Best Tips for The Perfect Business Portraits [Mistakes to Avoid]
A professional business portrait can transform your LinkedIn profile, professional website, or any digital platform you’re on. It makes your profile more engaging and encourages others to take a closer look at your qualifications and experiences.
Picture this: You walk into a room, and even before you shake hands or say hello, your photo has already introduced you. Your professional image is often the first thing others see, and it’s about so much more than just looking sharp. It’s your chance to show off your professionalism, your skills, and what makes you uniquely you. This is why getting a professional business headshot is a key step in sharing who you are with the world.
Whether you’re scheduling your photo session, selecting the perfect outfit, or preparing for your shoot, there are key photography tips and insights that can elevate your business headshot from standard to standout.
In this article, I give you tips for the perfect professional business portraits, the do’s and don’ts, and why taking the time to learn everything about this process is not just important—it’s essential for anyone serious about their professional image.
The Significance of Professional Business Portraits
The importance of a solid personal brand cannot be overstated and professional business portraits are a huge part of this. These aren’t just photographs, they are a visual handshake, the first point of contact many will have with you in the professional world.
Why They’re Essential for Personal Branding
Imagine scrolling through LinkedIn, a platform where first impressions are made without a word being spoken. A professional headshot is a critical part of your online presence. It’s your chance to say, “This is me, and this is what I stand for,”. The role of business portraits extends beyond LinkedIn; they’re essential across all professional platforms, personal websites, and even business cards. They convey professionalism, attention to detail, and a commitment to quality—all key attributes in almost any industry.
A skilled photographer can convey your personality, professionalism, and brand through a single shot. This is why choosing the right photographer, one who understands the nuances of corporate portrait photography, is crucial. They can guide you through the shoot, from advising on the perfect pose to selecting the right lens and lighting setup, ensuring the photograph captures the real you in the best light possible.
The Impact of First Impressions
We’ve all heard the saying, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” In the context of business portraits, this couldn’t be more true. Statistics show that it takes just milliseconds for someone to form an opinion based on your photo. What do you want that split-second decision to say about you? That you’re approachable, confident, and competent, or that you didn’t invest the effort into a professional portrayal of yourself?
The psychology behind a confident and approachable image is profound. It sets the stage for every interaction you’ll have. A well-executed business portrait can make you seem more trustworthy and competent, key traits in building professional relationships. Lighting plays a massive role here, the right lighting setup can highlight your features, convey warmth, and create an inviting image that says, “Let’s connect.”
Remember, a business portrait is more than just a headshot. It’s a strategic tool in your personal branding arsenal. Whether it’s for your LinkedIn profile, your company’s website, or your personal branding materials, a professional business portrait can set you apart in a crowded marketplace. It’s about making sure that when potential clients, employers, or partners see your photograph, they see someone they want to know, someone they want to work with.
Benefit of A Professional Business Portrait
A high-quality business portrait does more than capture your likeness, it also conveys your competence, trustworthiness, and attention to detail. Imagine two profiles on LinkedIn: one features a cropped photo from a wedding, slightly blurred with inconsistent lighting, the other showcases a sharp, clear image with perfect lighting that highlights the individual’s features and presents them in a confident, approachable manner. The second example not only draws the eye but immediately instills a sense of professionalism. This subconscious cue can be the difference between being passed over and getting that all-important connection request or job offer.
Professional photographers have a deep understanding of how to use lighting, background, and pose to create an image that conveys the right message. For instance, a corporate lawyer might benefit from a shot in a classic setting with formal attire, conveying solidity and reliability. On the other hand, a creative professional might opt for a more relaxed pose and a vibrant background, signaling innovation and approachability. The lens used, the angle of the shot, and even the color scheme—every detail works together to elevate your professional image.
Tips and Techniques for the Perfect Business Portrait
Now that we’ve explored the why let’s talk about the how. Taking the perfect business portrait involves more than just showing up and smiling at the camera. It’s about thoughtful preparation, collaboration with your photographer, and attention to detail throughout the process. Here are some tips and techniques that can help you ensure your business portrait truly reflects your professional brand and personality.
