When it comes to getting a great business portrait, we suggest you put some thought into what you want from your headshot. It’s worth thinking ahead to the result and then working backward.

Do your research, plan, and ask questions. Here are 5 tips to ensure your business headshot is amazing.

1. BOOK A PHOTOGRAPHER WHO Specializes IN CORPORATE HEADSHOTS

You need a photographer who understands branding, business, and what your headshot is trying to say. A photographer who specializes in kids or pets might be able to capture a great portrait, but that’s not the same as encapsulating your personal brand through a great business headshot. So, look around before making a decision 

2. THINK ABOUT WHERE AND HOW YOU WANT TO USE YOUR CORPORATE HEADSHOT

This is really important as ‘one size fits all’ doesn’t always apply to corporate portraits. They can be used across so many platforms and say so many things. Think about what you want to use your images for and where you want to use them.

Do you need a new LinkedIn profile photo? In which case, you might want to keep it clean, simple, and above all, professional. A simple white background is often the best option for LinkedIn profile photos.

Are you looking at getting a collection of images to use across a range of platforms? If so, think about how you would like them to look. Fun and friendly or more serious and formal? There’s no right way to look – it’s totally up to you and dependent on your brand message.

Do you want ‘studio style’ portraits with a clean, white background, or do you want to use your location or office space as the backdrop? The natural location option can be great for websites and blogs. But make sure your photographer has portable lighting, as natural light on the day might not be ideal.

Do your images need to be color, black & white, or both? It’s up to you, but generally, color is the accepted style for corporate headshots. Black and white can seem dated. That said, if you need the shot for a book cover or an AGM presentation, you may need it in black & white. The reality is that most photographers now shoot digitally, so all images are shot in color. However, some photographers might charge you for black-and-white conversions, so do check.

Also, think about portrait and landscape images. You might need a portrait crop for LinkedIn and a landscape shot for your website. Or you may want a square for Instagram. Have this conversation with your photographer. It’s easy to select both, and your photographer should be thinking in terms of the result, but it’s worth a quick chat.

Consider if you need some ‘negative space’ on one side of your image for copy/text. Think about all these options and discuss them with your photographer before the shoot.

3. BEFORE YOU BOOK YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER, MAKE SURE YOU’RE CLEAR ON THE NUMBER OF IMAGES YOU’LL RECEIVE AND HOW YOU CAN USE THEM

Some photographers are happy to offer you as many images as they take in your session time (minus blinks and dupes, of course!). Others may have a limit on the number included in the fee. Make sure you are clear on what you will receive from the outset. You may want to choose a photographer who offers a range of images so you can use them across all platforms.

Also, make sure you check usage. If you want to use them for social media advertising, printed materials, or websites, make sure you discuss this with them. You don’t want to find that there are extra costs for additional images, black-and-white conversion, or additional usage. So, make sure your photographer is clear about what’s included in the fee.

4. THINK ABOUT YOUR HAIR, MAKE-UP, AND CLOTHING WELL IN ADVANCE

A professional, corporate photographer should have access to some great make-up and hair teams. If you think you’ll need professional make-up, ask for it. Corporate make-up is different from ‘make-over’ make-up, so check out the make-up artist as well to make sure you like what they do. Hair, this is a tricky one. You don’t want to look too done, but you need your hair to look its natural best. Hair is one of the hardest things to retouch, so if you need to have your roots done before the shoot, get them done. Men, make sure your hair is neat and tidy. If you require a trim beforehand, get one! And clothing, well, there’s so much to think about here. If you run your own business, you may have brand colors you want to work with. Speak to your photographer about clothing; they should be able to offer you good advice. And make sure you have the option to bring a few outfits to the shoot. A backup outfit can be a lifesaver!

5. DON’T BE AFRAID TO RESEARCH IMAGES YOU LIKE AND SEND THEM TO YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER

Do a search for ‘corporate headshots’ on Pinterest; look at the profile photos of your connections on LinkedIn; look at websites you like and see what style of images they are using. Screen capture them, build up your own Pinterest board, and bookmark links. Your photographer should be interested in what you like, so share these images with them. It’s often hard to describe the image you are imagining in your head. Find a way to show your photographer. Or look at your photographer’s website for examples of their work, highlighting the shots that appeal to you.