How To Take The Perfect Pro Headshot

Having a professional headshot that you’re proud of is important. Like it or not, research suggests that your facial appearance – and how you present yourself – influences people’s first impressions of you. Here are five tips to taking a headshot that represents your best self.

1. Dress for the job you want.

Dressing up in a three-piece suit for a headshot isn’t necessary, but you should still be thoughtful about your wardrobe. “Consider the position you’re applying for and what a typical day on the job would be like,” suggests Tim Cannon, vice president of product management and marketing at HealthITJobs.com. “What would you wear to work? If you were going to a networking event, what are outfits you would definitely keep out of the lineup, and what are a few you would consider? Be sure your clothing choice is speaking of confidence and professionalism.” Get to your closet and pick an outfit that makes you feel like you run the world.

2. Pick a background that suits you.

You’ve heard that your résumé should look neat, succinct, and tidy. The same goes for your headshot. “Filling the background with too many distractions takes the employer’s eyes away from your face. Find an uncomplicated background that identifies with your personality and interests,” advises Josh Tolan, CEO of video interviewing company Spark Hire. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences finds that first impressions, such as trustworthiness, are perceived in faces. Keeping the focus on your face will help employers quickly be able to read your social traits. But you can still show your personality through the background of a photo – opting for a few trees or buildings in the background, for example, you can infuse a simple, yet colorful, and fun aspect to your headshot.

3. Consider a couple options.

“Keeping a couple headshots in your back pocket is a great way to switch up your profile every now and again. Having a slightly different smile, experimenting with different colored backgrounds, or finding a new angle with different lighting can catch the eyes of different employers,” says Cannon. Review your choices and opt to use whichever picture you think portrays the strong, confident, and talented individual you are. Also make sure your photos are wide enough to leave room for cropping. If the original photo cuts off toward the top of your chest, there is no room to crop out a square-shaped photo and you may end up losing an arm, or, even worse, part of your head.

4. Lose the selfie sticks.

No selfie sticks or Snapchat shots! You need to have your hands free and be able to focus on showing your features clearly. “Eyes can be one of the most expressive features on our face, so don’t hide them behind dark sunglasses,” offers Cannon. “Think about the first thing you do when being introduced in an interview. You shake hands and look the employer in the eye as you say hello. This works the same way for a headshot, except you don’t have the chance to stick around and chat.” Above all, give a smile that shows you’re kind and easy to work with.

5. Size it up.

Once you’ve got the best headshot, you also need the best resolution. “Sites do have different size preferences, but Twitter, Linkedin, and Gmail all use 400 x 400 pixels. If you’re unsure of how to achieve the correct image size, consult in a friend who has gone through the same process,” says Tolan.

A version of this piece is by Heather Huhman and originally appeared on Glassdoor.

Image by Yemi Adewumni