshots are a fraction of the cost of a traditional photoshoot, with all the benefits. 

However, there are some issues with AI. One of those issues is the lack of data privacy. This is a serious concern, and something that people need to be wary of when choosing the AI image generator for their headshots. 

For a secure AI image generator, choose PixelPose. This company uses an AI algorithm to analyze several of your own photos in order to learn your unique face, and then creates anywhere from 20-100 high quality headshots depending on the package you choose. 

However, unlike other generators, Portrait Pal does not store your data. After the image has been generated, all images you have uploaded are instantly deleted, and any files of your data are destroyed for good. Your privacy is of the utmost concern, and it will not be compromised by this system. 

With the most basic package, you get 20 headshots with 5 different poses, backgrounds and outfits. This is plenty for any actor to use as headshots, but you can upgrade to larger packages to have more photos to choose from when applying to different roles if you want to.

This option is cheap, fast, and high quality. It has all the pros of traditional photography, and all the pros of the DIY method, with none of the cons of either. If you want an easy way to get some great headshots, PixelPose is a great option for actors.

LinkedIn is the place to be if you are looking to expand your business network. It is a bit like social media for businesses, and is the most professional of all the social media networks. 

As with all social media, LinkedIn has the option of setting a headshot. It is a great idea to include a headshot in your LinkedIn profile, as this helps to complete your profile, and makes it seem far more professional to other viewers on the platform. 

Since the platform is mostly about work, it can be quite stressful to choose the right photo. This is especially true for people who are generally camera shy, or those who struggle to take photos of themselves that they feel are representative of what they look like in their business environment. 

What are LinkedIn Headshots?

A LinkedIn headshot is a photo of your head and shoulders that acts as your profile picture for the site. Generally a headshot should be a professional photo, in work-appropriate clothes suitable for your job. 

You’ll want to make sure the photo looks good when compressed to the small size of a profile picture on the platform. To this end, make sure your picture is around 400 x 400 pixels, with an aspect ratio of 1:1. This helps to make sure that the end picture comes out looking as good as it was when you took it, and without any blurring or pixelation. 

You’ll also want to make sure you have an up-to-date photograph. This is because LinkedIn is usually used for professional connections within your industry, so it’s worth assuming that you’ll eventually meet the people you are connecting with on the platform. 

How to Take A Good LinkedIn Headshot

Taking a good headshot can be a bit tough in the best of circumstances, but when it’s for work it adds an extra layer of stress. This stress tends to show up on your face, which can add tension to the photo and take away from your natural charm. 

One of the best tips is simply to relax! But, we do acknowledge this is easier said than done, so here are the 5 top tips on how to take a good LinkedIn headshot. 

1. Poses to Choose From

Since the headshot is simply from your shoulders up, most people think that there is little to no posing involved in taking a headshot. In fact, there are a variety of poses that you can choose, and each of them helps to add some interest to the photo. 

• The classic: A simple face on shot, the classic headshot is named as such because it’s the most common of all headshots. That’s not to say that it’s a boring shot! It allows you to show off all your natural features, and is great for allowing your natural looks to shine through. 
• The lean: Taking a photo while leaning slightly forward to the camera helps to add dynamic movement, which creates a feeling of friendship between the camera and the viewer. This adds some interest to the photo and is more visually stimulating than the classic, but still allows you to show off all your natural features. 
• The over the shoulder: As the name suggests, this picture is taken over the shoulder. This pose helps to create intrigue, and is often used for a more dramatic and edgy look. For most industries, this is likely to be a bit much for LinkedIn, but it can be a great choice for those in the creative or artistic realms. 

Whichever pose you choose, it’s important to keep in mind your facial expression when taking your photo. You want to make sure you aren’t just blank and neutral, as this will be quite a boring photo. 

For most industries a simple smile will be a great choice. You can also choose to laugh, or go for a more moody photoshoot depending on the industry you are in, and how you are choosing to advertise yourself. 