Choosing the Right Photographer
Selecting the right photographer is the first and perhaps most crucial step in the process. You want someone whose style aligns with your vision and who you feel comfortable working with.
Tips for Finding Your Photographer:
Look at Portfolios: Spend time reviewing potential photographers’ online portfolios to get a sense of their style and expertise. Are their images the kind that speaks to you? See my business portraits portfolio here.
Read Reviews: Client testimonials can provide insight into the photographer’s professionalism and the overall experience. See my reviews here.
Discuss Your Vision: Before booking, have a chat about what you’re looking for in your business portrait. This conversation can give you a good feel for whether they’re the right fit for you.
Feel free to contact my Los Angeles photography studio here.
The Importance of Feeling Comfortable
Now, why does feeling comfortable with your photographer matter so much? Picture this: You’re standing in front of the camera, the lights are on you, and if you’re feeling tense or uneasy, it’s going to show. Your expression might be stiff, or the smile forced. The goal is for your business portrait to look like the best version of you on your best day—not a deer caught in headlights.
Relaxed Shoot, Natural Photos: A photographer who makes you feel at ease can capture the real you. When you’re comfortable, your genuine personality shines through, your smile is more natural, and your eyes sparkle. This authenticity is what you want in a business portrait.
Building a Connection: Your photographer should be someone you can connect with, someone who listens to what you want, understands your concerns, and guides you with patience and positivity. This rapport is essential and turns the shoot from a task into an enjoyable experience.
See my full guide on how to look and feel your best in photos.
Preparing for Your Photoshoot
Getting ready for your business portrait photoshoot is like prepping for a big day at work, where every detail contributes to the impression you make. Let’s break down the essentials of hair, makeup, and wardrobe to make sure you look like the polished professional you are, while still showcasing your unique personality.
Hair and Makeup Tips
When it comes to hair and makeup for your photoshoot, the golden rule is to aim for a look that enhances your features without overshadowing the real you. The goal is to look like yourself on your best day, not to transform into a different person.
Enhancing Your Features: Choose a hairstyle that suits your face shape and complements your hair’s natural texture. If you usually wear your hair down, consider a style that keeps it off your face to highlight your features. For makeup, focus on a clean, even skin tone, defined eyes, and a natural flush on the cheeks. Think of it as your everyday makeup, dialed up a notch.
The Role of a Makeup Artist: Hiring a professional makeup artist for your shoot can make a huge difference. They’re skilled at creating a look that’s camera-ready yet natural. For instance, they know how to apply makeup that stands up to photography lighting without making you look overdone. A makeup artist once told me, “My job is to make you look like you’ve had the best sleep of your life, not like you’re heading to a gala.”.
What to Wear for Your Business Headshots
Choosing your outfit for the shoot is about striking the right balance between professional and personal style. Your attire should reflect the image you want to project in your professional sphere, but it should also feel authentic to you.
Reflecting Your Professional Image: If you’re in a traditional corporate field, classic pieces like a tailored suit or a crisp blouse convey professionalism and competence. For more creative industries, you might opt for something that shows off your personal style a bit more, like a unique accessory or a pop of color.
Color Palettes and Textures: Solid colors generally work best for headshots because they keep the focus on your face. Neutral colors like navy, gray, and beige are universally flattering, but don’t shy away from color if it’s part of your personal brand—just choose hues that complement your skin tone. Textures can add depth to your photos, but avoid anything too busy or distracting, like loud patterns or shiny fabrics.
Accessories: The right accessories can add a finishing touch to your look, but moderation is key. A statement necklace or a classic watch can look great, but too much jewelry can be distracting. Remember, the focus should be on you, not your accessories.
During the Shoot: Poses and Expressions
Now that you’re all prepped and ready, stepping into the spotlight of your photoshoot can feel a bit like stepping onto a stage. But don’t let the camera jitters get to you. With the right approach to poses and expressions, you’ll be able to project the confidence and approachability you’re aiming for. Let’s break down how to find your best pose and make the most of lighting and background choices.
Finding Your Best Pose
The secret to a great pose is feeling natural, not like you’re frozen in place. It’s about finding that sweet spot where you look poised yet relaxed, professional yet approachable.
