In a hyper-competitive world, your personal brand is your most valuable asset. Building your reputation today is like writing the book of your career, and your headshot is unquestionably the cover of it. Even though you might post all kinds of written content online, your new contacts will pay attention to your headshot first, and when it comes to first impressions, we judge other humans by their cover. Thus, by using an outstanding image of yourself, you are putting your professionalism on display, and most importantly, showing commitment to your success.

People develop an opinion almost instantly when they look at a headshot for the first time. In the article “How Many Seconds to a First Impression?” published by the Association for Psychological Science, Eric Wargo points out that our mind only needs a tenth of a second to make a judgment of an individual’s face. The experiments conducted by a group of Princeton psychologists analyzed the viewer’s immediate impressions on traits such as likeability, competence, or trustworthiness. They indicated that those assessments remained virtually the same, even with longer exposures.

At Godoy Shots Studios, we not only pay attention to all the visual elements of your headshot, but we are also passionate about your expression. Our mission is to help you to present your message with confidence and approachability. To reach that goal, we have created a specific method to direct your body language. Years of experience have prepared us to coach you on this process efficiently and smoothly. Are you ready?

Before we dive deep into the external elements, it’s is vital you prepare mentally. Unless you are a model, actor, or you are used to the spotlight, most people don’t feel comfortable in front of a camera. We’ve had countless clients who have shared their thoughts of preferring to go to the dentist rather than coming to a photography studio. The best recommendation to relax for your headshot is to have in mind this a private session where you will get many pictures taken with a range of body postures, angles, and expressions. You will also have the opportunity to live view all the photos and adjust hairstyles, makeup, or change clothing.

You must have a clear purpose for your headshot. If it is for your LinkedIn corporate profile, for example, you should be aware of your industry dress code and your company culture. A tech CEO’s profile photo usually has a more casual mood and clothing than an attorney’s headshot within an international firm, where most professionals have to appear conservative. Think of your viewer and the attitude you would have, for instance, on an investor meeting or a job interview.

Even though during the session, we are going to explore your better side, appropriate posture, and best expression, you must know your physical attributes and flaws. We all have some issues we would like to minimize or eliminate. It could be some skin problem or a crooked nose or smile, for example.

In principle, think about your audience and bring to the session what you would wear for that special occasion such as conferences, job interviews, networking events, dates, castings, etc.

Your professional headshot must be about your face, your expression, and your attitude. Your clothing should match the purpose of your headshot, but it should never be the focus of attention.

• Wear solid colors. Avoid noticeable prints, letters, and patterns. 

• Avoid reflective fabrics such as silk.

• Depending on your complexion, try to wear tones that make your skin and features stand out.

• Neutral tones are always safe. Blacks and grays look great every time. White can be tricky since it is a light bouncer, especially if double chin.

• The best colors to bring contrast against the skin are the blues, greens, and purples. Of course, it all depends on how dark or light they are. 

• Earth tones are right as long as it contrasts with your skin. 

• Avoid yellows and oranges. Usually, they make your skin more saturated.

• Reds also should be avoided if there some redness on your face.

• Sleeveless could be distracting, so be careful with it.

• Low necklines can make the illusion that you are not wearing anything under your jacket.

• If you have blue, green, or light brown eyes, it would be a good idea to match them with some of your tops. 

• Keep jewelry and accessories extremely simple.

• Wear two layers maximum. Usually, the underlayer should be lighter than the jacket.

• If your hat, cap, and glasses are part of your daily image and personal brand, by all means, wear them. If not, take the off for most of the shots. 

• Avoid hoods and scarfs, or any other distracting apparel that covers part of your neck and face. 

• The tops should be pressed and fit well.

• Keep your clothing far from your pets. The hair on clothing is not good.