PROFESSIONAL HEADSHOT TIPS · GUIDES · ST. LOUIS
Professional Headshot Tips, Articles & Guides
Professional headshot tips should make preparing for your session easier—not give you another hundred things to worry about.
Whether you’re updating LinkedIn, preparing for a new job, organizing company headshots, building a personal brand or simply replacing an outdated photograph, the right advice can make the entire process easier.
These professional headshot tips cover wardrobe, preparation, cost, posing, expression, backgrounds, LinkedIn, corporate photography and getting comfortable in front of the camera.
FEATURED PROFESSIONAL HEADSHOT GUIDE
What Should I Wear for Professional Headshots?
Wardrobe is one of the first questions almost everyone asks, and fortunately you don’t need to buy an entirely new closet before your session.
Learn which colors photograph well, how layers create variety, what to know about patterns, glasses and jewelry, and which clothing options are worth bringing.
PROFESSIONAL HEADSHOT TIPS BEFORE YOUR SESSION
Planning Your Professional Headshot Session
Some of the most useful professional headshot tips have nothing to do with posing. Knowing what to wear, what your session will cost, where you’ll be photographed and when your existing image needs replacing can remove a lot of uncertainty before you arrive.
PREPARATION
How to Prepare for Professional Headshots
Nine practical ways to arrive ready without practicing poses or turning preparation into a beauty boot camp.
Read the guidePRICING
Professional Headshot Cost in St. Louis
Current pricing and what you’re actually paying for beyond the minutes spent standing in front of the camera.
See pricingBACKGROUNDS
Choosing a Professional Headshot Background
Light, dark, neutral, branded or environmental—and how to choose a background without letting it overpower you.
Compare backgroundsLOCATION
Studio vs. On-Location Headshots
Compare studio photography with bringing a professional headshot setup directly to you or your company.
Compare optionsWHEN TO UPDATE
How Often Should You Update Your Headshot?
Seven signs that tell you more than simply counting the years since your last professional photograph.
See the seven signsEXPRESSION · POSING · CAMERA CONFIDENCE
Professional Headshot Tips for Looking Natural
The camera itself is rarely the hard part. Most people are wondering what to do with their face, where to look, how to stand and whether they’re supposed to smile.
Good direction removes that responsibility from you. Instead of memorizing poses, you can respond to coaching while we make small adjustments to expression, posture and position.
Your job isn’t to know what to do in front of the camera. That’s my job.
EXPRESSION COACHING
Why Expression Coaching Changes Everything
Why directing the person in front of the camera matters just as much as knowing how to light them.
Learn about coachingCAMERA CONFIDENCE
How to Look Natural in Headshots
Good direction replaces stiff camera-face with believable expressions that still feel professional.
Look more naturalPOSING
How to Pose for Professional Headshots
Posture, shoulders, jawline, head position and movement—and why you don’t have to memorize any of it.
Learn about posingEXPRESSION
Should You Smile in a Professional Headshot?
It’s not simply yes or no. Your expression should support your personality, profession and intended audience.
Explore expressionsTHE RICKY BOBBY PROBLEM
What Do I Do With My Hands?
Usually? Nothing. They’re not even in a traditional headshot. And yes, Ricky Bobby makes an appearance.
Solve the mysteryTHE FUNDAMENTALS
What Makes a Good Professional Headshot?
Expression, connection, posing, lighting, wardrobe, background and retouching working together.
See what mattersPROFESSIONAL HEADSHOT ADVICE BY CAREER
Career, Corporate & Team Headshots
An executive, realtor, attorney and healthcare professional can all need a professional headshot without needing the same professional headshot.
These professional headshot tips explore how industry, audience, company culture and intended use should influence the finished photograph.
LinkedIn Headshots in St. Louis
Create a first impression that’s current, credible, approachable and recognizably you.
Improve your profileCORPORATE
Corporate Headshots in St. Louis
Create consistent company photography without turning every employee into the same generic expression.
Plan corporate headshotsTEAMS
How to Plan Team Headshots
Scheduling, wardrobe, future hires, consistency and keeping a larger company session moving efficiently.
Plan headshot dayLEADERSHIP
Executive Headshots in St. Louis
Leadership portraits that communicate authority and confidence without creating unnecessary distance.
Explore executive portraitsREAL ESTATE
Realtor Headshots in St. Louis
Recognizable, approachable professional images for agents whose photograph is part of their marketing.
Read the realtor guideATTORNEYS
Lawyer Headshots in St. Louis
Attorney portraits that balance credibility, authority and approachability for individuals and firms.
Read the attorney guideHEALTHCARE
Healthcare Headshots in St. Louis
Approachable professional portraits for physicians, nurses, CRNAs, dentists and medical teams.
Read the healthcare guide
PERSONAL BRANDING & ONLINE PRESENCE
Your Professional Image Is Part of Your Brand
Your photograph can follow you from LinkedIn to your company website, speaking engagements, media appearances, publications and social profiles.
The guides below explore building a recognizable professional image—and what changes when software tries to generate that image instead of photographing the actual person.
PERSONAL BRANDING
How Professional Headshots Build Your Personal Brand
Create recognition and consistency across LinkedIn, websites, speaking profiles, publications and marketing.
Build your professional imageREAL PHOTOGRAPHY VS. AI
Professional Headshots vs. AI Headshots
Compare authenticity, expression, accuracy, consistency, retouching and the experience behind the finished image.
Compare the differencesPRACTICAL PROFESSIONAL HEADSHOT TIPS
Professional Headshot Tips You Can Actually Use
Most people don’t research headshots for fun. Usually something happened: a new job, promotion, company website, LinkedIn update, speaking engagement, acting opportunity, press request or new business.
The point of these professional headshot tips isn’t to turn you into a model before you arrive. It’s to remove some of the uncertainty.
You don’t need to know your best side. You don’t need to practice your smile. You don’t need to memorize poses. And you definitely don’t need to spend the night before your session trying to determine precisely what your jawline is supposed to be doing.
My approach to headshot photography has been strongly influenced by Peter Hurley’s teaching and the Headshot Crew, where directing, posing and expression coaching are treated as essential parts of creating a strong professional portrait.
That’s the philosophy behind these articles—and behind the way I photograph professionals throughout St. Louis and St. Charles County.
If you’d rather skip the reading and see how the process works, explore the St. Louis professional headshot experience.
READY TO PUT THE ADVICE TO WORK?
Let’s Make the Headshot.
Christian Berens Photography creates individual, executive, corporate, team, actor and professional headshots throughout St. Louis and St. Charles County.
I’ll handle the lighting, posing and expression coaching. You just need to show up.