THE KEY TO A GREAT HEADSHOT
The above headshots are of twin brothers who followed diverging paths in life. On one side you have a man who kept to a course that allowed him to build one successful business after another. On the other, you have a man who frequently jumped between menial jobs and unemployment.
Okay, this is not even a little true.
What we actually have here are two photos of the same person. Both images were taken on the same day, during the same photo session, with the same camera and lens, using the same camera settings, and the exact same lighting setup. And, despite all of this sameness, it should be plain to see that there is a difference between the two images that extends beyond a simple change of clothing.
This difference, which caused you to instantly (and unconsciously) look more favorably on one over the other, is a direct result of facial expressions and body language—two simple, yet often underappreciated components of communicating character and personal qualities within a headshot.
The image on the left is where everyone starts when they first step in front of my camera for their headshot. The image on the right is the goal of each and every session—which is to display unquestionable confidence and trustworthiness.
So how do we get from the left image to the right? How does one go from meh-ville to the proverbial holy land of confidence and trustworthiness in a headshot? Is it the camera, lens, settings, lights, and other technical aspects of taking a photo? Not so much. While such things absolutely have a role to play in the final fit and polish of the image, they are not going to deliver any substantive amount of confidence and trustworthiness on their own. What it all really comes down to is coaching and direction.
Coaching and direction is exactly as it sounds. It is being provided the information, instructions, tips, and guidance you personally need to achieve a headshot that displays confidence and trustworthiness. It is something that goes well beyond simply being told to ‘show confidence’ or ‘look trustworthy.’ It involves the person taking your headshot to notice every little detail in facial expressions, body language, and clothing; to understand the meaning and implications of each; and then direct you on where you need to be and how to get there.
Quite plainly, the things essential in a headshot, the things that effectively communicate your confidence and trustworthiness to your audience is going to be best achieved through a healthy dose of (competent) coaching and direction. So when it comes time to update your headshot, worry less about the qualities you feel you possess and instead place a greater focus on selecting the right person to get your headshot where it needs to be.
