Headshots | What’s In & What’s Out

Headshots have come a long way since the emergence of cell phones and digital photography. You can actually take a pretty decent headshot with a cheap DSLR or your cell phone, and if you watch a quick Youtube video before hand, it may even be hard to tell it was a DIY.

So how has that effected professional photographers and our headshot offereings? We’ve adapted. Enter, personal branding and headshots with personality. I’ve actually had a lot of requests from my corporate clients here in Chattanooga to deliver headshots that show the personality of the employees and the warm and welcoming feel of the company.

I’ve also noticed that with so many sectors gaining more of an online presence post pandemic, there has been an increased need for headshot a and branding photos. With the need to produce content online regularly, we’ve had to deliver more than one headshot that is used for the next 10 years. Professionals and companies need a variety of “headshots” that can be shared with articles and announcements and used as profile images across multiple platforms, some more professional than others. I believe all this contributes to the tolerance for more casual poses, wider frames and the use of action poses.

Headshots traditionally start at the breast line and reach up to the hairline or just above it. But that’s out. Now we are shooting all the way down to mid thigh and occasionally full length. Full laughs, looking off camera, and casual sweaters are all in now. Social media and other more professional platforms demand that the audience get to know the poster. It’s hard to do that with a 45 degree smiling head with shoulders.

So when you book your 2023 headshots, aim for a photographer that knows what is in. I always recommend a consultation to see what is a good fit and what the photographer things will relay your message visually.