Techniques for Confidence: Start with your posture. Standing or sitting up straight with your shoulders back conveys confidence. Slightly tilting your head or shifting your weight to one leg can add a dynamic feel to your pose, making you seem more approachable.
Facial Expressions: A genuine smile is your best accessory. Think of something that makes you happy to bring out a natural smile. If you’re going for a more serious look, aim for a soft, approachable expression rather than a hard stare. Your eyes are particularly important—they should convey warmth and openness.
For some more fun creative poses, see my article on top 25 modeling poses.
Do’s and Don’ts:
I once had a client, let’s call him Joe, who insisted on a pose he saw in a magazine, leaning forward with his arms crossed. In theory, it sounded powerful, but in practice, he looked more like he was guarding his lunch than ready for business. We shared a good laugh and then worked together to adjust his pose into something that felt more natural to him—standing straight with one hand in his pocket, which ended up looking fantastic.
Do: Practice your poses and expressions in front of a mirror before the shoot. This practice can help you see what looks best and feels most natural to you.
Don’t: Overthink it. While it’s good to be aware of your posture and expression, trying too hard can make you look stiff. Trust your photographer to guide you.
Lighting and Background Choices
The right lighting and background can dramatically enhance the mood and quality of your portrait. They play critical roles in ensuring the focus stays on you, highlighting your best features without overpowering the scene.
Lighting: Soft, diffused lighting tends to be the most flattering because it evenly illuminates your face, minimizing harsh shadows. Your photographer might use a combination of natural light and studio lights to achieve this effect. The direction of the light matters too—a setup where the light falls onto your face from the front or side can create a warm, inviting look.
Background: The background should complement your professional image without causing distraction. Solid colors or simple, uncluttered settings work best. For example, a plain backdrop or a tidy office setting can keep the focus on you. If you’re an architect, a sleek, modern structure in the background might underscore your profession subtly, while a financial advisor might opt for the classic simplicity of a studio backdrop.
Choosing the right setting and lighting setup is a collaborative effort between you and your photographer. Don’t hesitate to share your thoughts and preferences. After all, this photoshoot is about capturing the essence of your professional persona in the best light—both figuratively and literally.
The Technical Side of Things: Camera, Lens, and Settings
Diving into the technicalities of a photoshoot might feel like peeking behind the magician’s curtain, but don’t worry, it’s not as complicated as it sounds. In fact, understanding a bit about the camera, lens, and settings can give you an appreciation for how these elements come together to capture the perfect shot.
Camera and Lens
Think of the camera as the brain, capturing the image, while the lens is the eye, focusing on your best features. Professional photographers tend to use DSLR or mirrorless cameras for their ability to produce high-quality images and work in various lighting conditions.
The choice of lens can significantly affect how you look in your portrait. For business portraits, photographers often use a lens that compresses the image slightly, making the features appear more flattering. A common choice is an 85mm or 105mm lens because they provide a natural, undistorted perspective, making you look like you, only better.
Camera Settings
The settings on the camera—like aperture, shutter speed, and ISO—are adjusted to suit the lighting and the mood the photographer is aiming to capture. A wider aperture (a lower f-number) blurs the background, focusing attention on you. The shutter speed is set to capture you sharply, without any blur, and the ISO is adjusted based on the lighting, with lower numbers used in bright conditions to keep the image quality high.
Post-Photoshoot: Selecting and Retouching Images
After the shoot, the magic continues. Selecting and retouching images are where your photos are polished to perfection.
Selecting the Best Shots
This process can be both exciting and overwhelming! You’ll likely have a lot of shots to choose from, each with its unique charm. Your photographer will help narrow down the options, selecting images that best represent your professional image and personality. This selection process is collaborative, ensuring the final picks resonate with you personally and professionally.
Retouching
Retouching is an art form in itself, enhancing the final images while keeping them looking natural and true to life. It’s about removing temporary imperfections (like a stray hair or an unexpected blemish) rather than altering your appearance. The goal is to present the best, most polished version of you.
