Corporate headshots can be an enormous benefit to any professional. They can, as you might imagine, help you look your best, with fantastic lighting, great angles, and crisp, clear image quality—with just the perfect amount of depth of field.
With a great headshot, you make a stunning first impression on just about anyone you meet, be it colleagues, recruiters, employees, or people viewing your LinkedIn profile. They can also help to establish your personal brand, which is exceedingly important if you’re selling something, be it a course or consulting services.
Imagine how less likely it would be for a potential client or employee to give you the time of day if their first impression of you was an awkwardly angled selfie taken on your dated smartphone. That alone is one of the main reasons why having a high-quality headshot is so important.
A quality headshot will get you noticed and ensure you receive the right kind of attention, so let’s look at them in more detail.
What Are Corporate Headshots?
Simply put, corporate headshots are a type of portrait photography used to showcase you in all your glory, perfect for a headshot for LinkedIn, your company’s about page, or your own personal website. As the name implies, headshots are primarily photographs of your head plus the top part of your torso; however, depending on your profession, you might opt to include even more of your body.
After setting up a photo shoot, the photographer will work their magic to capture you in the best way possible—proving that anyone can be photogenic with the right person behind the lens. Then, after a short time spent editing and retouching the photos to enhance them even more, the photographer will provide you with 8×10 color print, as well as digital copies for use on the internet.
Traditionally, you hire a professional photographer, visit their studio, and have them do the brunt of the work. However, this strategy, though great, can be rather expensive, so it’s mostly reserved for those who can easily afford it. More recently, AI technology has been used to create lifelike headshots for a fraction of the cost. Both options have their pros and cons, and we’ll be taking a look at exactly what these are.
But first: what is it that makes a headshot corporate? What about these specific kinds of portraits project that level of professionalism?
What Are the Different Types of Corporate Headshots?
Over the years, headshots have evolved a lot, and in 2024, you can find most of them typically split into three distinct categories:
Traditional
When you think of “corporate headshots,” these types of images probably come to mind. The subject is facing the camera, with only the topmost part of the torso visible, and they are usually looking directly at the camera and smiling. These typically make the best kinds of corporate headshots and are the classic pose for a reason.
The 3/4 angle
This next pose is strikingly similar to the traditional headshot, only the subject is standing slightly to the side. They can either be looking directly at the camera, or gazing off in the direction they’re facing. This angle can add a bit of dynamism to the headshot and give it more depth and a look of confidence.
Candid
Next, we have the candid headshot. For the most part, they are similar enough to the previous two, however, in these headshots the goal is to make the photo as natural as possible, almost as though the subject had no idea that they were being photographed. These headshots are great to provide an air of genuineness to your photographs.
Environmental
Finally, we have the environmental headshot. In this one, the subject is in their element, with the photo taken in a setting or location that closely matches their profession, from a chef in a kitchen, a writer in a library, or a doctor in a clinic. It’s a great way to add personality to the headshot.
There’s no wrong answer with whatever type of headshot you choose to pursue. They are all valid options and will come down to purely personal preference. If you’re looking for the most professional corporate headshots possible, you’ll want to go with traditional, but the other three offer varying flavors of professionalism, depending on your taste.
Regardless of which you choose, if you’re planning to go the classic route, you’ll need to find a talented photographer who can fulfill your needs. So, let’s dive into that next.
Photo Shoots for a Corporate Headshot
Finding a Photographer
Before you can have your corporate headshots taken, you must find a worthy photographer. Most of the local photographers in your area will have their own websites, complete with portfolios showing off their work, as well as details about their experience, cost, and area of expertise.
Chances are, most talented photographers will have plenty of experience with all the different types of corporate headshots, from traditional to candid. That said, always double-check that anyone you’re considering is capable of taking the type of photos that you require. Don’t hesitate to contact the photographer if you have any questions or concerns; they’ll be able to help you come to a decision.
