A GUIDE TO DIY PROFESSIONAL HEADSHOTS
ENLIST A FRIEND OR USE A TRIPOD. Selfies and bathroom mirror shots hardly say "professional". Save the selfie stick for vacation and ask for help.
NO CAMERA? NO PROBLEM. You do not need a professional camera to get a good looking headshot. Most smart phones have great cameras built in. Look for a "portrait" setting and use that if available. DO NOT use your computer camera - light from the screen will be unflattering .
FIND THE LIGHT. Your best bet is to use indirect natural light either outdoors or near a window. Position the camera
between yourself
and the light source.
CHOOSE A NEUTRAL BACKGROUND. Keep your shot uncluttered and focused on YOU by standing a few feet in front of a blank wall or outside with trees and greenery in the background.
GO SIMPLE AND SOLO. Dress and style yourself the way you might for a job interview: professional but natural. Leave the pets, family, hats, props, and silly expressions for your personal snaps. Oh, and don't crop your headshot out of your sister's wedding photo - it's obvious.
FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE. Remember that you want a headshot, not a "whole body shot". Zoom in on your face and shoulders and flash a relaxed, unforced smile. When exporting, keep your resolution higher so it can be resized for a number of uses without appearing blurry.