If you want to showcase your personality and stand out from the crowd, try a creative headshot. Creative headshots celebrate what makes you unique and make a nice change from ordinary headshots, which can be overly formal.
Typically favored by artists, designers, and other professionals in creative industries, creative headshots have recently risen in popularity. Nowadays, they are common among individuals looking to craft their personal brand, and you can also apply the creative elements of these headshots to corporate or business headshots.
What Are Creative Headshots?
A headshot is a portrait photograph focusing on someone’s face. In a typical headshot, the subject’s shoulders, neck, and upper chest can also be captured. It’s rare to find a typical headshot (especially a corporate or business headshot) that includes the entire torso or the hands. This is because traditional headshots are meant to keep the focus on the face, and additional elements can distract from this.
Creative headshots go beyond a traditional headshot. Creative elements are incorporated to add visual impact and showcase the subject in a unique light. These elements include artistic lighting, props, colored or patterned backgrounds, and poses that break away from the status quo.
In creative headshots, the subject’s face is still the main focus. However, since there is also an emphasis on artistic expression, poses can be more extravagant, the subject doesn’t have to look overly serious or professional, and, with the help of post-image editing, additional colors and lighting can take a creative headshot from drab to fun.
These headshots can embody your distinct style and personality while helping you differentiate yourself in a crowded market, establish your personal brand, and make the optimal first impression.
Creative Headshots vs. Traditional Headshots
While there’s no distinct rule about what type of headshot you should use for different platforms and purposes, creative headshots aren’t necessarily as versatile as traditional headshots. For example, if you work in a formal industry like finance or law, where first impressions from clients and employers are crucial, having an overly casual, artistic, or avant-garde creative headshot may signal that you’re not quite the right fit for that industry.
On the other hand, more industries are welcoming unique personalities and the ability to express yourself more freely. It’s not uncommon to see creative headshots on the LinkedIn profiles of employees in the tech or start-up field, freelancers, or even LinkedIn’s “top voices.” With traditional headshots becoming the norm, many are looking to stand out from the rest. And the easiest way to do that is with a creative headshot.
Both creative headshots and traditional headshots come with pros and cons. Choosing whether a creative headshot is right for you will depend on many factors, including the industry you work in and whether artistic expression is important to you. If you can’t decide between the two, the option to get both is always great. This way, you can use your creative headshot on more casual platforms, like social media or your email signature, and your traditional headshot on more formal platforms, like your CV, portfolio, or company directory.
Creative Headshots
Advantages
- Conveys authenticity
- Gives clients, employers, and other people a glimpse into your personality
- Modern aesthetic, adds some visual interest, and sets you apart from the rest
- Allows for creative expression, which suits various artistic or creative industries
- Visually striking and eye-catching
Disadvantages
- Not appropriate in certain corporate or business settings
- Provides a distinctive first impression that can be hard to deviate from
- May require extensive planning and post-image editing
- Unconventional appearance may be a risk of being unprofessional
Traditional Headshots
Advantages
- Focuses on a timeless and polished appearance
- Conveys a high level of professionalism
- Usually taken in a photography studio, allowing for consistent results
- Reinforces credibility and expertise, especially in more formal industries
- Versatile and can be used across many different platforms.
Disadvantages
- Can appear overly stiff, staged, and formal
- Limited creativity options for staging and props
- Blends in with other types of traditional headshots
- Headshots taken in the studio can require extensive coordination and setup.
How To Get a Great Creative Headshot: 5 Top Tips
1. Choose Your Look
Wondering what to wear for your headshot? While traditional headshots are usually all about keeping the hair, clothes, and makeup as simple as possible, with creative headshots, you can experiment more with colors and textures. If you have a signature look, like a favorite headband, wide-rimmed glasses, or red lipstick, now is the chance to wear them in your photo shoot. After all, it should represent who you really are, without the need to be overly formal.
Creative headshots, like all types of headshots, keep the focus on your face, hair, neck, and upper torso. If you’re incorporating your hands, consider getting a manicure or wearing rings. Otherwise, you only need to be concerned with your top, accessories, hair, and makeup (if applicable).
Pick out your outfit and other elements of your look well before the headshot photo shoot day to avoid a last-minute scramble or dilemma about what to wear on the day. You can still look smart and put together with a blazer jacket, dress, or button-up; just don’t be afraid to mix and match patterns or add statement accessories. Generally, it’s advised to avoid skin-care treatments too close to the day of the photo shoot in case of skin irritation or allergies, and ensure you shave, trim facial hair, or get your hair cut so you look as fresh and put-together as possible.
2. Get Inspired
As with any creative endeavor, getting inspired should be the first step. Whether you have lots of potential ideas to bring to the table or are going into the photo shoot with a clean slate, researching creative headshot ideas online is always recommended. Perhaps you were intrigued by someone else’s headshot on their website, or you want to incorporate some props that represent your true essence. Whatever you’ve got, you can add to it by looking up inspiration online.
Simply typing “creative headshots” into a search engine will give you a range of ideas and examples that could pair well with what you’re looking for. Additionally, Pinterest or LinkedIn are worth perusing, especially for background options or simply to see what others in your industry are doing with their headshots.
If you’re stuck for inspiration, get clear on what mood you’re trying to convey or the type of personality you want to show in your final creative headshot. For example, strategically placed black-and-white lighting can add a film noir aesthetic, while modern graphic backgrounds can convey optimism and approachability. This is also a great time to look at different props and poses you can include based on what you like and what suits your industry.
