Headshots Styles: Our Recommendations

Are you a lawyer? CPA? Financial advisor? Or are you a teacher? Writer? Marketing consultant? Computer programmer?

Did you know that different backgrounds work for better for certain professions than others?

On this page, we'll outline our top recommendations based on industry so you get an idea of what will work well for you. Remember that there are always exceptions, and if you have any questions, feel free to email us at [email protected]!​

​Formal Business Portraits - Dark Gray or Dark Blue

Formal business portraits are traditional, dark backdrop shots (blue, gray, or black). Typically, people in the following fields will get a traditional business portrait:

• Consulting
• Finance
• Engineering
• Insurance
• Law

These professions are generally more formal than others, and therefore using a darker backdrop will bring across the formality expected in the industry. You'd normally want to wear a full suit and tie, but stay away from black jackets as they can sometimes look too dark against these dark backdrops. A dark gray or navy will work better. Remember that a nice smile can help relax the shot a bit so that it doesn't feel too formal or stiff.

Learn more about what to wear by clicking here.

​Relaxed Professional Headshots - Light Gray or Outdoor

Using an off-white or outdoor background for headshots leads to a more relaxed and approachable shot. Your expression of course 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. A lighter background or outdoor shot tends to help with this.

People in the following fields will benefit from these types of shots:
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• 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 how formally 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. We 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. Learn more about what to wear by clicking here.

No Background Business Portrait - White

We usually 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 easily be removed and digitally swapped with something else, 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 yourself 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:
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• 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.
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Stylized Portraits - indoor or outdoor

Stylized portraits are much more creative than standard headshots. 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 different 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.

See some creative portraits here.
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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. We 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 section above called "No Background Business Portraits" for more information on this.
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Graduation Pictures - Indoor or Outdoor

Depending on the formality of the graduation photo you want, we 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.​

​Did we answer your questions here?

If we didn't reference your category, try switching over to Acting Industry Backgrounds. If you still can't find what you're looking for, please email us at [email protected] and we'll be sure to get back to you quickly. Then we'll post the answer up here for everyone else.