People assume that DIY headshots don’t work as the quality of the images might be inferior. Well, that was true in the past, but not anymore. Thanks to the evolving technological inventions, you can now take headshots from a smartphone and make a decent impression. Here are 7 tips to take professional-looking headshots with your phone.
1. Change the Settings
Before you
begin, you need to ensure that your phone is set to High Dynamic Range or HDR
to get better quality images. Sometimes, the setting is called Auto HDR, and
sometimes it’s known as Rich Tone. Also, use the portrait setting and ensure
that you avoid the zoom feature, as the latter can result in a lower resolution
photo.
2. Select the Right Setting and
Location
It is also
essential that you pick the right location and lighting. The background should
be simple. Ideal examples are solid-colored concrete walls or a clear blue sky.
You can also pick simple textures. The light should also be natural. If
possible, click it outdoors with the sun behind you. Here are some more tips.
3. Get the Pose Right
Pose like a
professional by standing straight and ensuring that your back and chin are
lifted towards the camera. Then you should turn your upper body slightly at a
diagonal while keeping the head turned toward the camera. You can keep the
hands down at your side or fold your arms across the chest. Your back should be
straight, while your shoulders should be relaxed.
4. Dress Smartly
Make sure
you wear a freshly cleaned suit (men), career suit, or dress (women). Don’t go
for bold colored patterns for blouses and shirts. Women should also avoid
chunky necklaces or big hoop earrings and avoid a little heavy makeup than
usual.
5. Don’t Rush It
Headshots
are probably one of the most dependable images you will have in your career.
So, you should not rush the process. Let the person who is taking the picture
take their time in setting up the space right. If you are doing it yourself,
take the time to click multiple pictures until you get everything right.
6. Shortlist
It is
essential that you take a couple of headshots for yourself. The next step is to
shortlist the ones you like best. We recommend that you pick only the three
best images and work with them. If you choose more than that, you might end up
getting confused and not making the right career choice.
7. Edit
Believe it
or not, editing plays a key role in making the headshot look professional. You
can use a good photo editing app. The key things you need to adjust are
exposure, highlights, white balance, contrast, shadows, filters, curves,
vignette, skin smoothing, clarity, and healing brush. Crop the images so that
you can use them on different online and offline platforms.
The best
headshots are in a vertical format, cropped close to ensure only the head and
shoulder are revealed. When planning to use headshots on social media, you
should crop the photo as a square. Here are some key tips to master social
media headshots.
Source:
https://www.kirbypartners.com/take-a-professional-headshot/