“I don’t want boring a headshot.” I hear this from my clients all the time, and I totally get it – sometimes the cliched headshot with a white background doesn’t quite cut it. Especially in a competitive and/or creative field, folks want to use their professional headshot as an opportunity to reflect the style and values of their brand, to stand out and not get lost in the sea of LinkedIn pics. That’s where editorial headshots come in!
Editorial headshots are the solution I offer to the problem of boring headshots. They communicate your style and values by utilizing a simple planning process I’ve developed to customize the elements in your photo: background, clothing, and mood. When we weave these elements together thoughtfully, they give potential partners or clients compelling information about you, just by seeing your profile picture or scrolling through the photos on your About Us page.
Background
The background or location of your headshot goes a long way in communicating your brand to your audience.
A photo studio environment keeps things looking professional while still allowing for personality and creativity: different backdrop colors communicate different moods and can be customized to your brand. Or, we can take headshots in your store/office/creative space, at a park, by the bay…so many options!
To see more real session background examples, check out my headshot session guide pdf here.
Clothing
What to wear is always a big question, and it’s worth giving real consideration to for your headshot. You can start by asking yourself three simple questions:
- “Do I want to look more formal or more casual?”
- “What colors look especially good on me?”
- “What do I want my outfit to say about me?”
I think a big misconception in headshots is that you have to wear a formal suit – that’s only true if you regularly wear a suit to work, or if a suit would help you communicate your message to your audience. We’ll talk about messaging and wardrobe options during our pre-session consultation, where I can give you personalized recommendations based on your brand and goals.
Mood
If someone tells me they want to look like A Boss, we’re going to set up the image in a different way than if they wanted to look friendly and casual. Some folks want big genuine smiles in their headshots, others want to look more serious.
There’s no wrong way, just what’s right for you. The mood of your headshot works together with your clothing and background choice to complete the message to your audience.
Of course, there’s more to think about for the headshot process, but I will walk you through the planning process to set us up for success.
What’s Next? Check out my Editorial Headshot session guide here to view more photos and pricing options, or reach out to me to get started!
Great content!