Think of your photo as capturing a moment in time, rather than as a still-life painting. This will help to capture a sense of movement and being in the moment, which will breathe life into the photo and make it much more captivating to the eye. 

2. Choose Your Wardrobe

An important consideration for your LinkedIn headshot is your wardrobe. What you are wearing in your picture will have a significant impact on the overall tone of the picture. It can also have a significant impact on your comfort level, and feelings of tension can easily transfer across into your headshot. 

A good tip is to avoid bright colours or patterns. These tend to draw the eye away from the main focus of the picture (you), and can create a distraction. Instead, try wearing neutral colours that suit your skin tone and hair colour. 

Many people look good in solid jewel tones, or in neutral colours like cream, grey, tan, or navy. Try staying away from white, as this tends to wash most people out. Black can also create shadow in the image, so it is usually best to avoid wearing this colour for a headshot. 

However, because your LinkedIn profile is a business profile, it might not be suitable to wear colours in some professions. In that case, black or white are perfectly acceptable. It all depends on what you do, and what you feel comfortable in.   

3. Consider Your Background

The next most important thing to consider in your LinkedIn headshot is your background. A neutral background is usually the best choice for a headshot background, as it helps to avoid taking focus away from the subject of the picture. 

However, you can also choose to take your headshot in certain locations. For example, if you are working at a particularly well known institution you may choose to take your headshot outside by a sign for it. This lets recruiters know right away that you are affiliated with that institution. 

Other options for backgrounds can be simpler, for example, a brick background. These can help to add some colour and contrast to the photo without being overwhelming. However, in most cases the background should be blurred to allow your face to stand out.

4. Show Your Uniqueness

Although LinkedIn is a professional social media site, it’s not exactly the same as being at work. You don’t need to follow all the rules if you feel like showing off some of your unique attributes or interests. 

You may include some of your unique physical attributes like your natural hair, or play around with some fun colours in your make-up. You can also have fun with internet filters, and add some subtle changes to your headshot if you want to. 

In most cases these changes will be best kept to specific industries. For example, if you are a multimedia artist, you could use some face-paint in your headshot to showcase your talents. 

However, it’s probably not a good idea for most people to go too crazy with the filters and special effects for their LinkedIn headshot. You should try to keep it as natural as possible so you are easily recognisable for your work connections. 

5. Ask For Help

If you’ve read this far and you are thinking that it all sounds like too much for you, then it might be worth getting some help. Try hiring a professional photographer, or using AI image generators to help create headshots for you. 

Professional Photography

A professional photographer can help to guide you through the process of creating a headshot, and is a great resource for making sure you end up with a high quality product. 

The professional photographer will have access to a range of high quality tools, like a commercial grade camera, a studio space, and the ability to retouch or edit your photos for you after they have been taken. All of these factors help to produce higher quality photos than can usually be achieved by a person on their own. 

The downside of professional photography is that it is often prohibitively expensive. Headshots will usually cost you anywhere from $400-1,500 per session, depending on the expertise of the photographer, the number of headshots, the number of looks, and the amount of post-session editing done. 

You also need to find a professional photographer that you like and trust. A good option is to ask your friends and family, but many of them may not have had headshots taken in the past. 

You can always leverage other social media tools in order to look for photographers in your area. This usually provides a portfolio of work for each photographer, allowing you to see the quality and type of work they do. This will help you establish whether the artist is right for you. 

For a LinkedIn profile, most people won’t want to pay this much for a headshot. However, it is a great option if you need to have the headshots done for something else and need a headshot for your LinkedIn page as well. 

AI Image Generators

An AI image generator is a great, low cost alternative for getting a variety of different headshot options. These generators take several photos that you upload into the generator, and use an algorithm to “learn” your unique features and facial structure. 