3. Adjust the Lighting and Background
The lighting and background are two elements that separate creative headshots from traditional headshots. Traditional studio photography usually uses reflectors, softboxes, or speedlights to get that signature clean and polished look. For creative headshots, strobes or spotlights can highlight specific areas of the face or create a specific mood.
There’s no need for the cookie-cutter black, white, or gray background seen so often in studio photography. Instead, colors in every shade of the rainbow can be used to highlight your personal brand or make your complexion pop. If you want to be more adventurous, patterns or graphic backgrounds are a popular choice.
The lighting and background can be tweaked and enhanced during the editing stage. The photographer may choose to add extra filters or change the saturation. They may also add extra graphics to the background or adjust the angles. This is also a great time for you to share your input with them, especially if you want creative control on how the final headshot will look.
4. Play Around With Different Props and Poses
If the idea of stale and overused props and boring poses isn’t what you’re looking for, creative headshots are the right option. Here, you can truly let your personality shine and curate the perfect headshot based on how you would like to express yourself to the camera.
In a typical business headshot, props are kept to a minimum, or even eliminated. A chair or stool is occasionally used. In a creative headshot, your imagination is the limit. Anything can be a prop depending on the type of mood or vibe you want to convey. For example, if you’re an artist, holding some paintbrushes or a palette illustrates that you’re in the art industry. Chairs or tables can be used in unconventional ways, like sitting astride a chair backward or placing an elbow on the edge of the table.
In a typical headshot, poses are kept simple. Generally, it’s either face-on toward the camera, slightly tilted, or hands on hips. In a creative headshot, your hands and arms can be another instrument of creativity. Let them frame your face, cup your hair, or move in the air. Just ensure they’re not covering any facial features unless it’s used for artistic impact, as the main focus should still be your face.
5. Utilize AI Tools
While professional headshot photographers are often experts in their field and come with many benefits, it can be time-consuming and expensive to get your creative headshot taken by a professional photographer or in a photography studio. If the idea of getting dressed up, making your way to the studio, and posing for hours seems daunting or unpleasant, AI tools can provide you with creative headshots without hassle.
AI headshot generators have risen in popularity due to their ability to generate realistic and high-quality professional headshots in an hour or two. No need to wait weeks for post-image editing: AI headshot generators deliver completed headshots to your email in no time. AI headshot generators are typically used by working professionals and students to get polished headshots for business or networking purposes. The demand for AI headshot generators has increased rapidly among the general population.
However, not all AI headshot generators are made equal. Only high-quality options like Portrait Pal guarantee high realism to avoid that dreaded “uncanny valley” look. Data privacy should be a priority, due to the processing of sensitive information.
Portrait Pal currently offers several pricing plans, ranging from $35 to $75, depending on how many headshots you want and the total processing time. Getting that perfect final headshot is as simple as choosing your plan, uploading several existing photos of yourself, adding some extra details to get the best results, and waiting for your finished headshots.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do creative headshots cost?
Typically, headshots taken by a professional photographer or photography studio can range from $50 for a single look to $1500 as part of a headshot package. Headshot packages include an initial consultation, the duration of the photo shoot, and post-image editing. For creative headshots, the cost can be slightly higher depending on the props, backgrounds, lighting equipment, studio location, and whether the photographer specializes in creative headshots.
Headshot photography can be expensive because you’re paying for the photographer’s time and expertise and the cost of the photography equipment. A popular and more cost-effective alternative to traditional photography studios is AI headshot generators like Portrait Pal. Depending on the package you choose, costs range from $35 to $75 for a selection of high-quality creative headshots.
How do you prepare before taking a creative headshot?
To get the best results from your final creative headshot, prepare your outfit, makeup, and poses beforehand. Unlike typical corporate or business headshots, you can afford to go more avant-garde with your clothing choices. Think bright colors, fun patterns, bold jewelry, and other accessories that highlight your personality.
If you’ve never had your headshot taken, or you feel nervous in front of a camera, practice makes perfect. Get a close family member or friend to carry out a practice photo shoot to try out different poses, angles, and expressions. If you find some that look great, try to mimic them on the day of the photo shoot.
Other easy ways to prepare for a creative headshot photo shoot are by sleeping well, eating healthy, and staying hydrated during the days before the photography session so you feel and look your best.
How do you pose for creative headshots?
When it comes to posing for creative headshots, there’s no right or wrong answer. Ultimately, it will depend on how creative you want it to be. Some people like to play around with their hands—placing them in the air or under their chin, cupping their cheeks, or even playing with their hair. Others like to use props like their phone, a flower, or a chair to add visual interest.
How you pose will also depend on the type of industry you’re in. For example, if you’re in the tech or software field, incorporating props like a laptop or desk are common. If you’re a 3D artist or a graphic designer, playing around with filters, lighting effects, or other types of graphics might align with who you are as a person.
How do you choose the right background for creative headshots?
The background is one of the easiest ways to make a headshot more creative, as it can impact the overall mood, your complexion, and even your outfit. With so many colors and patterns available for you to utilize as a background, it can be tricky to choose one.
Usually, it depends on the type of creative headshot you’re looking for. For example, dark and moody backgrounds help to create intrigue and can make you look powerful. Bright or pastel backgrounds bring an overall happy vibe and can make you look more approachable. Otherwise, choose your favorite color, the color of your personal brand or website, or a pattern that suits your personality. You can also always ask your photographer for their opinion. The photography studio may already have several abstract or creative backgrounds for you to choose from, and they can advise you on what backgrounds suit the type of headshot and overall creative style you want.