How to take a professional headshot

People say that a picture is worth a thousand words, but a headshot with a significant other, friend, family member, pony, or adult beverage cropped out isn’t that valuable. You don’t need a full photoshoot to take professional headshots that you can use on social media, your profile at work, or anything else you need. Grab a friend and use these five easy tips to take a great looking headshot. (Lights, camera, action!) Use portrait mode You don’t have a camera? No problem. You can use a smartphone to get some great headshots. Some phones have portrait mode, or something similar, so you can get the depth-of-field effect in which the subject (you!) is sharp but there is a blurred background. It’s just like the image you’d get if you adjusted the aperture on a professional camera. Take advantage of natural light The best thing you can do to get professional headshots is to have the photoshoot during the day. Natural light is the light that comes from sunlight, not a lightbulb, and is diffused and gentler on your skin. Borrow a tip from pro photographers and take headshots during golden hour — an hour after sunrise and an hour before sunset — because the light is warm and flattering on your face. If you take photos midday on a sunny day, the direct sun can be too bright and create harsh shadows. Getting up at sunrise a bit too early for you? You can also make the most of natural light indoors when the light streams in through the windows. Simplify your background You don’t necessarily have to take your headshots in front of a blank wall: Get creative. Go outside and stand in front of a cluster of trees or use your street as the background. Remember, if you use portrait mode you can blur the background to keep the focus on your face. You can shoot inside and take your headshots at a library, at your desk, or somewhere in your office. The key is that the background shouldn’t be distracting — you should be the focus. It helps to have a friend take some photos that are framed from the waist up and some that are more zoomed in. Dress the part Remember that this is a professional headshot, so you want to look your best. Wear professional clothes that you would wear to work. (If your office-vibe is more Silicon Valley than Suits, wear what you’d wear to a job interview, on your first day, or to something that is more business professional than business casual.) Take a cue from newscasters and avoid bright colors, lots of texture, or patterns because they can be distracting. It’s best to wear solid colors for a headshot. Avoid wrinkles by

steaming or ironing your outfit before the photoshoot.

Do a little editing

Download photo editing apps or find a tool online to adjust the lighting, saturation, or colors. You could also try sharpening yourself and adding blur to the background. Some photo editing apps will let you remove spots, blemishes, or unwanted objects. (Like if you got the perfect shot...but a pigeon was flying overhead.) Play around with different ways of cropping the photo and save them as different versions so you have more options. If you’re using your brand-new professional headshots for social media, check the recommended specs for each platform.

Picture your new job

Building your online profile is a great first step in getting your job search started. You’ll need to get your resume in top form too. Need help with that? Get a free resume evaluation today from the experts at Monster’s Resume Writing Service. You’ll get detailed feedback in two business days, including a review of your resume’s appearance and content, and a prediction of a recruiter’s first impression. Picture the responses you’ll get when you submit a professional resume the next time you apply for a job.