Tips for Taking Great Professional Business Portraits and Headshots
First of all, let’s talk about professional business portraits and headshots. What is the main difference between a business portrait and a headshot?
A portrait is an image of person’s face and body. The portraits intend to capture a sense of person’s character, mood, or personality. Portraits can be taken in different poses and settings, and can include multiple subjects.
A headshot, on the other hand, is a type of portrait that focuses primarily on the subject’s face, head, and shoulders. Headshots are typically used in professional contexts. Usually the headshot are captured for business cards, resumes, and actor or model portfolios. They are often taken in a studio or against a neutral background, with minimal distractions or props, in order to showcase the subject’s features and expression clearly.
Overall, the main difference between a portrait and a headshot is that a portrait can be more valuable. The reason is, it captures a subject’s entire body and surroundings, while a headshot is more focused on the subject’s face and upper body. usually it is done in a professional or business setting.
Now, after you know what type of photo session you need, you might want to ask more general questions about photo shoot. As business headshots and portraits are all about making a good first impression, you’ll want to look your best. In that case we would like to share few tips for how to prepare yourself for taking a great business portrait and headshots.
7 Tips for Taking Great Professional Business Portraits and Headshots
- Schedule a pre-photo session consultation in person or online. Meeting with our photographer before a photo shoot is important for building a relationship and addressing concerns. Also, discussing your vision and budget, and planning the logistics of the shoot are the essensials of successful photoshoot. By doing so, you can help ensure that the final photographs meet your expectations and capture your unique personality and style.
- Choose the right outfit. Select clothing that is professional, fits well, and complements your skin tone. Avoid patterns, busy prints, and anything too flashy or trendy. Solid colors work best. Bring several different outfit options to the shoot, so you have some variety to choose from.
- Choose the right settings. The background can be anything from a plain solid color to a textured or patterned backdrop. It could be an outdoor shoot against natural backgrounds like trees or brick walls or our Miami studio setting with a seamless paper backdrop. The lighting can be natural or artificial, depending on the client choice. Our studio lighting will create a more polished look, while natural lighting can give a more organic feel.
- Practice your posing. Even though, the portrait photographer will provide posing guidance during a photo shoot. Yet it will be great if you experiment with different poses and expressions to find the one that looks best. Relax your shoulders and keep your chin slightly down to avoid double chins.
Tip # 5 to have a successful business portrait or headshot
- Get a trim. Getting a trim or a haircut before your portrait can help you look and feel your best. Good haircut and trim could project a positive and confident image, and convey a sense of professionalism and attention to detail.
- Consider hair and makeup. Depending on the industry you work in, you may want to consider professional hair and makeup. It helps to ensure you look your best in your headshot. Keep your makeup natural and avoid anything too bold or distracting.
- Get a good night’s sleep. Make sure you are well-rested and hydrated before your photo shoot to avoid looking tired in your headshot.
Schedule a pre-photo session consultation or book a photo session in our photo studio in Sunny Isles Beach



