Non-Actor Headshots: My Recommendations
This means: business, LinkedIn, professional, graduation, online dating, etc.
As a non-actor, there are lots of possibilities for your headshots, and you have far fewer rules to abide by. I have shot headshots for people in all different industries, and have found patterns in backdrops that seem to work best for people in different lines of work. I always customize my lighting to your face by finding your best side right away and then I tailor the light to fall across your face in the most flattering way. So although the lighting will be fairly similar across your shots, the backgrounds behind you will change, and with each different background comes a different feeling that the shot will emanate.
Remember that there are always exceptions to my recommendations, and if you have any questions, feel free to email me at info@cityheadshots.com.
Please read below to see which option fits you best:
As a non-actor, there are lots of possibilities for your headshots, and you have far fewer rules to abide by. I have shot headshots for people in all different industries, and have found patterns in backdrops that seem to work best for people in different lines of work. I always customize my lighting to your face by finding your best side right away and then I tailor the light to fall across your face in the most flattering way. So although the lighting will be fairly similar across your shots, the backgrounds behind you will change, and with each different background comes a different feeling that the shot will emanate.
Remember that there are always exceptions to my recommendations, and if you have any questions, feel free to email me at info@cityheadshots.com.
Please read below to see which option fits you best:
Formal Business Portraits - Dark Gray or Dark Blue
Formal business portraits are traditional, dark backdrop shots, done with what's called Three-Point lighting, meaning two lights in the front, and one for your hair. Typically, people in the following fields will get a traditional business portrait:
- Consulting
- Finance
- Engineering
- Insurance
- Law
Relaxed Professional Headshots - Light Gray or Outdoor
Using an off-white or outdoor background for headshots leads to a more relaxed and approachable feel. Of course your expression is extremely important to how approachable you look, but the feeling of the image as a whole must also show more approachability and warmth for certain professions, and a lighter background or outdoor shot tends to help with this. People in the following fields will benefit from these types of shots:
When shooting against a lighter or more colorful backdrop, it's totally up to you with how formal you want to dress. The formality of your dress can be contrasted by the more relaxed background, or you can do some shots with a tie and some without so you have some of both. I strongly recommend wearing a suit jacket or sport coat if you're a guy, unless your shirt is well-fitted and not a very pale color. And remember that it's better to wear a light blue shirt instead of a white one if you are planning to do shots without a tie.
- Authors
- Broadcasters
- Counselors
- Designers
- Filmmakers
- Fitness Trainers
- Hospitality & Tourism Directors
- Journalists
- Life Coaches
- Non-Profit Workers
- Politicians
- Real Estate Brokers
- Retailers
- Sales People
- Therapists
- Teachers
When shooting against a lighter or more colorful backdrop, it's totally up to you with how formal you want to dress. The formality of your dress can be contrasted by the more relaxed background, or you can do some shots with a tie and some without so you have some of both. I strongly recommend wearing a suit jacket or sport coat if you're a guy, unless your shirt is well-fitted and not a very pale color. And remember that it's better to wear a light blue shirt instead of a white one if you are planning to do shots without a tie.
No Background Business Portrait - White
I definitely recommend that anyone in technology have at least a few shots on a white background. People that work on the internet or with computers, or those who have their own website can benefit from a shot that appears to have no background behind them.
Because a white background can fairly easily be removed, the image can be very versatile. A white background itself will match almost any website, but if your web developer removes you from the background, you can even put your image in front of another image (called compositing). You can keep the transparency information in the file so it can be placed on all different backgrounds whenever needed.
Besides people in tech, there are also other fields that should have a white background, just for the clean and crisp feeling it provides:
In-reality, anyone who starts their own business should have at least a few professional shots of themselves on a white background because of its versatility.
Because a white background can fairly easily be removed, the image can be very versatile. A white background itself will match almost any website, but if your web developer removes you from the background, you can even put your image in front of another image (called compositing). You can keep the transparency information in the file so it can be placed on all different backgrounds whenever needed.
Besides people in tech, there are also other fields that should have a white background, just for the clean and crisp feeling it provides:
- Bloggers
- Health Professionals
- Marketers
- Media & Newscasters
- Scientists
- Web Developers
In-reality, anyone who starts their own business should have at least a few professional shots of themselves on a white background because of its versatility.
Stylized Portraits - indoor or outdoor
Stylized portraits are really fun and anyone can use them, from financial executives to painters. A stylized portrait is a shot usually taken outdoors or against a backdrop with stylized lighting in order to tell a story or get a feeling across. The difference between a stylized portrait and a headshot is that a stylized portrait is more about the photography than the expression alone. It is most often used for people who already have a professional headshot and want something totally different and unique.
People needing stylized portraits are musicians, artists, and dancers/models but anyone can benefit from one, especially if you are running your own business and want some really nice pictures (full/half body shots) to put on your website.
Some examples of stylized portraits would be a photo of you sitting at a computer desk looking like you're working, or one of you reading a book on a bench outside or walking along the sidewalk, or even a cool shot of you standing in front of the courthouse buildings if you're a lawyer. A stylized portrait is designed to tell a story about what you do.
People needing stylized portraits are musicians, artists, and dancers/models but anyone can benefit from one, especially if you are running your own business and want some really nice pictures (full/half body shots) to put on your website.
Some examples of stylized portraits would be a photo of you sitting at a computer desk looking like you're working, or one of you reading a book on a bench outside or walking along the sidewalk, or even a cool shot of you standing in front of the courthouse buildings if you're a lawyer. A stylized portrait is designed to tell a story about what you do.
Online Dating Pictures & Personal Use - Outdoor
Although you might think it's uncommon, lots of people nowadays need a professional photo for online dating and personal use, especially if they have social media profiles. I generally recommend that these shots be taken outdoors with natural light and backgrounds so they don't look staged.
People using their images for social media should also opt for a white background if they want their image to be more versatile. See the paragraph on "No Background Business Portraits" for more information on this.
People using their images for social media should also opt for a white background if they want their image to be more versatile. See the paragraph on "No Background Business Portraits" for more information on this.
Graduation Pictures - Indoor or Outdoor
Depending on the formality of the graduation photo you want, I have done indoor and outdoor shots. Typically, an indoor graduation photo would be a formal portrait against a dark gray or blue backdrop. An outdoor graduation photo is more fun and natural, so it's really up to you based on your preference.
Musician Photos - Indoor or Outdoor
Musicians are typically going to benefit from stylized portraits in addition to their standard headshot. A black backdrop can be used, but the style of the photo should be based on what type of feeling you want your audience to have when viewing your photo. Is your music dark and intense, or soft and airy? Depending on that, we would decide whether we want a darker intense photo, or a brighter, high-key photo with soft lighting and a lighthearted feeling.
Did I ANSWER your questions here?
If I didn't reference your category, try switching over to the other Entertainment Industry backgrounds. If you still can't find what you're looking for, please email me at info@cityheadshots.com and I'll be sure to get back to you quickly. Then I'll post the answer up here for everyone else. Thanks!
- Martin
- Martin
