SHOOTING DOWN ON THE SUBJECT

This is a pose we see all over the internet. And it has its appeal - shooting down on the subject means they have to look up, and that eliminates the neck-wrinkles and appearance of a double chin that plague so many of us. (Of course, Katherine does not have these issues, but we can't all be Katherine.) You do not want a double-chin or accordion-fold neck in your headshot. But there are posing tips that can help with this, and the rest is what PhotoShop is for.

It's amazing how often you see this technique in what is meant to be a professional executive headshot. This posing is very common in portrait photography. There is a reason for that. When you’re looking up at someone, it does create approachability, but it also brings a sense of vulnerability. In some cases, that is appealing. It conveys a subtle sense that you’re asking to be taken care of, awakening tenderness in the viewer. And that’s lovely. But not in the business world. Someone seeking your professional services is doing so because they want you to meet their needs, not the other way around.

The appeal that this pose has for some photographers is exactly why it shouldn't be used for a business headshot. Looking up at someone - in this case, the potential client viewing your headshot - creates a power imbalance. It is a little shy. A little weak. It is asking someone to help you out by being your client. And what you need your headshot to say is that you are ready to be of help, not that you need help.

Posed this way, Katherine loses credibility as a businesswoman. It weakens her professional status. Your headshot should show you as competent, capable, and powerful in your own right. You don’t want your headshot to make you look aggressive or confrontational - and we’ll look at that blunder, too, in another photo - but you also don’t want it to make you look weak. You want to come across as approachable, yes, but not as needy. You want potential clients to look at your headshot and feel confident that you can handle whatever comes your way. You are asking for their trust in your professionalism and their belief in your skill. When you get the chance to show your professionalism and skill to your clients, of course, you will earn that trust. But you may not get the chance to do so if your headshot fails to connect appropriately.

The posing in this headshot makes it less likely that Katherine will attract the clients she needs. It’s not an unattractive photo. It’s just not an effective business headshot.