This allows the generator to create a new image of you. A headshot generator will create professional images of you posing for headshots, and can help to avoid the issues people often run into like feeling tense for your photo, or having a dimly lit background.

Headshot generators often also give you a host of headshots to work with, so you can pick and choose which of the images are best for your particular situation. You might choose to post one of them to your LinkedIn as a headshot profile picture, and have another one be on your CV, and a different one be on your email. 

However, people often have concerns with AI image generators, and it’s not without good reason. There are a few things that can go wrong in the process of generating new images, so you need to be careful about which AI you use. 

Some of the most common pitfalls of AI is that the images can have too few angles or use not enough pictures to generate the new image. This means that the algorithm doesn’t have enough data to learn your face correctly, and it can result in the end result coming out as warped, or just not looking like you. 

Additionally, some AI tools have data privacy concerns. This is particularly concerning in today’s world, where data privacy is one of the most important things to think about to protect yourself online. 

Choosing a reputable AI image generator will help to protect your data. One such generator is PixelPose, which encrypts your data while it has it, and deletes it after a certain amount of time. Your data will also never be sold to a third company, guaranteed. 

PixelPose is a great choice for an image generator for LinkedIn headshots because it is cheap, and offers several package options. The Lite package option is an excellent choice for LinkedIn users because it offers 20 HD photos, with a turnaround time of only 60 minutes. This means you can have your perfect headshot in as little time as one hour.

Are LinkedIn Headshots Worth the Effort?

As much of a hassle as they may seem, a good LinkedIn headshot really does wonders for your activity on the platform. If you are actively using the platform for job hunting, or trying to increase your network, then it can make a real difference to have a headshot in your profile. 

Research shows that people who complete their LinkedIn profile with a headshot get a whopping 21 times the amount of views of those who don’t have one, and 9 times more requests for a connection. That’s a lot more eyes on your profile.

As you grow in your academic, professional, or personal (including entrepreneurial) career, you’ll need one of the best tools in your portfolio arsenal: a professional headshot. This is your true opportunity to stand out from competitors and market yourself boldly.

Your professional headshot receives as much attention — if not more — than your cover letter, bio, resume, and business card information. That’s why it’s essential to ensure you achieve the right look, and that starts with your color choices. 

Whether you prefer to hire a professional photographer or want to try AI-generated headshots using a user-friendly service like PixelPose, it’s wise to make your professional headshots as visually appealing and commanding as possible. This is where color comes into play.

What does color have to do with a professional headshot? It all comes down to color psychology: the concept that color influences mood and behavior in humans. This is why McDonald’s, for example, has its famous golden arches that evoke feelings of happiness, and doctors’ offices are often decorated in soft, earthy blues to create a calming atmosphere.

As you read on, you’ll learn the 10 best colors to wear for professional headshots (and why they work), how to wear them, and as a bonus, you’ll get useful tips for making your photos stand out. Take a minute to learn more about AI headshot generators, too — and how you can get that perfect shot in just a few hours.

What Is Color Psychology?

We touched on color psychology above, and you can’t fully appreciate color choices for professional settings without understanding more about this concept. In a nutshell, color psychology is the study of colors and how they influence the brain and human emotion. For example, yellow typically makes people feel happy, while black can make people feel intimidated. Color also signifies presence or standing in marketing: silver, gold, and purple are perfect examples of rich elegance, while earth tones convey cleanliness and refreshment.

If you’re catching on that the color(s) you wear in a professional headshot can send a message to the viewer, you’re on the right track! Now, let’s learn which colors can enhance your professional image the most so you can make the right impression.

The Best Colors to Wear for Professional Headshots

1. Dark Gray 

Also referred to as charcoal or pewter, dark gray is an excellent color choice for a professional headshot if you’re unsure about the message you want to convey or which colors complement your skin tone or silhouette. Dark gray is commanding enough to be authoritative yet neutral enough not to be overpowering. It’s the perfect neutral tone for a professional setting, ensuring you make an impression but don’t risk making the wrong one—or making no impression at all.

