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How to Take a Headshot With an iPhone in 5 Steps

iPhone cameras have come a long way and are now capable of capturing high-quality headshots, even if the model you own is a few years old. To make your iPhone headshots as good as possible, we have some tips and tricks to assist you.

In this guide, we outline a step-by-step process for taking headshots with an iPhone that will ensure you get the high-quality results you deserve. By that, we mean professional-looking headshots that will help drive the successful outcome you’re hoping for, whether it’s attracting clients, landing a job, building an audience, or some other pursuit.

How to Capture Perfect Headshots With Your iPhone in 5 Easy Steps

Follow these simple steps to take professional-quality headshots using just your iPhone.

Step 1: Find a suitable location for the photoshoot

The first step is to find a suitable location to take your headshots, which involves considering two crucial factors: lighting and backdrop.

How to get good lighting

Since you’re using an iPhone and not a professional camera, we’ll assume that you don’t have access to the studio lighting a photographer would use.

In this case, the best option is to use natural sunlight. That’s because the light emitted from bulbs typically found in homes can make your skin look yellowish, greenish, or even bluish, depending on the type of bulb. Indoor lighting can also cast shadows on your face, particularly under the nose, chin, and eyes, which can appear unflattering.

Natural light is softer and more flattering, and won’t give your skin a strange tone. However, you should avoid standing in direct sunlight as this will be too harsh.

If you’re taking the headshots indoors, try standing near a window, as long as the sun isn’t shining directly through onto you. If you’re taking the headshots outdoors, it’s typically better to stand in a shaded area.

Ultimately, to get the lighting right, the best thing you can do is put your iPhone in selfie mode and then walk around to check how the lighting appears on your face. In this way, you’ll be able to identify the best spots.

How to choose a backdrop

Generally, plain, simple backgrounds work well, such as a wall painted white, gray, or another light color. Navy blue can also be a good option. If the wall has some texture, like a subtle stucco or brick pattern, that’s fine, as long as it’s not too busy or distracting. Plain, simple backgrounds will give your headshots a professional look and ensure the focus remains on your face.

Alternatively, work-related backdrops, such as an office or studio environment, can work well, as can outdoor settings like urban city streets, a landscaped garden, or a scenic park. However, you’ll need to adjust your iPhone settings to ensure the background is sufficiently blurred and not distracting.

These types of backdrops can help you associate yourself with your profession, improving your credibility. They can also help convey a specific message; for instance, a natural background might make you appear more approachable and relaxed.

Learn more about the best backgrounds for headshots here.

Step 2: Prepare yourself for the photoshoot

Since the goal of headshots is to portray yourself in the best possible way, taking a moment to prepare for your photoshoot can make a big difference. Some key things to consider include your clothing, hair, and makeup.

Picking the right outfit

Rather than wearing your usual everyday clothes, consider choosing something a little more upscale. You generally want to look more put together for your headshots. The phrase “dress for the position” is often used in the world of professional headshots. It essentially means you should dress in a way that’s most appropriate for whatever opportunity or role you’re pursuing.

For example, if you’re trying to land a job in corporate finance, choose an outfit that is smart and formal, such as a business suit. If you’re in the medical field, you might wear scrubs or a lab coat. If you’re in tech, a smart casual look could be appropriate.

Whatever outfit you decide is most suitable, there are some general guidelines to follow that will ensure your outfit works as well as possible in your headshots:

  • Opt for clothing in dark, neutral, or muted colors, as these generally work best for headshots.
  • Fitted clothing looks more flattering and professional than loose or baggy clothing.
  • Busy or distracting patterns should be avoided.
  • Your outfit should be clean and pressed, free of creases.
  • Avoid wearing old, worn-out, or scruffy clothing.

Learn more about what to wear for a headshot here.

Doing your hair and makeup

While most guys don’t need to worry about makeup, being well groomed makes a big difference. This could involve taking a trip to your barber for a haircut, trimming and shaping your beard, or a careful shave.

You should also use any styling products, such as hair wax or gel, that you might use for work or a night out to look your best. Taking a shower before the photoshoot can help you look and feel fresh.

For women, it’s usually best to avoid getting a haircut or trying a new hairstyle right before the photoshoot. You want to make sure you feel comfortable with your look and know how to style your hair yourself confidently, as experimenting with new styles can be risky.

Regarding makeup, it’s usually better to use natural colors rather than bright or bold colors, unless you feel “bright and bold” matches your personality. Effective makeup might involve applying neutral-toned eyeshadow, a matte foundation that matches your skin tone, lipstick with a soft sheen, and concealer to hide imperfections.

Final preparation tip: If you’re not used to taking photos or feel you’re not photogenic, try practicing your smile and expressions in front of a mirror. This will help you figure out what looks best and boost your confidence for the photoshoot.

Step 3: Set up your iPhone’s camera

To ensure your headshots look professional, it’s usually best to avoid selfies. This is especially true when it’s obvious that your arm is stretched out, holding the phone.

To get around this, you can either ask a friend to take your photos for you, or you can set your iPhone up on a stand or tripod, or prop it up against a household item. If you can’t get a friend to help, set your iPhone camera on timer mode, giving you time to get into position after you press shoot.

You’ll want to set up your iPhone camera so it’s at eye level or a few inches above you. This will yield the most aesthetically pleasing results. Never have the camera pointing up from under you as this can look weird and unflattering, making your nose and chin look too big.

If you’re taking your headshots outdoors, in your workplace, or with a busy backdrop, set your iPhone’s camera to Portrait Mode. This will blur out the background so it’s not distracting, while keeping you in focus.

