5 Amazing Tricks To Using A Selfie For Headshots

5 amazing tricks for your professional selfie headshot

Under certain circumstances, it's totally fine to use a headshot selfie. The following are 5 amazing tricks for professional headshot photography with selfies! Follow these steps to learn how you can take a good selfie headshot!

You've probably heard or read that it's not okay to use a selfie for your headshot. However there are exceptions to every rule. Plus, when it comes to headshot selfies, if you follow this guide they'll never know you're using a professional selfie as your headshot.

Read 10 reasons why you need a new headshot right now.

There may be compelling reasons why you're trying to use a selfie headshot rather than hiring a professional headshot photographer like myself. It could be a time or money constraint issue but in all honesty it really doesn't matter why. That's especially true if you're using these 5 incredible tricks.

5 Tips For Taking Good Selfie Headshots

You're here because you're asking if you can use a selfie as a headshot. The answer is yes! Looking professional in a headshot selfies is possible. Use the following 5 tips for making your selfie look like a professional headshot.

 1. What Are You Wearing

A professional headshot photographer should always help you to understand what to wear. Therefore, if you're creating your own selfie headshot then you've got to pick out the perfect outfit. How do you do that?

Dress For The Job You Want

You've heard the trope, dress for the job you want, not the one you have. Unlike a lot of other cringe things on LinkedIn this one is true. If you're trying to land a professional job then your headshot selfie needs to show you in professionally dress. If you're in a creative field then feel free to mix it up a bit. In other words, match the look of the jobs that you're applying for.

Spend time looking in the mirror. Try different outfits until you find one that looks great. After all, without a professional to help you must look over yourself closely. Additionally, you want to try to move your arms around a bit to make sure you can settle your outfit back down without it getting messed up every time you move. Ultimately, your clothes must look amazing in your headshot selfie. After all, a pro would make sure of that. Therefore, if you want your headshot selfie to look professional you've got to do this yourself.

2. The Right Tool For The Job

The camera you use matters. After all, you've got to have the right tool for the job. Your phone's front facing camera lets you see yourself. That's nice but the camera isn't as good as the one on the back. If you have more than one lens on the back then use the "normal" one for your professional selfie headshot. This is the lens with 1x magnification.

Of course, if you have a DSLR or mirrorless camera you're better off using it. In fact, it will result in a much better photo to work with.

Use A Tripod

If you don't have anyone to take the photo you've got to use a tripod. The only other option is to find a tall bookshelf or something where you can place your camera so that it's flat and facing you. You don't want the camera pointing up at you. Doing that results in Zoom face. Nobody wants zoom face.

Professional headshot photographers never photograph up at people so make sure your aiming straight or slightly down. Ultimately, this will help you make sure your headshot selfie looks like a professional headshot even though it's a headshot selfie.

Avoid Zoom Face in your professional selfie headshot

Zoom face is the way your laptop camera makes you look when you're on a Zoom call. You have the computer on your lap and you're looking down at it. Again, nobody wants zoom face. So use a tripod for a more professional looking selfie. Alternatively, if you like to make videos use a gimble like this one from DJI.

Get Yourself In The Frame

With your camera turned around you still need to be in the frame. The best way to do this is to place a mark on the floor in the right place to stand. Get a tall lamp or something else that can stand in for you. Aim your camera at that object at head height. Then mark where it was on the floor and move it before taking your professional selfie headshot.

Off the wall headshot selfies

Also, don't stand against a wall. In fact, you want a fair amount of space between you and the background. Therefore, try to place yourself a little more than arms length away from the camera and at least that same amount of room between you and the background (double it if possible).

Use Voice Command

Samsung phones will take your photo when you shout "cheese" at it thanks to voice command. You can set up your iPhone to allow you to take a photo by saying, "Hey Siri, turn the volume up." but you may have to mess with it to get it to work. In fact, Siri never seems to work when I want it to. Therefore first try finding a friend to take your photo. Of course, that doesn't really count as a selfie. However, you want the most professional looking headshots right?