Pair a dark gray blazer with a crisp white shirt for the best effect of staying neutral yet still in control. If your goal is to create a base for color, you’re in luck: dark gray is a wise choice for pairing with a pastel button-up in your favorite hue without compromising the professional appeal you’re after.

Just avoid pairing dark gray with light gray. Since both colors are in the same spectrum, it will come off as monotone and matchy-matchy, or worse — give your outfit a muted look.

2. Navy Blue 

Are you a fan of black but don’t want to look like a vampire in your professional headshot? Navy blue will give you the same commanding appeal without the harshness. The key to navy blue is to pair it with earth tones like mint, sand, or even lighter shades like Robin’s egg blue or stormy gray to really make the color pop.

What’s great about navy blue is its versatile approachability: it’s a commanding royal color on its own and certainly draws the eye, but it isn’t so brash that it can’t be worn without needing to tone it down.

Don’t match navy blue with crisp white, however. Unless your professional headshot is meant to be in black and white, these two colors together won’t offer much personality to your attire.

3. Green

Green is such a mellow and cheerful color that you can wear it in nearly any shade in a professional photoshoot, yet still represent yourself well. It all depends on how you want to be portrayed, so consider the following options:

• Bright green for you a youthful and enthusiastic appeal 
• Mint green for an approachable and earthy appeal 
• Emerald for a warm yet authoritative appeal 
• Olive for a trending, modern appeal
• Traditional for a classic appeal 

Green can be challenging to pair with other colors without appearing outlandish, so stick to yellow-based hues if you want to add dimension to your attire. Better yet, use cream as a base for green, and you’re all set.

4. Eggplant 

Purple is a daring color to pull off in a photoshoot, and when done correctly, it can produce dazzling results. Rather than opting for a classic royal purple or even a lilac, choose a shade that is both commanding and approachable (similar to navy blue) — eggplant.

Eggplant is a color that looks good on nearly everyone because it has a black base mixed with a healthy dose of magenta. This means it’s both cheery and exciting like red (more on this fabulous color later) and sophisticated like black. You get the best of both worlds, all wrapped up in a unique color that isn’t difficult to pull off.

Pair eggplant with any of your favorite neutral or earth-tone colors. Just be careful with pastels, since eggplant may be too rich of a purple tone to pair with them successfully.

5. Cream/Ivory 

If you love classic white and plan on accessorizing for your professional headshot photo, then cream or ivory clothing will suit you well. You can accessorize with jewel or earth tones (but not both) to make the neutral tones stand out beautifully against your frame without washing you out.

Ivory and cream are ideal color choices for outfits with a lot of texture and dimension because they won’t add to the volume and movement of a piece (think: peasant skirts and ruffled blouses). 

What makes cream and ivory engaging colors is that they are among the few that let the neutral tones of brown and tan stand out in a more fun and colorful way. If brown is the hue you’d rather be wearing, then choosing cream or ivory as your base and pairing it with lovely brown trousers will pull your look together instead of washing you out or leaving your attire looking bland.

6. Yellow

Like green, yellow is a color you can wear in almost any shade or depth and pull off nicely. Even fairer skin can work with a light pastel or lemon yellow, while darker skin can complement colors as rich as the sun or as deep as goldenrod. Yellow will help you present yourself as forward, approachable, friendly, and creative, which is an excellent way to be portrayed professionally.

Yellow pairs well with anything with a brown or yellow undertone, so keep this in mind if you want to match yellow with a mint green undershirt or a brown pair of loafers. The key lies in balancing your yellow pieces to avoid looking like a giant canary. Choose yellow for either a top or a bottom, but not both.

7. Red

Whether you prefer a true red, cherry red, or a deep brick version of this classic color, red is a wise choice for any professional headshot if you’re unsure what color will look good on you. When in doubt, choose a neutral or earth-toned top and pair it with a red accessory, such as lipstick, earrings, scarf, tie, or even shoes. Keep the rest of your attire neutral with classic or dark gray trousers or a skirt.