Be sure to also look into what they typically charge for their services, especially if budget is a concern for you. Professional headshots can cost anywhere between a few hundred dollars to well over a thousand. The investment might seem steep—because it is—but a high-quality headshot can pay its cost back and then some once it starts putting your face on the proverbial map, connecting you with employers, colleagues, and recruiters.
Fortunately, if you’re already a member of a large enough corporation, they might be willing to pay for you and your colleagues’ headshots, especially since the company can write it off as a marketing expense. That can certainly take the bite out of having to pay for your own corporate headshots.
Once you’ve picked your photographer, next comes booking an appointment and preparing for the big shoot.
Showing Up to Your Shoot
While your photographer will naturally take care of the brunt of the picture-taking efforts once you get there, there’s a little bit of prep work you need to do before you arrive at your shoot. First off, you’ll need some clothes, preferably an outfit or two. The more options you provide your photographer with, the better. They’ll be able to match you with your best outfit, in the best lighting, in the best pose.
In terms of the clothes themselves, don’t go for anything too flashy, unless it suits your profession, as these are corporate headshots. If you’re unsure, for a bit of inspiration consider what your colleagues are wearing both at work and in their own headshots. Or simply ask your photographer (or Google) as they will have plenty of recommendations for the types of outfits that work well for any given career.
In most cases, solid colors and nothing too bright will work best. Of course, if you are promoting your brand, and that has its own logos, then you could potentially wear an outfit that features that logo, but generally, you want to avoid these or patterns of any kind. The focus must be on you.
For hair, makeup, and jewelry, this is another area where simple is typically better, although this may vary depending on your career. In most circumstances, enhancing your natural looks will not only look great, but it’ll also look the most professional, so keep that in mind when preparing to have your photos taken. Naturally, a skilled photographer might be able to help with this as well.
What the Shoot Itself Is Like
While this naturally depends to a large extent on the photographer, you can expect your shoot to take anywhere between one to three hours. So, you won’t need to set an entire day side for your photoshoot—just an afternoon will do. Before you go, it’s also a great idea to have plenty of sleep the night before and to drink plenty of water; that way, you’ll look your most photogenic.
As your photographer would be a professional, the process itself should be painless. You’ll go to them (if you’re doing traditional or angled headshots), or they’ll come to you (for the candid and environmental ones). From there, they’ll be able to instruct you on what to do, where to stand, how to pose—the whole nine yards. But if all of the research you’ve done to get to this point has inspired you one way or another, don’t hesitate to tell them what you want and they’ll be happy to oblige.
It won’t take long, and the photographer will soon have shot more than enough photographs to ensure that at least a few of them come out great. However, the process isn’t quite done yet – but we’re getting close.
After the Shoot
Though any talented photographer will be able to work magic with just a few lights and their favorite lens, most of them will still take the raw photos and tweak and edit the best ones from the bunch, adjusting brightness, contrast, and various other settings until the photos truly pop. We could pen an entirely new article about editing corporate photographs, but since this phase will be out of your hands, we’ll leave it at that.
Once the headshots are finished, your photographer can send you files pretty quickly, and you can go straight to posting them to the site of your choosing. Most shoots will also come along with prints made of your headshots, so you have that to look forward to as well. Altogether, expect this post-shoot phase to last only a few days, depending on what the photographer’s workload is like.
When all’s said and done, you’ll have great corporate headshots for a wide range of uses.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do corporate headshots cost?
The cost of headshots depends a lot on the photographer you choose. The more experienced and talented they are, the more they will charge. Generally speaking, you can expect to pay around two hundred dollars, but up to as much as a thousand, if not more.
Soon, we’ll be touching on creating corporate headshots with AI, which provides a much more affordable alternative.
What makes a headshot professional?
Any photograph that includes your head and part of your torso can be considered a headshot, but to make those portraits suitable for a corporate setting requires a few additional considerations. Their intent is to market yourself—or your brand—so a professional suit or career-orientated clothing will work wonders.
What color is best to wear for corporate headshots?