3. Find A Fitting Background

Finding a great background for your headshot selfie is difficult. You need something neutral. In other words, a place without distracting shapes, lines, etc. A nice texture can work. However, don't just rely on portrait mode to blur the background. In fact, it's far better to find the right place than to count on portrait mode.

White is the background color for passports. It may work for some professional headshots but try to find a different color. If you can, find a nice gray or light colored wall. Avoid dark walls and don't use a brick wall. The lines are distracting and honestly it's been done to death. This means that people are really sick of seeing it. If your selfie is going to stand out you've got to find a background that will work for you.

If you only have white walls (hello fellow renter), then make sure you're standing in the light and the wall is significantly darker than you. After all, the wall is only as white as the light hitting it.

Like I said, this is really difficult. One alternative is to buy an inexpensive backdrop from Amazon. However, read the next trick about lighting your selfie to find out if you've truly found the spot for your headshot or if you need to start over.

4. Light Is Everything

Light is everything in photography. When it comes to your professional selfie headshot you need to light yourself appropriately. What does that mean? Well for starters you want soft flattering light. That means light that doesn't create dark circles under your eyes or give you shiny forehead.

Find Your Light

Finding your light is the most challenging part of creating a great looking professional headshot selfie. However, it's also the most important. Don't use flash unless you're a professional photographer and understand how. You want light that is bright and strong but that doesn't cast defined shadows. A ring light, like those used for vlogging, is a great option. You want the light to wrap around your face. If there are any shadows then they need to fall under your chin.

Cloudy Days Work Best

Squinting into the sun doesn't make great images. As a result cloudy days work best for taking your selfie headshot. If you can take your headshot outside, then make sure you're doing so on an overcast day. This way the sky will give you nice light. If you can't wait for clouds try standing in a sunny window but cover the window with a shear or white sheet. Again, you want the light to be soft. In other words, you want little to no shadows.

Look For Your Shadow

Speaking of ... look for your shadow. If you can see it then don't take your photo there. A hard defined shadow means harsh light. You don't want that. Read more about looking for shadows on my post about Punxsutawney Phil's photography skills. If you've got a light bit of shadow then it's probably okay. It can help define your chin more and give you a flattering shadow under your nose. Just remember; if you see your shadow, don't take your photo there.

The Ideal Light

The ideal light is hard to pull off yourself. However, if you can, have a bit more shadow falling on the side of your face away from the camera. Additionally, if you can outline yourself with a bit of light striking just the back of your head and shoulder on that dark side you'll really make your selfie headshot look amazing. Obviously, this is really hard to do if you're not a professional headshot photographer. However, it's still a good idea to understand how pros light your headshot.

Read about the differences between branding photos and headshots.

5. Don't Give Me That Look

Just as with your clothing you want to check your look carefully in the mirror. Don't expect to nail your selfie the first time. In fact, expect a large number of attempts. The most important thing is to look confident. That usually means a little smile and having your face level to the camera. Don't point either your chin or forehead at the camera.

Buy this book to learn how to look amazing in every photo!

Chin Up

Some people will point their chin up at the camera. Others will point their forehead at it. Keep your face level towards the camera. A chin forward approach can make it appear like you're looking down on the person viewing it. Additionally, a forehead forward posture can make you appear aggressive.

Face Forward

Face forward towards the camera. Looking from the side can make you seem either shy or up to no good. Neither of these is a great impression to leave people with for your headshot. That said, experiment with how you face the camera. However, if you're not satisfied with your selfie headshot then call in a pro.

When To Hire A Professional Headshot Photographer

If your selfies aren't doing you justice, consider a professional headshot photographer in Melbourne like Heroshot Photography. A great headshot can be the difference between landing that job or being overlooked, so it's worth the investment if you have the time and budget. They'll make sure you look sharp and professional, giving you the best possible first impression.

Pittsburgh professional headshots

If you're in Pittsburgh and are looking to hire a professional headshot photographer have a look at my work. I'm also an accomplished event photographer and I teach photography classes in Pittsburgh and virtually. If you've enjoyed this article please view more on my blog and sign up for my mailing list for a monthly newsletter full of great advice.

Improve Your Selfies

Want to know how to improve your selfies even more? Check out my article on how to create breathtaking selfies.