I have always loved creating headshots. I particularly enjoy the challenge of telling my subject’s story solely through a single facial expression and the cant of her head. And I firmly believe that headshot sessions should never be boring. I’m pretty sure my clients love finding their most flattering poses as much as I do.
My clients’ lines of work and the intended use of their headshots widely vary, but my approach is universal: Posing that is natural, interesting, easy, and flattering. The photographer’s own confidence with posing her subjects builds trust with her clients, and keeps them coming back year after year for updates.
It took me a long time to figure out what works consistently, and I’d like to share it with you.
1. Focus on the expression.
For actors’ headshots, I generally like to begin with them standing, usually in soft, mainly front lighting. With this kind of headshot, it’s standard to crop in nice and tight to bring the viewer’s focus to the expression in the person’s eyes. I always have my subject put her weight on one foot, shoulders angled away from the light, face turned toward the light. It’s such a beautiful, intriguing look. The feature photo at the top of this article is an example of this type of creative headshot.
2. Shoot from above.
Another beautiful and engaging look is to shoot from above eye level with the subject looking up at the camera. My clients love how it emphasizes the eyes while slimming the face (and goodbye second chin!). In this example, I was standing on a step stool above my subject. I had her look up at me into the light (positioned slightly above her), and smile radiantly.
3. Include the hands.
In this author headshot, I used a small, elbow-height end table. I had the subject place his elbows on the table and lace his fingers without covering any part of his face with his hands, and smile warmly at me. Sans table, you could have your client kneel and prop his hands an ottoman or even a cardboard box.
4. Lean in.
When my subject is seated, I like to have him lean in toward me as if I were telling him a fascinating story. I take it a step further by placing a box under one of his feet to lift the knee, and then I have him place a forearm on that knee as he leans in. He looks like a great listener in his final image, and definitely worth hiring!
5. Add drama.
Sometimes a headshot requires an element of drama. In that case, I love to use arms and hands to create interesting lines in the image. Here, we started with one hand resting beneath the subject’s cheek, but then brought in her left arm as well for repetition and interest. There are lots of strong diagonals in this shot, which elevate it from simple headshot to art.
6. Include important props.
I photograph lots of musicians, and it’s fun to come up with ways for the subject to hold a musical instrument. I always get several captures showing the entire instrument. One of my favorite ways to do that is to have him stand and simply hold the instrument out to one side and place his other hand in his pocket.
7. Break the rules.
I generally like to shoot headshots at or above eye level, but once in awhile I break that rule and shoot from below my subject, which can suggest a feeling of strength and confidence. Here, I decided to have my subject look back over his shoulder rather than at the camera, for a modern, candid look.
8. Create good posture.
Another flattering pose for a standing subject is to have her lean toward the camera, and, palms facing me, lift her hands a bit to flex and accentuate the arm muscles. As I shoot, I crop out the lower arms and hands to achieve a head-and-shoulders headshot. This sounds really strange, but I’m telling you, people love how their shoulders and posture look when I show them the final image.
See more of Leslie’s work on Instagram @craneleslie.
Photos by Leslie Crane
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Still going through your breakout, Leslie! Love this article too!!!
These are great tips! Thank you! I’d love to know what type of light, camera and lens where used in the cover photo for this article. It looks like a studio shot, but the light looks natural. Thank you
Hi, Lynn! Thanks for your kind words! That particular image was done in only natural light. The subject was facing a large window with sheers covering it and my studio wall is the background. Canon 5D mark iv with Canon 100mm macro lens. 🙂