Your profile picture is a lot more than just a picture. Your profile picture can speak volumes about you, which makes it extremely important that you use the right pictures for people to see, especially if it’s meant for a professional platform like LinkedIn.
If you take a headshot right, you can get noticed more. Anyone who visits your profile or goes through your resume will see your picture first before meeting you, and your picture will influence their first impression of you.
Having said all that, you’ve got to ensure that you’re posing right for your headshot. By posing, we mean getting your expression, posture, background, and everything that one can see in the picture right!
Here are 5 mistakes that people often make when posing for headshots that you should avoid at all costs:
Wearing Bright and Patterned Clothes
When taking a headshot, avoid wearing brightly colored or patterned clothes. The focus of the picture should be you and nothing else. When someone views your picture, their eyes shouldn’t go anywhere but your face, which isn’t the case if you’re wearing bright clothes. Bright colors and large patterns tend to attract the eye, which is exactly why such clothes are a no-go when taking headshots.
Wearing too Many Accessories
Getting a headshot can be stressful and overwhelming. You may try too hard to look your best. This is where a lot of people go wrong. Wearing too many accessories is another common mistake that you should avoid. If you wear too many accessories like big dangling earrings or necklaces, it’ll do pretty much the same as brightly colored outfits, shifting the viewer’s focus from you. When getting a headshot taken, wear studs. Avoid dangling earrings or necklaces. Keep your look simple and classy!
Not Planning Beforehand
Many people don’t take headshots very seriously. They just get a picture for the sake of it. You should avoid this mistake if you want to grab the right attention. Plan ahead of your headshot session. It would be best if you had everything sorted, from what you wear to what expressions you keep. Having a friend or someone from your family take practice shots will also help you decide which pose and expression looks the best.
Not Choosing Your Best Side
Did you know that human faces aren’t perfectly symmetrical? Your pictures may turn out better from one side than the other, and that’s a fact! When taking a headshot, make sure that you’re choosing your best and most photogenic side. You’re highly mistaken if you think the pictures will come out the same regardless of which side you take them from. If you aren’t sure about your best side, ask the photographer to take multiple pictures from different angles, decide which side produces better pictures, and then go with that one!
Not Being Yourself
As we said earlier, headshot photoshoots can be very stressful, and you may overdo things when they aren’t really needed. You may dress up in clothes that aren’t your thing to look professional and presentable. This is where you’re making a mistake. You should try to be yourself. Wear what you’re most comfortable with (except your PJs, of course!). Your discomfort and awkwardness will show in pictures which is definitely not what you would want.
The secret to great headshots is staying relaxed and taking it easy. The right professionals, like the ones at Doug Burke Photography will make you feel at ease so that your headshots come out great!
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