How to Choose the Right Headshot from Your Shoot

12/2/2022

Let's get into it.

Which of these three photos do you think builds the most trust, credibility, and influence with people?

Hint: There is a measurable, exact answer that I'll share with you in a moment.

Need new headshots?

Book Your Professional Headshot in NYC
Same-Day Turnaround, Stress Free Shoots!

You're probably reading this article because you just completed your headshot session and it's now time to choose your favorite shots.

Are you feeling overwhelmed with all those images yet?

Wait a moment though... you don't want to just choose ANY image!

It's important to pick the headshot(s) that actually REPRESENT you best, even if they're not necessarily the ones you LIKE best.

The #1 Reason Most People Choose the WRONG Photo

Let me tell you an embarrassing story.

But first I'll make myself feel better by saying that almost everyone has minor insecurities, no matter how confident we seem on the outside.

Anyway, for me, it's the fact that my hair is thinning and my teeth have weird spaces (depending on the lighting).

And more importantly and embarrassingly is the fact that I look like I'm 15 years old, even though I'm actually 30.

I generally like to hide my face on camera. And if I'm going to have a photo taken and can't hide my face, I'll just smile really big because I figure I'll look more friendly and trustworthy.

And I don't think I'm the kind of person who can legitimately pull off the "cool & confident" look.

Believe it or not, for the first five years of running City Headshots I used the following photo because I didn't want people to see how young I looked:

I liked that photo because my face was hidden, and I was worried I wouldn't look professional if people could see my face clearly.

So how do you narrow it down & actually pick the RIGHT photo?

When you're staring at hundreds of pictures of yourself, it can feel overwhelming. So how do you narrow all those shots down quickly?

That's the key: do it quickly.

Why? Because that's how most people will look at your photo (and if you're an actor, casting directors are looking at THOUSANDS of headshots, so you better believe they're doing it FAST)!

Most of the time, people don't care so much about your headshot and are not going to scrutinize it for hours on end. Prospective employers, friends, or casting directors are simply looking to see that you have a professional headshot, and they're checking to see if you look like a confident, relaxed, and trustworthy human being.

STEP 1:
Start by scrolling through all your shots from the session, one by one, quickly.

Any of the ones you think you like or could be good photos (remember to find both smiling AND serious shots so you have variety), download them onto your computer and place them into a folder.

This process will probably knock it down to around 20% of the original number, and should take about 10 minutes.

STEP 2:
Next, you'll want to repeat this process one more time with the photos you've put into that folder.

Again, quickly scroll through them, and any that you like should be moved into a second folder. Chances are you'll cut these down by another 50%, so you should only have a few to select from now. This should take 5 minutes.

Then scroll down to continue reading the final set of tips.

STEP 3:
It's time to look a bit closer and cut out images that are unusable based on a few key rules. Compare each of the shots you're still considering to the following checklist and eliminate about 50% of them if possible.

Here's what you don't want in your headshot:

You are trying too hard. Many people select shots they think are good, but in reality, they look like they are trying too hard. A good headshot should look natural and bring out the real you and not look like you're trying to be someone you're not. Excessive eye squinting (sometimes called squinching or smizing) should be avoided. Keep it subtle.
It isn't you. This goes along with trying too hard. If the headshot doesn't show who you are inside and your expression feels "off," people will know it. It's easy to look at photos and unconsciously see when people are being someone they're not. You want to be yourself, feeling comfortable and natural. Don't choose a photo just because you think it's what people want to see.
It's not in your range (actors only). You should know your "type" as an actor. What characters do you play and what personalities do you enjoy showing in performances? Take a look at this "Actor Branding" page to learn a bit more about how to find your brand so you know what to look for in your shot. If the shot is too far off your brand, don't select it because it likely won't work for the types of roles you're submitting for.
You already selected a similar shot. Some people feel the need to pick three big smile shots all on the same background. You only need one big smile on that background. If you decide on more shots, you could perhaps have one serious shot and then one softer, more subtle friendly expression. Or two completely different body positions. It's up to you, but if you've already selected a shot that shows a very similar expression, body position, and background to what's in the photo you're currently looking at, there's no need to pick that same type of shot twice.
It doesn't look like you (literally). Shooting from high and low angles, doing too much Photoshop work, and having shadows and strange lighting on your face can actually change the way you look. You generally don't want a headshot that doesn't look like you because when people meet you in real life it can lead to immediate distrust.
You don't look confident. If you don't show confidence, you won't look trustworthy. Look closely at your eyes when deciding on your shot and make sure there is no look of "worry" or "wide-eyes." If your eyes look natural and relaxed, chances are the shot will work. Learn more about how to look confident on-camera here.

There are distracting elements. Look at the photo and check that you aren't wearing distracting jewelry or something that draws too much attention away from the face. Make sure you don't have flyaway hairs or a huge zit that takes away from the photo (unless you know you'll have those Photoshopped later on). Also, make sure the background doesn't have bright spots that draw attention away from the face. Finally, be sure that you can't make out objects in the background so they don't distract.
The picture isn't technically perfect. Make sure the lighting and colors look close to reality (unless your photo is deliberately stylized or black and white. You don't want the photos to have over-saturated colors or an incorrect color-cast (meaning the shots look too blue or yellow). You also want to make sure the brightness is correct - it shouldn't be too dark or bright. Keep in mind, however that most technical problems with color and lighting can be corrected in editing, so ask your photographer if you have questions about a particular shot before skipping over it. Certain technical problems however, including blurriness or exceptionally bad framing, are unfixable and will definitely take away from the headshot, so don't choose those.
Too much of your face is hidden. Some people like to only show a portion of their face. I recommend you don't hide your face in shots (like I used to). Remember that even though you may like a headshot of yourself from a certain angle, that doesn't mean an employer (or casting director) will. If you have a portion of your face hidden by turning away, people will wonder whether you're trying to hide something, which can lead to distrust.
Mouth tension. If you're the type of person who generally doesn't like open-mouth smiles, chances are high you'll try to close your lips to hide your teeth. This can lead to tense lips (a bit of a pursed look). Tense lips are distracting, so make sure you avoid choosing any photos like that.

STEP 4:
After doing all this, you should have narrowed down your images to the top 5 or 10, and now it's time to choose the ones that will be the most effective.

You have a few choices for selecting your final image(s):

1. Make the decision based on what you think will work bestTrusting your gut can feel easier but it’s also where most people go wrong. We’re often drawn to photos for personal reasons that don’t translate to how others see us.

2. Crowdsource!
On the other hand, getting outside feedback shifts the focus from “Which one do I like?” to “Which one actually works?” Patterns start to emerge, and the strongest image becomes much clearer.
If you want a headshot that does something (build trust, attract clients, or get clicks) this extra step is worth it. Often the people who know us best can offer constructive feedback about not just how we look but how we want to portray ourselves.

3. Ask your photographer
Alternatively, if you're looking for a more objective eye and to take the work out of choosing, we look at faces all day long! We can look through your gallery and select our four favorite images for $50. Just shoot us an email to [email protected]. You can also send us questions if needed!

Need new headshots?

Book Your Professional Headshot in NYC
Same-Day Turnaround, Stress Free Shoots!