Best Practices
Ethical retouching respects the integrity of the original image, ensuring changes are subtle and maintain your likeness. It’s about striking the right balance, enhancing the photo without changing the essence of who you are.
Best practices include:
-Keeping skin texture natural
-Adjusting lighting and contrast to highlight your features
-Making minor adjustments to clothing (like removing lint or smoothing wrinkles)
-Ensuring any changes are approved by you
The post-photoshoot phase is crucial in transforming a good portrait into a great one. With the right approach to selection and retouching, your business portrait will not only look professional but also feel authentic, perfectly poised to represent your personal brand to the world.
Mistakes to Avoid in Business Portrait Photography
Inappropriate Clothing Choices
When it comes to selecting an outfit for your business portrait, it’s all about striking the right balance between expressing your personal style and maintaining a professional look. Opting for clothing that clashes with your professional image or leans too heavily into the latest fashion trends can take away from the classic and enduring quality you want your portrait to embody.
Imagine choosing a piece that feels uniquely ‘you’ but also stands the test of time—like a well-fitted blazer or a sleek, simple dress. These choices add a personal touch without overwhelming the photo. The goal is to wear something that makes you feel confident and comfortable, ensuring that your personality shines through in a way that complements, rather than competes with, your professional persona. Also see my article on selecting the best props for photos.
Forced Poses
Trying to replicate a pose you saw online that doesn’t feel natural to you can result in a stiff and awkward photo. Like Joe, who wanted to mimic a magazine pose, finding a posture that feels genuine to you is key. A good photographer will help guide you to natural, flattering poses.
Post-Production No-Nos
Over-Retouching: It’s tempting to want to smooth out every line and erase every imperfection, but over-retouching can strip away your portrait’s authenticity. A client once asked for such heavy retouching that the final image looked more like a painting than a photograph. We dialed it back to ensure the portrait remained true to life, enhancing her features without erasing the qualities that made her unique.
Striking the Right Balance: The goal is to polish, not transform. Retouching should be about presenting the best version of yourself, not an idealized or unrecognizable one. Always review retouched images with a critical eye, asking, “Does this still look like me?”
Tips for a Natural, Polished Portrait
1. Choose outfits that are professional and reflect your personal style without being distracting.
2. Opt for natural poses that reflect your genuine self, your photographer can help you find what works best.
3. Communicate openly with your photographer about your expectations for the shoot and the final images.
4. Approach retouching with a light touch, focusing on enhancing rather than altering your appearance.
Remember, the goal of a business portrait is to capture your professional essence and personality authentically and attractively.
Oxana Alex Photography
At Oxana Alex Photography, we are open for booking in studio business portraits and business headshot sessions. Designer wardrobe and accessories for your session are free or charge. Our studio is located at 2100 Sawtelle Blvd UNIT 307 Los Angeles, CA 90025, USA. You can see our photoshoot pricing here & our photography reviews here.
Conclusion
Your online presence is often the first point of contact with potential employers, clients, and collaborators and professional headshots play a crucial role in making that first digital impression a powerful one.
I highly recommend investing the time to choose the best photographer, one who understands the nuances of corporate photography and can guide you through the process, from the first setup to the final download. Also, make sure to schedule your shoot with enough time to prepare without much rush, considering factors like deadlines and the possibility of needing to reschedule. It’s about being ready to go, feeling confident in your appearance, and knowing that every element, from your pose to the background composition, has been carefully selected to showcase the best version of you.
Taking professional business headshots is an investment in your future, an opportunity to present yourself as polished, prepared, and professional. By following these photography tips and insights, you ensure that your business portrait does more than just meet the eye—it captures the essence of who you are and the professional you aspire to be.
If you’re in the Los Angeles area, I invite you to book a session with me. As your photographer, I’m dedicated to capturing not just your likeness, but the unique qualities that set you apart in your field. Together, we’ll take business portraits that reflect your professionalism, personality, and the career aspirations you’re striving toward. Don’t let another day pass with a portrait that’s less than you deserve. Contact me today to schedule your session and start the journey toward showcasing your best professional self.
How do I schedule my session?
You can schedule your session by emailing [email protected] or by texting our studio at (310) 854-9695.
