How to Take Headshots with Your iPhone (and no other equipment)

By the end of this article, you'll know how to take a professional headshot for LinkedIn with your smartphone.


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Don't want to be bothered with lighting and other details? We offer "Virtual Headshot" packages, where we take your photo over the internet and professionally retouch it to make the background and lighting professional. Scroll to the bottom to learn more.

With the Coronavirus, life as we know it has changed.

Everything is moving online, and the need for digital headshots has never been greater.

And you're wondering how to take a great iPhone XR headshot of yourself or a friend.
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There are three main things to keep track of when taking your own photo, and they are as follows:

• Lighting
• Expression
• Background

We'll discuss each of these, and at the end of the article you can learn more about our "Virtual Headshot" packages.

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​Part 1 - Good Lighting:

The most important part of good lighting is directionality, or where the light is coming from.

Is it coming from overhead? Below? Or in front or behind?

We recommend that the light come from in front and slightly above, and that it comes from a large source so it's very soft and doesn't create harsh shadows on your face.

The best way to get lighting like that without any professional equipment is by standing in front of a window in your house, about 4 feet away.

Make sure you're facing towards the window so that the light fills in your face (and be sure the sun isn't shining directly on you).

The lighting is very flat and even.

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Part 2 - Good Expression:

A genuine expression is extremely important because that's what determines how people perceive you.

If your smile is fake, you won't connect with the viewer and the shot won't be memorable. It could feel forced and even create distrust in the viewer!

So how do you get a real smile in your shot? Well, just look at the camera and start laughing!

Try to make sure your chin doesn't tilt up to high, and if you don't like your angle, try a few different ones.

A related article I wrote that you might find helpful is called How to Find Your Best Side.

Laughing is key to a good smile!

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Part 3 - ​Professional Headshot Background

The background of your headshot must also look professional.

Unless you're shooting in Portrait Mode, iPhone photo backgrounds will be completely in focus, meaning the image will not look very professional.

Because of this, it's usually best to take your own headshot against a wall with no distracting texture or pattern.

But of course it can be hard to do this and also get the lighting right! Most people don't have flat walls right in front of big windows.

One trick around this is to buy a big white (or any color) poster board and position that behind you.

But if you don't want to do that, you can just have us shoot your photo via video chat and then add a digital, professional backdrop behind you.

This is called The Virtual Headshot.
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The Virtual Headshot
(see pricing on packages page)​

​Wherever you are in the world, you can now get a highly professional headshot with a great backdrop.

All you need is yourself and a window!

This is the original photo.

Digitally edited for a professional, flat backdrop.

Digitally edited for a professional, blurred backdrop.

​We'll guide you through the process via video chat, directing you to find your best angles, expressions, and positions.

By the end of the 20-minute shoot, you'll have a few shots to choose from and you can email us your favorite to be retouched.

We'll digitally change the background to match your preference (or industry trends) and adjust lighting, fix blemishes, whiten teeth and more, so your final image looks highly polished and ready for LinkedIn.

Have questions? Email me at martin@cityheadshots.com and I'll get back to you within a few hours.

Want to book a "Virtual Headshot" shoot? Click the button below.

Book "The Virtual Headshot"

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​Further Reading:

If you enjoyed this article, here are three others I think you'll find helpful:

• ​What Colors Should I Wear for My Headshot?
• How to Create a Great LinkedIn Profile in One Hour
• Do Professional Headshots Really Make a Difference?