Red is so commanding because it’s a passionate color. Symbolizing authority and aggression, as well as love and playfulness, it’s a color that won’t be missed even if it’s just a sidekick to your main color choice in your professional headshots.

8. Burgundy 

Similar to burnt orange, burgundy is the color you choose when you appreciate both orange and brown but don’t want to commit to either one. This fun, bright color is also a surprising neutral because it can be paired with many other colors. It’s like an adult version of Pumpkin Orange and has enough personality to stand on its own. As a bonus, it looks great on various skin tones, so it won’t wash you out.

Just make sure not to pair burgundy with green or yellow. These colors are too matchy and reminiscent of fall, which may take your attire down a notch. Instead, pair burgundy with true red, navy blue, ivory, or even a rich brown.

9. Sepia 

A rich red-brown that is uniquely royal and elegant in its own way, sepia is a commanding color that makes for a great suit color choice. If you want to avoid classic black, gray, dark gray, or navy suits but desire a modern approach to this timeless professional attire, sepia is the way to go.

It’s dark enough to accommodate patterned undershirts without detracting from its classic lines, yet not dark it feels outdated or old-fashioned. Consider pairing sepia with a surprising contrasting color to make it pop, such as lavender or salmon pink.

10. Black 

This wouldn’t be a complete list of colors for professional headshots if we didn’t mention black. The ultimate color choice for authority and leadership, black is a classic go-to in anyone’s wardrobe. Just don’t be afraid to toss in some modern color here and there so you can be both commanding and full of energy and personality, too.

How to Maximize Your Professional Headshot Results 

Now that you know how to style yourself for your professional headshots, here are some tips for taking the perfect shot.

Have a Goal

What is the reason behind your headshot? What image do you want to portray? Experiment with different hairstyles, makeup, accessories, locations, backgrounds, and other elements to help you achieve the look and persona you want to convey before your photoshoot.

Practice Posing in Your Clothes

Does your skirt ride up when you stand? Are your trousers bunching in the crotch? Does your shirt wrinkle when you sit down? Practice posing in your clothing so you know what to expect and how to navigate your attire for optimal results.

Pose Naturally 

Unnatural poses will look stiff or forced and can give your posture an odd appearance. Pose as you normally would, and let your photographer or AI headshot generator take care of lighting and fixing small blemishes or stray hairs.

Use Ideal Lighting

Natural light can cause shadows, while bright and harsh lighting can wash you and your clothing out. Use ideal lighting in soft shades that can neutralize your photos, ensuring they aren’t too harsh and are ready for publishing.

Take Multiple Shots

Both AI headshot generators and professional photographers produce multiple shots to get that one perfect headshot. The best results will come from a handful of photos selected from possibly a hundred or more. Therefore, take as many shots as you can to increase your chances of capturing the perfect headshot.

Giving AI a Shot at Your Headshot

If you’d prefer to create professional headshots from the comfort of your home with minimal effort required, consider using an AI headshot generator like PixelPose. These tools allow you to upload a few photos you already have on your phone (or take new ones), and then AI works its magic to transform these images into business card-worthy headshots.

Affordable, fast, and discreet, AI can make producing the perfect headshot easier and more stress-free than you might imagine. You can even receive your final results within a few hours — less time than it takes to select the perfect outfit.

Choosing the Color for You

Select colors for your professional headshots based on your preferences and the image you want to portray. The more true to your personality you are in your attire, the more natural and relaxed your headshots will appear. You can experiment with several looks in colors you like most to help narrow down your options.

Ultimately, your professional headshot should speak volumes about who you are as a person. Starting with the right color choices will go a long way toward accomplishing this goal.