Always try to use the rear camera since the rear camera usually has a higher resolution than the selfie camera—unless you have one of the newest model iPhones.

Good at editing?

If you’re good at editing, you may want to change the iPhone’s camera settings to capture photos in RAW format. This format doesn’t compress the images, allowing you to make more significant adjustments during editing.

However, keep in mind that photos taken in RAW can appear a bit flat before editing. So, unless you plan on editing your photos, it’s better to keep the format in standard mode as this will produce better-looking images straight out of the camera.

Step 4: Begin taking headshots

Once the lighting is good, you’re dressed to impress, and your phone’s camera is set to go, it’s time to begin taking your headshots.

We recommend that you don’t stand too close to the camera, as this can distort your face in the photo. Instead, stand or sit three feet or more from the camera for the most aesthetic look. You can zoom in a little if you need to, and tap on the area where your face will be so it’s in focus.

Regarding framing: There should be ample room above the head and below the chest in the shot. This will allow you to crop your headshots however you need to afterward without reducing the resolution too much. This is important, since different platforms and applications will require your headshots to be in different shapes and sizes.

Since you’re not paying for a professional photographer, we recommend taking plenty of photos and experimenting with different expressions, poses, angles, and even outfits. You won’t need to worry about the additional costs of extra “looks” that often come with hiring a professional photographer.

Plus, by taking a lot of photos, you’re increasing the chance that some will turn out great, even if just by luck. Once you’re done shooting, you can quickly skim through all of the photos, keep the best ones, and delete the rest.

Finally, since people are often not the best judges of their own photos, you may want to consult with friends or family, asking them which of your headshots they think you look best in.

Step 5: Edit your photos

Once you’ve taken your headshots, you can use your iPhone’s built-in tools to edit the best ones. Some of the headshots may be good to go as they are, while others may look better with adjustments to brightness or contrast, or with a subtle filter applied.

If you’re skilled with Photoshop or similar applications, you can even play around with removing the background and replacing it with something different. Cropping your outline will be easier and more accurate if you’ve used a plain, simple background that you contrast well against.

If that sounds like too much work, or if it’s out of your wheelhouse, another option is to upload the best photos you’ve captured to an AI headshot platform like Portrait Pal. For a small fee, you can instantly generate a wide range of ultra-realistic headshots with different backgrounds, poses, hairstyles, expressions, and more.

FAQs About iPhone Headshots

Congratulations! You’ve successfully taken some headshots using your iPhone. Now let’s dive into some common additional questions people have.

How often should I update my headshots?

It’s generally recommended that you update your headshots every one to two years. This ensures that your headshots accurately reflect your current appearance while keeping your social media profiles, marketing materials, and company website fresh and up-to-date.

Do I need the latest iPhone?

No. Any iPhone from the last few years is fine for headshots, from the iPhone 11 onward. In fact, you don’t even have to use an iPhone; most high-end smartphones will work well.

Why can’t I use the selfie camera?

While it may be easier to use the front camera on your iPhone, the resolution is not as high, meaning the quality won’t be as good as when you use the rear camera. Since you’re likely planning to use your headshots for important purposes, such as job applications or investor presentations, it’s best to ensure the highest quality possible.

What are the benefits of taking headshots myself?

The main benefits of taking headshots with your iPhone are that it’s completely free and can be done quickly from home or another location. You can also experiment with as many outfits, poses, and backgrounds as you like at no additional cost.

iPhone headshots are great for people on a budget who are relatively tech-savvy and enjoy DIY projects.

Do iPhone headshots look as good as professional headshots?

You can certainly achieve professional-looking results using an iPhone, but it generally takes some trial and error. You’ll likely find that some of your headshots look great, while others are lacking something.

Compared with a professional service, such as a headshot photographer or an AI generator like Portrait Pal, your iPhone headshots might not look as polished. This is largely because these services have the expertise to ensure that the lighting, composition, and post-production editing create the best results.

Where can I use my iPhone headshots?

You can use your iPhone headshots wherever you want to. However, the most common places people use them include:

  • LinkedIn profiles
  • Resumes and CVs
  • Company websites
  • Social media accounts
  • Email signatures
  • Business cards and other marketing materials
  • Investor presentations

What should I do if I’m not happy with my iPhone headshots?

If you just can’t seem to get your iPhone headshots right, or you don’t feel confident using them, we recommend trying one of the following alternatives:

  1. Hire a professional headshot photographer.
  2. Use a reputable AI headshot generator like Portrait Pal.

You’re virtually guaranteed to get professional-looking results when using one of these services. Hiring a professional photographer can be extremely expensive and has a slower process than what you get with an AI headshot generator. Though a studio photographer may deliver outstanding headshots, you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised by the high quality of AI headshot generators.

Final Takeaways

Taking your headshots with an iPhone is an excellent option if you’re on a tight budget and enjoy the challenge of DIY projects. The results can certainly be good enough for many contexts as iPhone cameras are highly capable these days.

However, if the headshots are for something important, it may not be wise to experiment with taking them yourself. You don’t want to risk creating the wrong impression and missing out on opportunities just to save a few bucks.

If you believe taking them yourself with an iPhone is your best option, be sure to follow the five-step process we’ve outlined above to ensure the best results. But if you feel iPhone headshots aren’t right for you, we recommend looking into hiring a professional headshot photographer or using an AI headshot generator.For a quick and affordable solution, Portrait Pal offers a convenient way to get professional-quality headshots that are ready in as little as two to three hours.