It’s the third most common question asked by people who are preparing to have a professional headshot taken (after “What should I wear?” and “How should I do my hair and makeup?”).
And honestly, it’s where a lot of people go wrong when they are trying to DIY their headshot, whether by taking a selfie or handing their phone off to a friend to snap a quick pic.
Why? A few reasons:
Many people have a preferred “side” but don’t always know the most flattering angle of the face to highlight some features and downplay others.
People often try to camouflage a double chin or thickness around the jowls by holding the phone high above eye level, giving a distorted perspective that may (somewhat) achieve the desired result, but also makes them look like a bobble head.
The things I will have you do to define your jawline and slim your body will not feel normal or natural. In fact, you might think I’m crazy! Thus, most people won’t do the small moves to the body that make for a great shot.
What to do?
Well, hire a professional (that’s me), of course! :)
But I’m also happy to share my top poses for headshot and personal branding photos that make the most of your body shape and focus on expression.
a word about body language
Body language communicates a lot about your capability, likeability, and confidence. A seasoned professional headshot photographer will make sure that your posture, body angle, hand position, and facial expression are all working together to communicate the message YOU want to portray with your images. Your headshot and personal branding poses should also reflect your personality, so if you never cross your arms, that shouldn’t be one of your poses!
Even though it may not feel like it, intentionally guided posing can make you look less awkward and more natural, so you can show up as your best, most confident self in your photos.
Let’s get on with it, shall we?
9 Winning Poses for Headshots and Personal Branding Photos
Pose #1: The Head-and-Shoulders
The most classic of all headshot poses, I always recommend that my clients take one of these shots. It has so many use cases, and works perfectly on platforms when your profile appears tiny when scrolling (hello, LinkedIn). We’ll photograph both sides of your face as well as straight on.
Pose #2: Leaning On a Wall
Leaning gives your images an approachable, friendly feel while still projecting confidence and capability. (If you’re DIY-ing, make sure that the wall you’re leaning against is clean and brightly lit.)
Pose #3: Leaning In
Leaning toward the camera signals approachability, friendliness, and trust. It gives the viewer a sense that you are “with” them - always a great thing in business! It’s a bit more casual, so this is a great option for entrepreneurs, creatives, or other industries with a more relaxed vibe.
Pose #4: Sitting and leaning in
Similar to #3, leaning while sitting gives us more options to show more or less of the body. It also gives us an opportunity to experiment with body angles; an asymmetrical tilt of the shoulders communicates approachability and friendliness, while a straight-on, level-shoulders angle projects confidence and capability.
Pose #5: Use a Prop
Laptops, books, art tools, glasses, your planner and favorite pen…anything that you use in your day-to-day work can make a great prop for your photos. Bring them along!
Pose #6: Hands on Hips (Women)
This pose can read powerful, playful, confident, or flirty, depending on the body position and facial expression. (We stay away from “flirty” for professional images.) Variations in crops and one hand on the hip vs. both hands give us a lot of flexibility with this one.
Pose #7: Hands in Pockets (Men)
Pose #8: Arms Crossed
This pose can read differently based on the body position and facial expression (especially the eyes and mouth), so make sure you’re not communicating dominance and aggression if you mean to communicate confidence and reliability.
Pose #9: Rock That Candid
Candids (eyes somewhere other than directly in the lens) are great options for lending personality to social media posts, email newsletters, and website pages. Everyone should have a few great candids in their image library!
There you have it - 9 poses that will help you make your first “introduction” a great one. With these posing tips and a little guidance, you’ll feel relaxed and confident in front of the camera. My goal is always to capture the real you in a way that feels genuine and true to your brand. If you’re in the greater Houston area (or beyond) and ready to update your professional image, I’d love to work together and create a headshot you’re truly proud of. Reach out anytime or book your shoot now—I’m here to help you shine!