a Guide | How to Achieve the Perfect Headshot for Your Website
My Guide To Getting The Perfect Headshot
Your portrait is often the first visual introduction clients will have to you. It should feel personal, inviting, and reflective of your style—especially as a creative or photographer. Gone are the days of stiff, formal headshots with forced smiles. Today, it’s all about authenticity, connection, and creating a sense of calm and trust.
One of the most important aspects of capturing the perfect headshot is letting go of forced poses and expressions. Your headshot should feel like a genuine moment, as if the camera has simply caught you being yourself. There’s beauty in subtle emotion—a soft smile, a moment of reflection, or even a relaxed gaze. The goal is to create a sense of honesty. It is important that these photos capture more than just a face; that they offer a window into the soul, a quiet moment that invites viewers to connect with the person behind the lens. They’re not about perfect posing but rather capturing those in-between moments of stillness or contemplation that feel real.
Your headshot should echo the tone of your creative work. If your photography is rooted in earthy tones, calm light, and introspection, your headshot should follow suit. It’s important that your personal image feels cohesive with the work you produce. If your photography is soft, serene, and intimate—just like the images above—then your headshot should have that same softness and warmth.
Incorporating colours, settings, and lighting that align with your brand’s overall feel helps potential clients connect the dots between who you are and the work you create.
A headshot doesn’t have to be a tight crop of your face. Wider compositions that show you in your element, interacting with your environment, or even capturing a candid moment, can convey more about your personality and brand. As in the examples above, the images don’t focus solely on the subject’s face, but rather on the mood and story being told. These shots capture the calm, reflective energy of the moment, which speaks louder than any traditional, posed headshot ever could. By showing more of the space around you, the viewer gets a better sense of who you are and how you work.
Relatability is key. You want to use images that make potential clients feel connected to you. Incorporating lifestyle elements or natural, candid moments gives clients a glimpse of your day-to-day life, your creative process, or even the things that inspire you. These small, intimate details build trust. Instead of the typical headshot, these images offer a sense of who you are in real life—someone approachable, thoughtful, and in tune with their surroundings. Clients don’t just want to see a face, they want to feel like they know the person behind the lens.
In your headshot, lighting plays a huge role in setting the mood. The soft, diffused natural light in the images above creates a warm, inviting atmosphere that feels genuine and unpretentious. This is the kind of light that makes viewers lean in, rather than stand back. Avoid harsh studio lighting that can make things feel too clinical or detached. Your composition should also invite connection. Whether you’re looking off into the distance, gently smiling, or lost in thought, the framing should feel thoughtful and intentional. These subtle choices make your headshot more than just a profile photo—they make it a personal portrait.
While you don’t have to be the centre of attention in every image, letting your personality shine through is key. Whether it’s the way you hold your hands, a quiet moment of reflection, or a simple gesture, these little details say more than a formal pose ever could. Your personality isn’t about bold expressions but rather about those gentle moments that are true to who you are.
Incorporate elements that matter to you—whether that’s your workspace, your favourite book, or a quiet corner of your home—these are all parts of your story that clients will connect with.
The perfect headshot isn’t about putting on your best smile and posing stiffly for the camera. It’s about creating a personal, organic connection that reflects who you truly are. By embracing natural, quiet moments, using thoughtful lighting, and telling your story through your surroundings, your headshot can become a true reflection of your brand and your personality.