While your clothing and thus your color can vary a lot depending on your profession, a good general rule of thumb is to wear solid colors. Unless your profession specifically calls for it, it’s best to avoid any clothing that has strong patterns.
Similarly, avoid doing anything too extravagant with your hair, jewelry, or makeup. Simple is best.
Should you smile in a headshot?
One of the biggest misconceptions with headshots is that if you look serious, people will take you more seriously. However, typically, this isn’t the case. By appearing friendly and approachable you’ll make a much better first impression. So yes, in most cases you will definitely want to smile in your headshot, but don’t feel forced to do it if you feel uncomfortable smiling.
But should you smile with your teeth? Ultimately, this will come down to how comfortable you feel about smiling. There’s nothing wrong with either a big smile that shows teeth or a smaller smile that doesn’t, and to be fair, some people smile better with their teeth—and some smile better without. Your photographer will help you come up with the best possible smile for your corporate headshots.
What is the best pose in a corporate headshot?
Truth be told, you can never go wrong with a traditional pose: facing the camera directly, smiling, with just the top of your torso visible. However, as we discussed previously in this guide, there’s a place for every pose, so don’t feel obligated to be traditional if you want to instead use the 3/4 angle pose or the candid pose.
Creating Corporate Headshots with AI
If this process of hiring a photographer and booking a shoot seems like too much effort—and too expensive at that—then it’s fortunate that AI can help close this gap.
Professional portraits will probably always be the best possible route, but AI can provide a vastly more accessible alternative to those who might not have the means to get professional headshots taken.
So, let’s explore AI and how it can be used to create these types of images a little more closely.
A simple Google search will reveal a number of great headshot generators, with a range of different uses, from ones for fun to plenty of professional options. Perhaps the best benefit of using one of these AI apps is that it’s significantly cheaper than a professional photoshoot, making high-quality corporate headshots far more accessible to a greater number of people.
Pros
- Easy: The majority of AI apps make the process quick and easy. Just upload your photos, wait for the AI to work its magic, and then receive a batch of headshots.
- Affordable: Compared to real photoshoots, AI generators are way more affordable. Many services offer basic packages for as little as $20, with more expensive ones adding more headshots in a variety of backgrounds, outfits, and poses.
- Almost as good as the real thing: If compared side-by-side, real photographs—especially those taken by a talented photographer—will almost always come out on top, but at a glance, AI-generated headshots are not far behind, and as the technology continues to grow, that gap will only close.
Cons
- Mistakes: As advanced as AI has become, it’s still prone to make mistakes. Out of any given batch of headshots, a portion of them will have obvious AI mistakes, which doesn’t do much good when trying to create the most professional corporate headshot possible.
- Privacy and security: While most AI apps ensure that your data and pictures are safe and secure, that’s not always the case. So, before you choose a service, double-check that your information will be treated correctly. In short, be sure to avoid any services that don’t pass the ‘sniff test’ and don’t seem reputable.
- Faces are difficult: For AI models to properly capture your likeness, they need to be trained on photos of you, and even then, results may vary. That’s why it’s so important to provide AI-image generators with as many varied photos of you as possible, from all sorts of different angles and positions—and be sure to avoid too many duplicates.
If you’re in need of a high-quality corporate headshot and can’t really afford to hire a professional photographer, or don’t have access to one, then generating a headshot with AI is a great alternative. Just make sure that you are choosing an established service that treats your private data with respect.
Create High-Quality Corporate Headshots with Portrait Pal
When it comes to leveraging the power of AI to create corporate headshots that would fit in nicely with your organization’s about page or LinkedIn, Portrait Pal should be your go to choice.
With just a few, varied photos—the more the better—Portrait Pal can create lifelike images in all the different headshot categories: traditional, 3/4 angle, candid, and environmental. So, no matter what kind of photos you need, Portrait Pal has you covered.
For a fast and effective way to generate realistic corporate headshots with just a few of your own selfies, look no further than Portrait Pal.