Having the perfect headshot is crucial for every modern business.
This is why we must discuss headshot poses.
While I traditionally recommend everyone has a personal branding session, sometimes headshots just fit better with the time you have and to ensure you have the most important image for your business. That being said, you want to make sure your headshot poses fit with what you are trying to present to the world.
So what should you have once you are done with your headshot session? As the title implies, the most important thing is that you in fact have a portrait of yourself to show the world who you are. Maybe you’re using your headshot for LinkedIn or maybe your website, whatever way you choose to use it for what you want to make sure you have a versatile image that can fit any platforms you may need. That includes printed images. Maybe you want a more traditional business card and do you want your face on the business card. You want your business card imagery to match your online presence, not only for you but for your clients.
You also want the portrait to fit your style. That’s why I have created this list of five different poses for you to create the perfect headshot. It is also important to let your photographer know what you will be using the headshot for. I always ask my clients what they intend to do with their head shots, that way I know and can best post them for that.
Now before I share the poses, please keep in mind I do outdoor Headshots. If you are in a studio these headshot poses will work just as well but the examples I am showing are from outdoor scenes.
Pose 1: The School Shot
The first pose I’m going to recommend is in fact the most versatile. This is even something you could do on your own if you can’t find a photographer. When I set up this pose I like to have my clients sit down on a stool so that they can really be comfortable and let their smile shine. I called it the school shot because it is set up very much and the way that you may set up an elementary school yearbook photo. You could say it is a classic.
From the photographer’s point of view, to take this photo you’re going to stand in front of the client, have them look directly at you and have them do a fake giggle. I know this sounds insane but this gets some of my favorite smiles. I like to find neutral backdrops for this so that if my client wants to use it online or on a print card it will fit each environment without being distracting.
Pose 2: The Leaning Tower of You
If you want a pose that has a bit more visual interest, and is traditionally in a more city environment, this is perfect. To create this post you are going to want to find a wall that you can lean on. I like to go to more industrial type buildings to do this. This is because they usually have single color walls and when you take the image of your client the wall behind them will be either neutral or just a darker color.
When you take this image, have your client lean one shoulder on the wall, yet still facing you. I’ll always recommend the client either has their thumbs in their pocket or they hold their own hands together. It is often more comfortable for the client’s legs to be crossed so you can lean into the wall a bit more too.
Pose 3: Mall Poses But Make it Cool
If you go to a chain portrait studio you may stumble upon this pose. That is not to say it is a bad pose. In fact, I think anyone getting solo portraits should have this pose. It is more to say that it is very common and very recognizable. And there’s a good reason for that. It fits in many different environments and nearly every client I have ever had is comfortable with this pose.
Set up this pose and find a beautiful spot (or stand tall in your studio space). Cross your arms and lean your front shoulder close to the camera. That’s it. This pose is timeless and a favor among all professionals.
Pose 4: Sit and Lean
This pose is my personal favorite. Does also technically require you to have somewhere to sit. I have done this pose with the stool I mentioned before as well as public seating areas.
To accomplish this pose, have the client sit and lean their preferred arm on the same side as me and lean a bit towards you. I have found that my personal preference with this pose is to ensure I am at an angle to the client. When I take the photo I’m not standing directly in front of them, I’m a bit to the side and a bit taller than them. This is also a great post to do a more serious look with or to use your biggest smile!
Pose 5: The Modern Hip Cool Kid
Before I go into how to pose this, I must say that this is a modern and fun take on headshot poses. This is not for everyone but it is a very fun image to have for a headshot photo. With that said I also find that this is a bit more fun on a scene like a bridge or a walking path where there are leading lines. I find it aligns with the joy the pose creates.
To take this image it is actually very simple. Find your spot and have your client swing one leg forward. I like to do this as a full body shot so you can see the funniness. This is also why I like to find a walking trail of sorts, so it almost looks like they are walking to greet you. Depending on the client, I may have them placed third thumbs in their pockets or let their arms be loose by their side. When you have the arms list by the side there’s a lot more movement in the pose. This is perfect for some headshot types.
I hope you found some inspiration with these examples. Have you done any of these headshot poses before? Let me know in the comments or shoot me a DM on instagram!
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