Corporate Headshots | 5 Tips For A Professional & Polished Look

What Are Corporate Headshots?
Corporate headshots are professional business headshots that are meant to convey professionalism, confidence, and approachability, often reflecting the personal brand of the individual and the values or culture of the company they represent. These polished photos are taken on solid backgrounds and cropped from the chest up. Business attire is based on industry standards. 

Headshots are your first introduction to future clients, employers, and other business endeavors. With a great headshot, you could be taking advantage of countless opportunities. If you have been thinking about updating your corporate headshot or getting a new one for the first time it is a good idea to prepare ahead of time.

I have put together these corporate headshot tips for a professional and polished look so you can walk away feeling confident and ready to put your new headshot online. 

If you are ready to dive into the 5 tips you can skip here. 

1. Choose The Right Outfit For Your Corporate Headshot Photo

The best advice is to dress professionally for your photos. Some standard advice I give to people seeking professional headshots can also be applied to a corporate headshot photograph. 
Pro tip: Avoid loud colors and patterns when choosing an outfit.

What Do I Wear for Corporate Headshots?
Outfits to consider for men:

• Wear a dark-colored suit
• Wear a tie if industry standard ( solid or subtle pattern) 
• Wear solid-colored coats, suit jackets, and shirts

Outfits to consider for women:

• Wear a dark-colored suit
• Wear a solid-colored suit coat or blazer
• Avoid loud bright colors or patterns
• Keep jewelry minimal if any at all
• Avoid low-cut tops or blouses 

Read more headshot tips for women. 

The outfit you choose will be the difference between a professional polished look and a mediocre photo. Be sure to always wear freshly pressed and wrinkle-free outfits that are well-fitted. This means not too big or baggy and not too tight. 

2. Smile Showing Your Teeth For An Authentic Look

Benefits of a smile:

• A smile adds warmth and approachability to your appearance
• Communicates a sense of confidence and openness
• Shows you are trustworthy and honest

How Do You Smile For Corporate Headshots?
Through years of practice, I've seen how a well-captured smile can significantly impact a photo. A smile shows your ability to engage positively and work collaboratively.

Pro Tip: Practice smiling at home in front of the mirror to get comfortable with the way it looks and feels. Keep in mind an experienced photographer will use techniques and prompts to get natural and authentic smiles out of you. 

3. Pay Attention To Grooming

How To Take a Good Corporate Headshot?

One factor in taking a good corporate headshot is to pay attention to the small details. Here are some key grooming tips so you look professional and polished for your corporate portrait:

• Hair- Wash the night before. Haircuts or coloring should be scheduled about a week before your photo session. This allows time for color to settle and hair to look natural.
  
• Skin- Facials should be done well in advance as well as waxing. Shaving can be done the morning of. Drink plenty of water and stay well hydrated before your photo shoot.
  
• Makeup- Keep to your daily routine. Don't overdo the makeup just for the photo. Instead, wear the same amount you would daily. 

Pro tip: If you wear glasses be sure to clean them so they are free of smudges that might show up in the portrait. 

4. Choose A Neutral Color Background

It is a good idea that the background in your corporate photo is either a gray backdrop or other neutral colors. A headshot portrait photographer will be able to advise you on the best color depending on your options sometimes including different colors.
What Backdrops are Best for Corporate Headshots?

• White backgrounds: Tend to stand out and pop more in a thumbnail scroll.
• Gray backgrounds: Might help your skin tone stand out better. For a variety of options try taking a photo with both backgrounds and deciding how the final product looks. 
• Environmental outdoor backgrounds: Depending on your industry, an environmental background (e.g., office setting or cityscape) might suit your company brand better. The key is not to let the background distract from you. If you choose to use an outdoor background be sure it is not too busy and doesn't take away from your corporate headshot. 

Pro Tip: Choose an outfit that does not blend into your background color of choice. For example, don't wear a gray coat with a gray background. 

5. Hire A Professional Headshot Photographer

Hiring a professional headshot photographer who is an expert in posing and facial expression coaching will help make your portrait look polished. 
When you hire the right photographer you get expert guidance including:

• Posing techniques
• Facial expression coaching
• Proper lighting
• Framing
• Retouching 
• Professional background

Do I Need A Professional Photographer To Take My Corporate Photo?

A headshot photo should be high quality and look professional. Therefore it is recommended to get a professional photo taken. Some people choose to take a DIY headshot. This might be acceptable in certain situations. A DIY headshot is not advised for a company photo.  Getting a professional headshot communicates to the viewer you are a professional, you put time and effort into your work, and most importantly you are ready to do a great job.

Bonus Tip:

How To Prepare For Your Professional Corporate Headshot Photo Session 
Taking the time to prepare for your photo session will help ensure you get the best results possible. Follow these tips below:

• Stay well hydrated 
• Avoid alcohol 2-3 days before your session
• Get a good night's sleep the day before
• Have your outfits planned out and pressed or ironed and wrinkle-free
• Plan to arrive early to your session
  

How Important Is A Corporate Photo?

I'm sure you know how important corporate headshots are in today’s digital world. A good headshot is what makes corporate headshots stand out from the competition. It doesn't matter the size of your company or if you are a solo entrepreneur. Your corporate photo is just as important to your success.

Did you know 87% of people don't think they are photogenic and don't like how they look in photos? I hear this all the time from employees who have to get a company headshot. I get it. I know how photo day can be stressful and anxiety-provoking for many people.

That is why I like to break the ice when I walk into an office with all my camera gear, equipment, backdrops, and lighting. I always make sure to lighten the mood. So the first thing I do is teach people 3 techniques before I begin the photo session. I can't give away all my secrets in this post but it does have people laughing and feeling more confident when they step in front of the camera. 

The first move I teach people is the Triple R or The Fonzie. This move has to do with the way you pose. The Triple R stands for Ryan Renold Red Carpet. If you are of a certain age you will remember the Fonzarelli. Picture how they stand when they enter a room or step on the red carpet. This move helps with posing. The second move I teach people is “the chicken”. Chickens cluck their head. Try it. Now try it one more time but don't bring your head back leave it out. If you like turtles better than chickens think of a turtle and how it stretches its neck out.

This helps tighten the jawline and makes people look great. The third move is “the puppet”. Think of a puppet on strings. Now imagine being pulled upright by the strings. See what happened there? Did you get taller? When you stand up straight, better posture, and are tall everything looks better in the photos. 

How Much Do Corporate Headshots Cost?

Corporate headshots can range from 79 dollars to 1500 dollars plus. The price varies based on the experience of the photographer, whether travel fees are needed, if there is a session fee, or if the rate is hourly. Other factors include if the photographer offers packages or if photos are a la carte.

To find corporate headshot prices in your area search Google with "corporate headshots near me". This search term should help you find your local photographer. 

Learn about Christopher Todd Studios' headshot photography

What Qualifies As a Professional Headshot?

A photo that qualifies as a professional headshot has different attributes.

• Proper lighting
• Professional equipement
• Posing
• Facial expression
• Great color
• Industry appropriate attire

An actor's headshot will have a more casual look with different facial expressions. Whereas a company headshot will have a clean professional look with the person wearing business attire and looking at the camera. A professional headshot will also have a simple background that is not distracting. The photo must use proper lighting. The key to a professional photo is the dimensions and cropping of the subject. This can vary based on whether the photo is a full body shot, 3/4 shot, or shoulders and up.

There are no specific corporate headshot requirements for most industries. However, some profile photos like a medical residency photo will have photo requirements.