DIY Professional Headshots Guide

A professional headshot can significantly impact your career. LinkedIn profiles with professional photos receive 21× more views and 36× more messages. But traditional photography sessions cost $150-500+.

The good news: you can create polished, professional headshots yourself using your smartphone and free online tools. This guide shows you how.

What Makes a Professional Headshot

Before diving into the technical details, understand what makes a headshot “professional”:

• Clear, sharp focus on your face
• Good lighting that flatters your features
• Clean, non-distracting background
• Appropriate framing (head and shoulders)
• Natural, confident expression
• Professional attire suitable for your industry

Equipment You Need

Camera

Your smartphone is sufficient for professional headshots if it’s from the last 3-4 years. Modern phones have excellent portrait modes that blur backgrounds.

Recommended settings:

• Use the rear camera (higher quality than front-facing)
• Enable portrait mode if available
• Shoot at highest resolution
• Turn off flash (use natural or controlled light instead)

Tripod or Stand

A stable camera produces sharper images. Options:

• Smartphone tripod ($15-30)
• Stack of books with phone leaning against something
• Ask someone to hold the phone steady

Lighting

Lighting is the most important factor after composition.

Best option: Natural window light

1. Position yourself facing a large window
2. The window should be in front of you, not behind
3. Slightly to one side creates flattering shadows
4. Overcast days provide soft, even light

Budget artificial setup:

• Two desk lamps with white bulbs
• One on each side of your face, slightly above eye level
• Add white posterboard to bounce light and fill shadows

Background

Simple options:

• Plain white or light gray wall
• Solid-colored sheet or backdrop
• Blurred natural background (outdoors, portrait mode)

Avoid:

• Cluttered backgrounds
• Bright patterns
• Visible furniture or objects
• Harsh shadows on the wall behind you

Step-by-Step Shooting Guide

Step 1: Set Up Your Space

1. Find a location with good light and a clean background
2. Position your camera at eye level, about 4-6 feet away
3. Frame the shot to include head, neck, and top of shoulders
4. Leave some space above your head (don’t crop too tight)

Step 2: Check Your Appearance

• Clothing: Solid colors work best. Avoid busy patterns, logos, and pure white (can blow out in photos)
• Grooming: Fresh haircut, neat appearance
• Accessories: Keep minimal. Remove distracting jewelry
• Makeup: Natural look. Matte products photograph better than shiny

Step 3: Perfect Your Expression

• Relax your face muscles
• Think of something that makes you genuinely smile
• Slight smile with closed mouth often looks most professional
• Eyes should be alert and engaged—“smiling eyes”

Pro tip: Take 20-30 shots with slight variations. You’ll have options to choose from.

Step 4: Review and Select

Look for:

• Sharp focus on eyes
• Flattering angle
• Natural expression
• Even lighting
• Clean background

Select your top 3-5 images for editing.

Editing Your Headshot

Basic Adjustments

Every headshot benefits from these basic edits:

1. Crop and straighten — Center your face, ensure level horizon
2. Exposure adjustment — Brighten if needed, ensure face is well-lit
3. White balance — Correct any color casts
4. Contrast — Slight increase makes images pop
5. Sharpening — Subtle sharpening on eyes and face

Retouching (Use Sparingly)

Light retouching is acceptable; heavy editing looks fake:

Acceptable:

• Remove temporary blemishes
• Reduce under-eye shadows
• Even skin tone slightly
• Whiten teeth subtly

Avoid:

• Removing wrinkles entirely (looks unnatural)
• Changing facial features
• Over-smoothing skin
• Excessive whitening

Recommended Editing Tools

Free options:

• Canva — Easy-to-use, good for basics
• Snapseed — Powerful mobile editor
• GIMP — Full-featured desktop option

Paid options:

• Adobe Lightroom — Best for exposure and color
• Photoshop — Most powerful retouching

Optimizing for Different Platforms

LinkedIn

• Size: 400×400 pixels (displays circular)
• Format: JPG or PNG
• File size: Under 8MB
• Keep face centered (circular crop!)

Company Website

• Size: 400-800 pixels wide typically
• Format: JPG for photos
• File size: Under 200KB for fast loading

Email Signature

• Size: 100-150 pixels wide
• Format: JPG
• File size: Under 50KB

Social Media

Different platforms, different requirements. See our social media image guide for complete specs.

Batch Processing for Teams

Creating headshots for multiple people (team pages, company directories)? Batch processing saves time.

BulkImagePro handles common headshot optimization tasks:

• Bulk Resizer — Resize all headshots to consistent dimensions
• Bulk Cropper — Crop to square aspect ratio for LinkedIn
• Bulk Compressor — Optimize file sizes for web
• Format Converter — Convert to required formats

Process up to 50 headshots at once—perfect for company team pages.

Ensuring Consistency

For professional team pages:

• Same background (or similar neutral tones)
• Consistent lighting style
• Similar framing and crop
• Matching color treatment

Common Headshot Mistakes

Poor Lighting

Problem: Harsh shadows, unflattering light Solution: Use soft, diffused light from windows or softboxes

Wrong Angle

Problem: Camera too high (looking down) or too low (up the nose) Solution: Camera at eye level, face slightly turned

Distracting Background

Problem: Clutter, bright colors, or patterns behind you Solution: Plain, neutral backgrounds only

Outdated Photo

Problem: Headshot doesn’t match current appearance Solution: Update every 2-3 years or after significant changes

Over-Editing

Problem: Plastic, unnatural look from excessive retouching Solution: Subtle edits only—you should still look like yourself

Industry-Specific Tips

Corporate/Finance

• Conservative attire (suit jacket, professional dress)
• Neutral background
• Serious but approachable expression

Creative Industries

• More personality acceptable
• Can include slight color or interesting backgrounds
• Genuine smile often works better

Tech/Startups

• Smart casual acceptable
• Can be more relaxed
• Authenticity valued over formality

Healthcare/Legal

• Professional attire essential
• Trust-inspiring expression
• Clean, simple background

Quick Checklist

Before finalizing your headshot:

• Face is in sharp focus
• Eyes are bright and engaged
• Lighting is even and flattering
• Background is clean and non-distracting
• Cropped appropriately (head and shoulders)
• Color-corrected and properly exposed
• Sized correctly for intended platform
• File size optimized for web

FAQ

Can I really create a professional headshot with my phone?

Yes. Modern smartphone cameras, especially in portrait mode, produce excellent results. The key factors are lighting and composition, not the camera itself.

What should I wear for a professional headshot?

Solid colors in muted tones work best. Avoid busy patterns, logos, and pure white. Choose colors that complement your skin tone and are appropriate for your industry.

How often should I update my headshot?

Every 2-3 years, or sooner if your appearance changes significantly (new hairstyle, glasses, etc.). Your headshot should accurately represent how you look now.

Should I smile in a professional headshot?

A slight, natural smile typically works best. It appears approachable without being unprofessional. The key is looking genuine—forced smiles are obvious.

What background color is best?

White, light gray, or muted neutral tones work for most contexts. Some industries accept more creative backgrounds, but when in doubt, keep it simple.

How do I make my headshot look consistent with my team’s photos?

Use the same background, similar lighting setup, and matching crop/dimensions. BulkImagePro’s batch tools help ensure consistent sizing and formatting across all team photos.

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Ready to optimize your headshot? Try BulkImagePro free — resize, crop, and compress your professional photos in seconds. Perfect for individual headshots or entire team pages.