A headshot is often seen before you are. It may sit beside a LinkedIn message, introduce you on a company website, appear in a casting profile or represent your business on a proposal. The question of how to choose a headshot is not really about finding the image in which you look most conventionally photogenic. It is about choosing the image that makes the right person feel confident about meeting, hiring or casting you.
That can feel like a lot to ask of one photograph, particularly if you do not enjoy being in front of a camera. The good news is that you do not need to know how to pose or have a favourite side. With a well-planned session and a clear idea of where the image will be used, choosing becomes much simpler.
Start with the job your headshot needs to do
The strongest headshot is not always the most dramatic, the most polished or the one with the broadest smile. It is the one that suits its purpose.
For LinkedIn, a professional profile or an executive biography, aim for an image that feels clear, warm and credible at a small size. Your expression should suggest that you are approachable and assured, rather than overly formal or distant. A head-and-shoulders composition usually works well because it remains recognisable in a circular profile image.
For a company website or personal brand, there is more room to consider the wider visual identity. A founder of a creative business may need something relaxed and characterful, while a solicitor, consultant or senior leader may want a more composed portrait. Neither approach is inherently better. The choice depends on what clients, colleagues and decision-makers need to understand about you quickly.
Actor headshots have a different task. Casting teams need to see you clearly and get an immediate sense of your casting potential. The image should look like you on a good day, not a heavily styled or over-retouched version of you. A natural expression, clean lighting and an honest likeness are more useful than a fashionable effect that could date quickly.
Before looking through your proof gallery, ask yourself: where will this image appear, who will see it and what do I want them to feel? Those answers provide a far better filter than simply asking which photograph you look best in.
How to choose a headshot from your proof gallery
A proof gallery can be surprisingly difficult to review. Many people begin by noticing tiny details about themselves that nobody else will see: the shape of a smile, a stray hair, a line around the eyes. You live with your face every day, so your attention naturally goes to familiarity rather than impact.
Give yourself some distance before deciding. Look through the gallery once without making a choice, then return later and shortlist the images that make you pause. You are looking for a photograph that has presence. Usually, it is one where your eyes are engaged, your posture looks comfortable and your expression feels believable.
It also helps to view your shortlisted images at the size they will actually be used. An image that looks excellent full-screen may lose impact when reduced to a LinkedIn profile circle. Conversely, a slightly quieter expression can work beautifully in a small format because it feels direct and easy to read.
When comparing two similar frames, choose the image with the more natural connection rather than the technically tidier smile. A relaxed expression often builds more trust than a fixed grin. If your eyes look alert and you appear comfortable in yourself, viewers are unlikely to notice the small differences you may be analysing.
Look for confidence, not perfection
Confidence in a headshot is rarely about looking stern or serious. It comes from good posture, a settled expression and a sense that you are present in the photograph. You can look warm without smiling broadly, and authoritative without looking severe.
Be cautious of choosing an image solely because it hides something you dislike. A headshot should flatter you, certainly, but it should still be recognisably you. The most useful professional portrait allows someone who meets you in person to feel they have already had an honest introduction.
Choose an expression that matches your audience
There is no single correct expression. A gentle smile may be ideal for a client-facing consultant or a business owner who wants to appear welcoming. A more neutral, thoughtful expression can suit an actor, writer or senior executive. Often, the best answer is a middle ground: calm, open and engaged.
If you are selecting images for different uses, it can be sensible to choose more than one. Your main LinkedIn headshot might be direct and approachable, while a wider portrait with more space around you could work better for a website banner, press feature or speaking engagement.
Pay attention to background, crop and consistency
A headshot does not exist in isolation. It has to work alongside the rest of your professional materials.
A plain studio background keeps the attention on your face and offers flexibility across platforms. It is a reliable choice for LinkedIn, corporate profiles and actors who need a clean, current image. An environmental portrait, photographed in an office, workspace or London location, can add context and personality for personal branding. The trade-off is that the setting should support your story, not compete with it.
Consider the crop as well. A close crop creates immediacy and is particularly useful for profile images. A slightly wider crop can feel more relaxed and gives designers more room to place text or adapt the picture for different layouts. If your organisation is commissioning headshots for a team, consistent backgrounds, lighting and cropping help the website look considered and professional, while still allowing each person’s character to come through.
This consistency matters because it signals care. When every team member is represented with equally strong photography, visitors are more likely to see the business as established, accessible and trustworthy.
Let wardrobe support the image, not dominate it
Clothing plays a bigger part in your headshot than many people expect, but it should never become the main feature. The aim is to look like the most confident, polished version of yourself in clothes that feel appropriate for your work.
Solid colours tend to photograph well because they keep the focus on your face. Mid-tones and deeper shades are often flattering, though the right choice depends on your complexion, hair colour and the background. Very bright white, strong patterns, prominent branding and highly reflective fabrics can be distracting, particularly in a close portrait.
For professional headshots, choose an outfit that reflects how you would dress when meeting an important client or attending a significant meeting. It does not have to mean a suit. For some people, a well-fitting jacket and open-neck shirt will feel right; for others, a simple knitwear layer, blouse or smart dress is more authentic.
Actors should bring options that suggest different casting directions without turning the session into costume. A change of colour, neckline or layer can subtly alter the feel of a frame while keeping the focus on your face.
Most importantly, wear something that fits well and lets you move comfortably. If you feel restricted, self-conscious or unlike yourself, it will show in your posture and expression.
Do not confuse retouching with a different face
Professional retouching should be careful and restrained. It can reduce temporary distractions such as a blemish, stray hair or redness, while preserving skin texture, character and expression. The goal is to make the finished image feel polished, not artificial.
When choosing a final headshot, ask whether you would be comfortable being recognised from it immediately. If the answer is yes, it is likely doing its job. Heavy smoothing, altered features or aggressive filters may feel reassuring in the moment, but they can undermine trust when the photograph and real person do not quite match.
This matters especially for executives, business owners and actors, whose image is part of a wider professional relationship. A current, honest portrait tells people that you are comfortable being seen as you are.
Ask for guidance if every image feels unfamiliar
Feeling uncertain about your photographs is entirely normal. Most people are used to seeing themselves in a mirror, not in a still image taken from a different viewpoint. That unfamiliarity can make even an excellent portrait feel strange at first.
A good photographer will not simply send a gallery and leave you to it. They can help you compare expressions, assess which images suit your intended use and identify the frames that read best to a fresh pair of eyes. At Neil Taylor Photography, that guidance is part of making the process feel manageable, particularly for clients who have arrived convinced they are not photogenic.
Your final choice does not need to be the image where every detail is flawless. Choose the one that feels clear, current and quietly confident – the photograph that gives people a reason to trust the person behind it.