10 Photography Headshot and Branding Pitfalls – Number 8 Will Surprise You

Headshot and personal branding photography has become increasingly popular because social media has become more and more important.

If you’re in business, you probably know that you have to post on social media 2-3 times per week minimum in order to get in front of your customers. Posting text without an image or video won’t draw anyone’s attention as they scroll through their feed. Instagram won’t even allow you to post without a photograph!

artist-against-painted-wall — Artist, Drew Tonta, at his home with his creations behind him

So you need photographs and you need a lot of them! … And, they have to be good! Bad images make your brand look bad! Here’s what to NOT do:

What NOT To Do

1. Converging Verticals

If you have a building in your image, make sure the walls are straight because walls that converge toward the top look unstable – which makes you seem unstable.

2. Crooked Horizons

Horizontals must also be straight. Where they tilt to one side or another, you are again sending a signal that you are unbalanced.

Bombay-Sapphire-Gin-Distillery-Thomas-Heatherwick — Bombay Sapphire Gin Distillery, architect Thomas Heathewick. Verticals and horizontals are straight.

3. Blown out windows

Any inside window risks looking like a big white hole in the image, which will distract attention. Modern camera phones handle these much better than they used to, but if you are getting this problem, either move the window out of shot or use a flash to balance the inside light with that outside.

4. Big White Skies

We get a lot of big white skies in the UK. They’re bright and so they will try to steal all the attention. If you cannot avoid showing the white sky, just try to include less of it.

5. Absent Catchlights

A catchlight is the little reflection of light in the eyes which makes a person look alive. Without it people look, well, a bit dead. It’s not the impression you want to give. To create a catchlight just use something white to bounce light back into the eyes – even a piece of white A4 paper will do.

Headshot of Rochelle, Creative Director, the lights in her eyes give life

6. Double Chins

Almost everyone gets an unflattering chin when their head is tucked back and looking look down. Make sure to push your chin out in order to emphasise your jawline.

7. Shadowed Eyes

It’s very easy to end up with deep shadows under the browbone. Dark eyes can look shifty which is again the wrong signal. Use something white or light to bounce some light into those shadows (which also gives you that catchlight) or tilt your head up toward the light.

8. Old Skin

Taking photographs at midday in full sunlight will make anyone’s skin look horrible if they’re over the age of 25. Every line and pore will be visible. Don’t do it to yourself! Take your images in the few hours after sunrise and before sunset. The middle of the day is not for anyone over the age of 30, unless you want to show your wisdom in the lines and pores of your face.

Videographer-at-work-on-beach — Videographer, Alex Durham, with beautiful, smooth skin in the afternoon sun

9. Body Language

This topic is huge, so I will make a sweeping statement for you to go away and investigate. Limbs blocking the body can be hostile whereas open limbs and hands welcomes. Research body language – it really matters!

10. Clashing Clothes

Make sure your clothes work:

with each other, e.g. your top/shirt/tie should go with your skirt/trousers/shoes, etc. A shirt with beach shorts will look odd.
in the environment you’re being photographed, e.g a 3-piece suit might look odd on the beach.
with your brand, website or uniform colours, e.g. if you’re brand colour is green and you’re wearing an orange dress, then the orange dress will clash when it’s against the green on your website. Have a ready of some basic colour theory, but if you’d like to know a bit more, feel free to ask me.

Man-in-a-field — Artist, Drew Tonta, wearing a shirt and leather jacket suits his vocation

They’re Just Guidelines!

These are guidelines and there will be occasions where it’s appropriate to completely ignore them! However, if you choose not to follow them, make sure you know why.

Get Help Taking Your Photographs

It can be really difficult to think of images to post every week. Even if you outsource your social media, you still need to provide the images to be posted.

You may love doing your own photos, but simply don’t have time to come up with a new set every week, or you may just hate doing the photos.

Either way, I’d love to help you!

We will discuss what you do, your work environment and what you are looking for from a personal branding session. With your permission, I will spend some time looking at images of you on social media so that I understand how to show you at your best. These are not quick snaps – they are professionally composed and retouched images. They look natural, but as though you just happened to get the best shot yourself ever, over and over again. Images match your brand and tell your story. They subtly plant an idea of you in people’s minds without them knowing you’re doing it. There is nothing heavy handed about them and they will work.

Please contact me to ask for more information or to request a free consultation. I’m Nina Carrington and I’m based in Faversham, Kent.

There are some tips on headshots and compositional guidelines you might also find useful.

Outsource Your Social Media Posting

If you need someone to take social media posting out of your hands, Brand Space are a fantastic branding agency who will do it for you.