Whether speaking at a conference or being profiled on your university website, your headshot is often your first impression. Holly Wood-Blake offers advice about how to take a clear, professional headshot that can help audiences put a face to your name and connect with your work.
Headshots are used across websites, social media, newsletters, speaker graphics, and event programmes to help tell the story behind the research. Posts featuring people often attract more attention than text alone, and a recognisable image can help colleagues identify you at conferences and networking events. These are just some of the reasons why every communications officer will tell you never to underestimate the importance of a good headshot!
The good news is that you don’t need to book an expensive photoshoot. A modern smartphone is more than capable of producing a professional headshot. However, it’s best to avoid taking a selfie. Instead, use your phone’s timer or ask someone else to take the photo, as this usually produces the best results.
Five ways to improve your headshot
1. Image quality: Gone are the days of a tiny picture on a university website. All website and social media content needs to be mobile phone friendly, and the image could take up the full screen on a phone. If an image is pixelated, an organisation’s comms team probably wouldn’t be able to use it. Photos should ideally be 1084 × 1084 pixels or larger. You can usually check this by opening the image details/properties on your phone or computer. Avoid screenshots, heavily filtered images, blurry photos, or group photos cropped down to one person.
Cropped too small
2. Composition: Include your head and shoulders in the frame, with a little space above your head. This means the image can be cropped or cutout without looking strange. If an organisation’s policy is to use cutout headshots on their social media, and you send something without shoulders, you’ll look like a floating head.
Head and shoulders cut off
3. Background and clothing: The focus of the image should be your face, rather than something in the background or an ornate pattern on your shirt. Sticking to block colours and simple patterns in front of a plain background works best and means your photo will work in different formats and sizes.
Crowded background
4. Lighting: The right lighting offers a flattering and accurate representation. Natural light is ideal. If possible, face towards a window or light source rather than having light behind you.
Poor lighting
5. Authenticity: Your headshot doesn’t need to look overly formal or corporate. The aim is simply to provide an authentic – and relatively current – representation of yourself. It’s not a passport photo, so feel free to smile (and you can keep your glasses on).
Just right!
Take five minutes today to check whether your current headshot is high resolution, up to date, and easy to find. Your future self – and every comms team you work with – will thank you.
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