Your professional headshot—it’s the first impression you leave on your partners, potential employers, clients, and even customers. Some people even use headshots in their dating profiles. So as you can see, a professional headshot serves many valuable purposes. Your professional headshot should portray you as capable, approachable, and modern But this isn’t always the easiest of feats to accomplish. After all, it’s difficult to know exactly how to pose, style your hair, or even how to make wearing eyewear work in a photo shoot!

You can always hire a professional photographer to assist you in achieving the best angle and background for your headshots, but this process is costly and time-consuming. That’s why many people turn to AI for AI-generated headshots using services like PixelPose instead, resulting in faster turnaround times, a wider selection of headshots to choose from, and a more affordable and convenient service overall. 

Achieving a professional headshot in 2024 isn’t difficult once you’ve got a little guidance. From choosing an outfit to styling your perfect pose, read on to learn quality tips for preparing for your professional headshots. You’ll also learn why AI is an essential tool for getting that perfect shot. Let’s get started! 

First of All, What’s Your Goal? 

What message are you trying to send with your professional headshot? Are you seeking to present yourself as a person of authority, or are you wanting to show your creative, artistic side? Are you wanting a serious approach or a more casual and friendly demeanor to be portrayed in your photographs?

The industry you work in has a lot to do with what your headshot goals should be. For example, if you work in childcare or education, you’d want your headshot to be full of personality and color for an approachable, easygoing but also authoritative appeal. If you work in law or the medical field, a professional headshot in solid colors and a basic background will provide the no-nonsense and courageous appeal you desire.

Your headshot says a lot about you and should do much more than just show your most appealing side; it should also portray a message of confidence and personality to whoever sees it. Based on how you want your professional headshots to be received, you can then move on to choosing outfits, poses, backgrounds, hairstyles, and more. 

12 Tips for Choosing the Best Apparel for Your Photoshoot

With so many outfit arrangements to choose from, narrowing your options to just a select few can be as hard as selecting a final headshot itself. Use these 12 tips to help you out. 

1. Stick to Colors You Love 

Now isn’t the time to determine if you look great in eggplant or if royal blue makes your eyes pop. It’s also not the time to go with trending colors simply because everyone else is doing so. Stay true to what you know looks good on you. If you stick to colors you love for your professional headshots, you’ll feel more confident and comfortable in front of the camera. 

Just make sure the colors you love aren’t too bright or dull. For example, if you love wearing pink, then flamingo pink may not be the wisest of choices, but a dusty rose or soft pastel pink can be a wise selection. If earth tones are your favorite color palettes, then stick to muted hues with a gray undertone so you don’t appear washed out and yellow on camera. A fine balance in colors will even things out nicely.

2. Choose Clothing That Fits You Well

You don’t want your color choices to drown out your frame and make you look hunched over and dumpy, nor do you want your clothing to be so tight it restricts your range of motion and overly accentuates your body shape. Stick to clothing that fits you well. If you can get up and down from a chair or couch easily without having to adjust your outfit, then you’re on the right track. 

It’s wise to choose tailored clothing that fits you expertly. But if you don’t have the time or budget to do this, then opt for your exact size or a half size up in both a top and bottom. Even though your shoes and socks aren’t likely to be in frame, make sure they match your attire and don’t take away from your professional outfit—you’ll give off more confidence when your attire is totally on key. 

3. Choose Business, Casual, or Business Casual 

You want to give off a clear message of who you are and what your clothing represents, so make sure your outfit is cohesive throughout. Since casual clothing is now acceptable in most workplaces, it may be a more modern approach to a headshot to go with a business casual outfit than a full-on suit—that is, unless your industry is highly professional, such as law or psychiatry, where a suit is the best type of attire to wear. 

