Trust is the cornerstone of a successful doctor–patient relationship. Your ability to establish trust with your patients depends on your competency as a medical professional and your bedside manner. Patients need to feel comfortable talking to you about their symptoms and concerns, and they need to have faith in your ability to prescribe the right course of treatment.
So, what does this have to do with your professional headshot?
First impressions count and, more often than not, your doctor headshot will be the first impression potential patients encounter. We all make judgments—albeit subconsciously—about people based on their physical appearance. We instantly decide whether someone looks intelligent, approachable, or trustworthy simply by looking at a photo.
When searching for a specialist online or making a doctor’s appointment, we invariably check the photo and decide whether the person in the photo is someone we’d feel comfortable talking to. We decide, in an instant, whether we’d be willing to put our health in their hands.
Think of your headshot as a visual representation of your bedside manner. It needs to convey that you’re competent and confident in your abilities and that you’re compassionate, empathetic, and approachable.
That may sound like a tall order. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. This guide will tell you everything you need to know about getting the perfect headshot as a medical professional.
Why do doctors need headshots?
Surely credentials are more important than a good photo? Yes, of course they are. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t invest in high-quality professional photos. We live in a world where your online presence is almost as important as your physical presence, and an online presence is incomplete without photos.
Most private practices and hospitals have websites, and these websites are more user-friendly if they include images of the practicing physicians. However, as a medical professional, this isn’t the only reason to invest in headshots. You may also need a doctor headshot for
- your security badge in the hospital where you work,
- research publications or conference presentations,
- job applications and resumes,
- advertising,
- professional networking on websites such as LinkedIn or Doximity,
- social media profiles, and
- patient portals and appointment booking systems.
You don’t need separate headshots for each of these functions; a good professional headshot (or series of headshots) should be able to meet a diverse range of needs.
What are your options?
In the past, getting a decent professional headshot invariably involved a photoshoot with a professional photographer. However, this is no longer the case. The high quality of cameras on most smartphones means you don’t need a fancy camera to take great photos. And thanks to advances in technology, it’s now possible to get professional headshots generated by artificial intelligence (AI).
Whether you decide to go with a professional photographer, take the photos yourself, or use a platform that specializes in high-quality AI-generated headshots largely comes down to personal preference.
Professional photographer
An advantage of using a professional photographer is that you’re pretty much guaranteed to end up with polished photos. Of course, this requires that you do some research beforehand to find a photographer who specializes in headshots and whose work you appreciate. An easy way to find a suitable photographer is to ask colleagues where they had their photos taken.
The downsides of using a professional photographer are the potential costs and the time involved. Professional headshots can be expensive, especially if you add in the cost of a new outfit and a hair stylist or makeup artist. Photoshoots also take time, and few doctors have schedules that allow them to set aside a couple of hours during the day to have their picture taken.
AI-generated headshots
AI headshot generators are ideal for people who have a tight budget, are short on time, or simply hate having to pose in front of a camera.
Platforms that offer AI-generated headshots generally require you to upload a variety of photos of yourself (usually between 6 and 35 photos) so that the AI can “learn” what you look like. Then—typically within a few hours—you’re sent a selection of polished headshots.
Of course, how closely the headshot resembles you and how professional it looks depend largely on the headshot-generating platform you chose to use and the quality of the photos you uploaded.
Don’t know where to begin? Get started with AI headshots.
Do it yourself
If getting your headshots done by a professional photographer is impractical and you aren’t entirely comfortable with the idea of AI-generated headshots, it’s possible to take decent headshots at home with the help of a friend and the right equipment.
While an expensive digital camera would certainly improve the quality of the photos, most smartphones are now equipped with a more-than-adequate rear-facing camera. A tripod will eliminate the threat of blurry images caused by shaking, and an LED ring light will ensure adequate lighting.
For a more in-depth look, read this article about taking your own headshots at home.
If you aren’t completely satisfied with the results of your home photoshoot, you can always upload your photos to an AI headshot generator to see if it produces something better.
What makes a great doctor headshot?
Whether you decide to go the route of a professional photographer, choose to take the pictures yourself, or opt for an AI-generated headshot, these tips will help you get the most out of your experience.
What to wear
While it’s by no means obligatory to don a white lab coat for your headshot, this is a simple and effective way to convey your profession. Depending on your specialty, you may even decide to wear medical scrubs.
Beneath your lab coat, a well-fitted shirt or blouse is a good option. If you choose to wear a tie, select something subtle, and any jewelry should be understated. Avoid plunging necklines or anything too flashy as this might be interpreted as unprofessional.
In terms of color, choose something that suits you and reflects your practice. For example, if you want to convey a sense of calm or gentleness, softer colors will do the trick. To emphasize seriousness, opt for darker, more sober colors.
Need more guidance on how to dress to impress? Read this article for a simple guide on deciding what to wear for a headshot.
How to pose
Not everyone is comfortable in front of a camera, and that’s okay! However, you don’t want to appear stiff, bizarre, or terrified in your headshot. If you know that you’re awkward in front of the camera, practice different poses and facial expressions in front of the mirror to find something that works.
As a medical professional, you want to convey a sense of approachability, trustworthiness, and confidence. This is a tricky balance to achieve. One way to go about it is to imagine that there’s an anxious patient in front of you who needs to be reassured.
Otherwise, try these more technical tips:
- Take a few deep, slow breaths before you pose to ensure you’re relaxed.
- Stand or sit up straight and roll your shoulders back and down to start feeling confident.
