How to Take Professional Headshots: Lighting, Posing, and Direction

Headshots are the bread and butter of portrait photography. Everyone needs one — professionals, actors, real estate agents, LinkedIn users, entrepreneurs, students.

And most people hate their headshots. Because most headshots are poorly lit, awkwardly posed, and make people look stiff.

Here's how to take headshots that people actually love.

Why Headshots Are a Great Business

Before we get into technique, let's talk business:

Every professional needs a headshot — it's a massive, recurring market
Sessions are short — 15-30 minutes per person
You can batch them — headshot mini-sessions (8-10 people in a day) are incredibly profitable
Repeat business — people update headshots every 1-2 years
Corporate clients — companies need headshots for entire teams (10-100+ people at once)

A photographer who's good at headshots will never run out of work.

The Lighting Setup

Classic Headshot Lighting: Loop Light

Key light at 45 degrees to the subject, slightly above eye level
Creates a small shadow from the nose that "loops" down toward the cheek
Flattering for almost every face shape

Butterfly Lighting (Paramount Lighting)

Key light directly in front of the subject, above eye level
Creates a butterfly-shaped shadow under the nose
Very flattering, especially for women. Classic Hollywood glamour look.

Rembrandt Lighting

Key light at 45 degrees, creating a triangle of light on the shadow side of the face
More dramatic and artistic
Named after the painter who used this lighting in his portraits

Fill Light

Add a reflector or second light on the opposite side to fill in shadows. For corporate headshots, keep the fill strong (low contrast). For dramatic portraits, reduce the fill.

Background Light

A subtle light on the background separates the subject from the backdrop and adds depth.

Posing Basics

Most people don't know how to pose. That's your job as the photographer.

Body Position

Turn the body 30-45 degrees from the camera (not straight on)
Lean slightly forward from the waist — this engages the subject and slims the face
Shoulders down and relaxed — tension in the shoulders reads as awkward

Head Position

Chin slightly down and forward — this defines the jawline and eliminates double chins
Tilt the head slightly — adds personality and avoids the "mugshot" look
Eyes to the lens — direct eye contact creates connection

Hands

For headshots that include shoulders/upper body:

Hands clasped loosely in front
Arms crossed (confident, corporate look)
One hand adjusting collar or glasses (natural, candid feel)

Directing Your Subject

The difference between a good headshot photographer and a great one is direction.

Most people are uncomfortable in front of a camera. Your job is to make them feel relaxed and confident.

Tips:

Talk constantly. Silence makes people self-conscious.
Give specific instructions. "Tilt your chin down slightly" is better than "look natural."
Show them the back of the camera. When people see a good photo of themselves, they relax.
Play music. It fills awkward silence and sets the mood.
Shoot more than you need. Take 50 shots to get 5 great ones.

Common Headshot Mistakes

Shooting at eye level — slightly above is more flattering
Too much retouching — people should look like themselves, just polished
Busy backgrounds — keep it simple. Solid colors or subtle textures.
Wrong focal length — use 85mm to 135mm for headshots. Wider lenses distort facial features.
Not directing — "just be natural" is not direction

Learn It Hands-On

At Alberta Film School's Perfect Headshot Workshop [blocked], you'll learn studio lighting setups, posing techniques, and how to direct subjects — then photograph real people all day. AFS provides all studio lighting and equipment.

Workshop details: 1 day, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM, $249 + GST. Join the waitlist [blocked] to get notified when the next date is announced.