4. Wear Clothing That Fits Your Field

It’s been touched on a few times that your professional headshot should reflect the field you represent or want to get into. Here are some suggestions: 

• Hospitality: Wearing a long chef coat or hospitality blazer with crisp lines gives you a clean, approachable appearance
• Medical: Wearing a lab coat over a button-up shirt with your hair pulled back presents you in a professional, intelligent light
• Blue Collar: Wearing flannel, protective gear, and casual khakis shows you mean business and aren’t afraid of hard work
• Educational: Wearing a bright top with a small accessory shows your approachable, fun, and creative side 
• Real estate: Wearing a crisp blazer over a bright and commanding color (such as red, royal purple, or even a black) shows your dedication to detail and fearless spirit
• Entrepreneurship: Wearing a button-up shirt over a casual pair of trousers with your hair down shows you’re a direct self-starter

If you’re a student or just want a professional headshot for a website portfolio, social media page, dating site, or other purpose, simply choose clothing you enjoy that doesn’t fit any particular niche. 

5. Stay Away From Logos and Trends

What’s commonly referred to as ‘fast fashion’ will come and go before you even have your professional headshots printed. This can leave your resulting photos looking cheap and dated when you want headshots you can use for years to come.

Stay away from logos because you don’t want to be seen as endorsing any one company (plus, logos aren’t entirely professional on clothing—they scream casual). Also,d keep major trends like ruffles, color schemes, cut-outs, holes, textures, and other fashion adventures to your other activities. 

6. Pick Clothing You Can Pose In

If your pants go up to your knees when you sit down, your skirt billows about your body when you turn to the side, or your shirt rides up when you raise your arms, you’re going to have a difficult time posing for your professional photos. This also means you’re going to look like you’re having a difficult time posing for your photos. 

Pick clothes you can pose in—and then practice posing in them. Use a mirror so you have a general idea of movement and flow with your clothing choices before you’re put on camera. This way, you increase your chances of having your clothing work with you, not against you, as you move about to capture your best angle in every frame. 

7. Choose Clothing That’s Not Wrinkled or Stained

This should go without saying, but sometimes it’s hard to remember that even though you’re focusing on a headshot, part of all of your outfit can show up on camera, too. The camera picks up on every dark stain or spot, and every shadow of a wrinkle or crease. 

Some clothing, such as satin, can be more prone to wrinkling than others. If you don’t have time to iron clothing prior to wearing it for a photo shoot, opt for materials that don’t wrinkle easily. These include wool, polyester, cotton, and even cashmere. Silk and denim also don’t wrinkle easily and can be incorporated into business casual attire. 

8. Choose Classic Styles

Now is not the time to show your trendy side, nor is it the time to break out old vintage clothing. To prevent your professional headshot from looking like something out of a movie set, choose classic styles for your photo shoot. It’s OK to throw in some vintage or trendy nods, just don’t go overboard choosing pieces that are clearly out of style or freshly new off the runway. After all, you want your face to be what people notice about your headshots, not your clothing. 

If you have trending eyewear, that’s OK: just make sure your glasses don’t leave a glare in photographs; stick to anti-reflective lenses without bluelight filtering if you can. When in doubt, go without: You can take some photos with your glasses and others sans eyewear so you have more styles to choose from.

9. Accessorize with Caution

Who doesn’t love a trendy belt or a stunning pair of gold hoops? You want to look your best and absolutely shine for your professional headshots, but proceed with caution when it comes to accessorizing your look. Any distractions in your headshot can come across as too busy or unprofessional, but this doesn’t mean you can’t accessorize your chosen outfit well. 

Choose one accessory for your attire, and only if it makes sense; a tie pulls together a button-up shirt nicely while earrings go well with an up-do, for example. Leave scrunchies, headbands, scarves, bow ties, lapel pins, broaches, and layered necklaces for another occasion, however. If you have pierced ears, select a single pair of small studs, or leave your ears bare, for your photo shoot. 

Related here is your hair and makeup: Keep it simple; pull hair away from your face and use neutral, natural makeup to brighten and highlight your best features, if desired. Your headshots can always be retouched later to add a splash of color as needed, but it’s easier to add color than it is to remove it. 