- Opt for a slight smile to convey approachability.
- Angle your body slightly to one side so that you’re not directly facing the camera.
- Tilt your head slightly to the right or the left, or tilt your chin slightly up or down.
- Look down or away from the camera and then, just before the photo is taken, turn your gaze to face the camera lens.
For more advice on how to pose for a headshot, check out these guides on posing for headshots and how to be more photogenic.
Backgrounds
When it comes to choosing a background for your doctor headshot, you want to avoid anything that’s overly busy or distracting, or that might detract from the professional messaging.
A simple, solid-color background is one way to ensure the focus stays on you. Neutral colors such as grays, whites, beiges, or soft shades of blue are always a safe bet. However, these solid-color backgrounds can sometimes lack personality.
You might want to choose something that reflects your expertise or practice. For example, a clinician might opt for a headshot taken in an examination room. A surgeon might want the operating theater in the background. If you’re in academia, consider a laboratory or a bookshelf as background.
The key is that the background should enhance your headshot, not overwhelm it. Make sure the room is clean and tidy and that any medical equipment is modern and in good condition.
Lighting
If you’re having your photo taken by a professional photographer, they will take care of the lighting. However, if you’re taking the photos yourself—even if it’s just the photos that you’ll upload to a headshot generator—you’ll have to pay attention to the lighting.
Insufficient lighting can affect the quality of the photo and harsh lighting can create unflattering shadows. Avoid overhead lighting as it will cast strange shadows under your nose and mouth.
If possible, use natural light (such as that coming in through a window) and face toward the light source. If it isn’t possible to use natural lighting, your next best bet is a bright LED ring light.
Headshot photo size
Once you’ve got the perfect headshot, you want to be sure that it works across various platforms. Different platforms require different aspect ratios and file sizes. If the file size is too small, your picture won’t look great; if it’s too big, it will slow down the loading speed of website pages.
For use online, you’ll want a file size between 100KB and 1MB. For print, you’ll require larger file sizes (usually between 1MB and 5MB).
A typical headshot size for print might be 8 x 10 inches (at 300 DPI), but you’ll probably need different sizes and formats for use across various online platforms. For online use, square headshots of around 400 x 400 or 600 x 600 pixels are common. Frequently used aspect ratios for headshots include 1:1, 4:5, and 5:7.
How to prepare for your photoshoot
While modern photo-editing tools can work wonders, it goes without saying that you’ll want to look your best when you have your photos taken. This means getting plenty of rest and hydration in the days leading up to your photoshoot.
If you plan on doing your own hair and makeup, experiment a bit before the big day to find a style that you like. Of course, you might not feel the need for makeup or any specific styling, but it’s still important to be well groomed.
Make sure ahead of time that the outfit you plan to wear fits properly and doesn’t require dry cleaning.
Doctor headshot errors to avoid
Whether you’re taking your headshots yourself or are simply taking photos of yourself for a platform that generates headshots using AI, try to avoid the following pitfalls.
- Overly busy backgrounds. You want the focus to be on you. If too much is happening in the background, the viewer will find it more difficult to focus on your face.
- Poor composition. If you don’t pay attention to framing, you can end up with an unbalanced or awkward headshot.
- Inappropriate clothing. You might look ravishing in that red dress with a plunging neckline, but if you wouldn’t wear it to work, don’t wear it for your headshot.
- Awkward expressions. Try to relax so your expression doesn’t seem forced or insincere. You want your headshot to reflect your personality, and this won’t happen if you adopt an expression or pose that doesn’t come naturally to you.
- Bad lighting. Insufficient, harsh, or poorly placed lighting can ruin your headshot.
- Heavy editing or filters. While it may be tempting to use filters or editing to improve your appearance, they can make your headshots seem inauthentic. Leave the editing to the pros. If you’re uploading your photos to a headshot generator, make sure the uploads are free of filters and editing.
How often should you update your headshots?
Updating your headshot can be a nice way to mark certain transitions in your medical career. For example, when you transition from medical school to your residency or from your residency to your fellowship.
New job opportunities may also require that you update your headshot to better align with the ambience and requirements of the new position.
In addition to these obvious changes, consider periodically updating your headshot so it reflects your current appearance. Every three to five years is ideal. It’s important that colleagues and patients can easily recognize you based on your headshot as this consistency will help establish trust.
Ownership and licensing
One aspect to consider when deciding what route you’re going to take to get your headshots is ownership. Just because the headshot is of you doesn’t necessarily mean that you have the right to use the photo however you please.
Obviously, if you’ve taken the photo yourself, it’s yours to use as you like. Most AI headshot generators also give you full ownership of the generated images that you pay for.
However, photographers typically only give you ownership of the photos that you buy from them, and the fee for these photos is usually separate from the “session fee,” which accounts for the time spent in the studio. Sometimes, if you want to use your image for commercial purposes—for example, in advertisements or on the cover of a book—you may be required to pay additional licensing fees. It’s always a good idea to clarify these details before you book your photoshoot.
The bottom line
Your doctor headshot forms part of your professional identity. More often than not, it will be the image that potential patients and colleagues have of you before they meet you. While first impressions aren’t definitive, they do matter. By investing in high-quality professional headshots, you’re one step closer to making a good first impression. Whether you take the photos yourself, hire a professional photographer, or use a platform such as Portrait Pal to get AI-generated headshots, the bottom line is the same. You want an image of yourself that conveys a blend of competence, confidence, compassion, and approachability.