TOO STRAIGHT ON

OK, this must be the shot. The lighting is good. The camera isn't below the subject. What's not to love? Well ... the angle of Katherine's face and body to the camera, that's what. If you notice, her body is at an angle to the camera while her face is turned almost directly to the camera, and her head is held straight. This feels hard-edged and not quite welcoming.

Think about the last great conversation you had, one where you felt very heard. Chances are, the person who you were talking to had their head slightly tilted. A head tilt says, "I am listening. Tell me more." It creates the nice feeling in the speaker that they have your attention.

That's what this headshot lacks. While it is not bad, per se, it is not telling potential clients that you are ready to hear them. It lacks warmth and welcome. And that is off-putting, in a subtle, subconscious way.

It also feels posed. This is a very common pose in business headshots, actually. Maybe that’s why it feels stiff and stale - because it is used so much. We are not trying to claim that our clients do not pose for their headshots. Of course they do, and they do it with lots of coaching from us to make sure that their body language is fine-tuned to create connection with their potential clients. We aren’t advocating stepping in front of the camera without thinking through your message and your pose. In fact, we do just the opposite.

We think it through, talk it through, and tweak it any way we can to craft an image with a coherent, consistent message. What we don’t do, though, is craft headshots that look stiff and posed. And that’s the difference. We make sure our clients are relaxed before we take a photo. We make sure they understand why they’re being asked to stand and move the way they are. The result is a natural smile and a pose that conveys welcome.