10. Choose Solid Prints

Whether you choose to work with a professional photographer to get your headshots done or you wish to go the AI route, solid prints will work in your favor far more than busy patterns will. For starters, solid prints are, as a rule, more ‘grownup’ and professional than patterns. Solid prints allow your face to take center stage, which is the goal of your professional headshot in the first place. 

Secondly, patterns may not translate as well in photographs as you think they might. For example, tiny stripes or floral prints may show up blurry in photos, making the resulting shots look cheap and out of focus. This isn’t the image you want to portray in your professional headshots, so leave the patterns to in-person interactions. 

This doesn’t mean you can’t be expressionable in the solid prints you choose, it just means you have to get a little creative if you want more color and dimension in your headshots. One way to do this is by layering different solid prints to create the illusion of a pattern and add more depth to your attire without confusing the camera. For example, a mustard yellow blazer over a solid cream top adds depth and multiple colors without being too patterned to pull off for a professional shoot. 

11. Choose the Right Silhouette

Your silhouette is the frame of your body against the light, and on camera, it’s important that your silhouette be tight and well-framed in front of a background. This means avoiding bulky or puffy sleeves, wide or flowing skirts, or wide-legged pants with a flare at the hem. The more professional your silhouette appears on camera, the better your professional headshot will turn out. After all, you don’t want an unintentionally silly silhouette stealing the limelight. 

Here’s an easy tip to make appropriately framing your body less daunting: Try to accomplish as close to a suit silhouette as possible. This means wearing a well-fitting and buttoned jacket, rounded or tipped shoulders, ankle-length pants (in a wide or boot cut) and sensible shoes in a way that shows how the suit’s proportions work together. 

12. Ditch the Novelty Socks

Although headshots are usually from the chest up, sometimes you’ll want to take whole-body shots. And some of those, you want to do in a seated pose. We all love a cute pair of socks, but leave those for once you’ve achieved your goal with your professional headshots. While novelty socks surely have lots of personality, they can take away from the overall professional appeal you’re trying to achieve and ruin your moment. 

While a splash of color in your chosen socks is fine (so long as patterns aren’t busy and the color(s) work with your suit or other attire), don’t go overboard. Your socks may tell more about you than you know—and you don’t want to give the wrong impression. 

Why AI Is Worth Investing in for Professional Headshots in 2024

So, now that you know how to dress to impress for your professional headshots, it’s worth exploring why AI is a wise option. AI tools have come a long way in allowing people to accomplish many tasks with less effort (and less money), so if you need a headshot ASAP, you can get realistic headshots in just a few hours utilizing an AI headshot generator like PixelPose.

How AI Headshots Work

AI works its magic by using the several shots you take and upload into a database to create realistic backgrounds, poses, hairstyles, and facial expressions that give your traditional selfies a major upgrade. You can use existing photos from your phone to create AI-generated headshots or take selfies specifically for the purpose of creating professional headshots with the assistance of AI. 

What to Expect

With AI generators, you’ll upload a series of photos and add a few specifics about what you’re going for (if applicable) to prompt your AI tool to create custom photos you’ll love. You’ll submit the photos, pay an applicable fee (which is much cheaper than what you’d pay a professional photographer), and then await your results.

You’ll be sent a set number of headshot results, and you can pick the ones you like most from there. Realistic AI headshot generators like PixelPose simplify the process of getting a professional headshot done, so the experience is efficient, quick, and affordable.

Get Ready to Put Your Best Face Forward 

Whether you choose to hire a photographer to take your headshots or you want to explore your options with an AI tool like PixelPose, knowing how to dress the part will help you take your headshots to the next level. Choose your outfits with care, keeping in mind the goal of your professional headshots, and practice wearing your attire before your photoshoot. This way, you’re best prepared to put your absolute best face forwar