Top 3 Tips to Taking Your Own Headshot | Williams Lake Photographer

I was having a conversation recently about headshots. A friend of mine was complaining that she had gained weight since having a child and now hated all of the selfies that she took for her business. This has happened to all of us at one point or another in our lives and most of us were not from the social media era during high-school (thank god for that). I quickly texted her some tips that might help her out and it got me thinking that all of my friends, fellow moms, clients & followers might benefit from these tips as well.

Let’s face it, it is best if you can hire a professional photographer to take your headshots but sometimes that is just not feasible. Sometimes we just need a quick shot to post on social media to promote your business, product, charity or just to share your awesomeness with your friends.

1. CHANGE YOUR MINDSET

This probably sounds a bit odd but hear me out. Most of us hate having our picture taken because we are not used to seeing ourselves in pictures. Once you get used to seeing yourself, you will be surprised at how much happier you become with your photos.

I gained about 100lbs over the last 15 years. I quit smoking (twice), had a couple of babies, became allergic to my own sweat, and became a late night snacker. Regardless, I absolutely hated seeing myself in photos. As a business owner (and a photographer none the less) I needed headshots for my social media and website. I could no longer get away with posting a picture of my logo, my kid or my dog. In order to connect with my potential clients, I needed for them to see me.

I reluctantly took a photo of myself and posted it. I hated it. It made me uncomfortable and fearful I was going to be judged. It has now been 3 years since I posted that first headshot. Since then I have taken more and more photos of myself. I would grab a selfie throughout the day to bug my kids, or send to the husband. Over time, I got used to seeing myself and now I don’t mind having my picture taken at all. And that is even after my getting my COVID 20 (as in 20lbs, lol).

Many of us did not grow up in the social media era. When I was a teenager, if you wanted pictures of you with your buddies, you had bring an actual camera with you, then you had to drop off the film and wait two weeks to get it back. You were lucky if any of the photos were actually any good.

Today’s generation takes about 25 selfies a day and shares them with the world. They are used to seeing themselves in pictures and online. As a result, having their picture taken is second nature.

So give it a try, take a photo a day. You don’t need to share it with anyone but yourself. Just get used to seeing your face. Eventually, you will see yourself the way the rest of us see you – beautiful!

And before you even dare say, yes, but these are all nice photos of you…..

My point to all this, is – the more photos you take, the more used you will be to seeing yourself and you will in turn begin to appreciate your photos.

2. POSING

If anyone has been photographed by me, you will have heard me say “Push your chin forward and down”. This is the best way to avoid the dreaded double chin. It will feel really awkward, but it works. If you do this and have your camera slightly above eye level, you can easily drop 10 pounds in your headshot. Practice this is in the mirror.

If you are a curvy girl, like myself, tip the bottom of your phone away from your body. This can take an additional 5 pounds off.

These photos were taken minutes apart. The first photo is how most of us take selfies. The camera is slightly below eye level and we just hit the “photo” button. It’s ok but not the most flattering.

The second photo, I have pushed my chin forward and down. It is better if you have a child, partner or best friend that can take the photo for you (then you will avoid the selfie arms). As you can see, this has reduced my double chin (ignore the intense focus and selfie arms).

Finally, if you move your phone just slightly above your eye line and angle the bottom of your phone, away from your body, you will slim down your “shot” even more. Most cameras on mobile devices are slightly wide angle. When you are using a wide angle lens, whatever is closest to the lens will be larger. That is why angling the bottom of your camera away from your body will make your body appear smaller. This is most flattering image out of the three.

One of the other posing tips that is easy, is to avoid being photographed square to the camera. It can feel a little firing squad. Also, when you are standing square to the camera with your arms at your sides, your arms will add bulk to the width of your body, essentially making you look wider than you are. And no one ever wants that.

Always angle your body to the camera and shift your weight onto your back leg.

Lastly, always try and create angles or diamonds within your body. Crossed arms, one leg in front of the other or hands on hips. All of these will create flattering shapes within your body.

3. GOOD LIGHT

Good light is key to a great headshot. My suggestion is to use window light. Soft light is the most flattering light. It is light that is not overly bright and is diffused. Light shining through windows that have sheers on them would be considered soft light. The sun as it is going down at the end of the day is considered soft light. You will know you have this light when you look down at your hand, and the shadows are soft or “fuzzy” looking. Harsh light will create a hard edge in your shadows.

If you wanting a great photo outside, find some open shade. This is shade that is not contained by anything. Think of the shade that is cast by a building. There is nothing above the shade but open sky. This is perfect for headshots. Just do not shoot into the bright background, you want the entire headshot to have the same light. Our eye is naturally drawn to the brightest thing in the photograph and that bright thing should be YOU.

BONUS TIP – PRACTICE!

So next time you are in a crunch and need some content for your business or just a nice headshot for your website, but don’t have the time to book a professional shoot, pull up these tips and see what you can come up with. Practice your posing in the mirror, get your kid to take the photo, find a nice clutter free area next to a window. Keep it simple. You got this!

Corrie Lindroos Photography
Williams Lake Photographer