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Men’s Professional Headshot Tips

Discover essential tips for men's professional headshots, including attire choices, posing techniques, and grooming advice. Learn how the right headshot can boost your professional image and open doors to new opportunities.

A professional headshot of a man

Looking to make a lasting impression with a headshot that truly reflects your professional brand? Headshot statistics reveal that LinkedIn members with professional photos receive 21 times more profile views and 9 times more connection requests, highlighting the importance of a high-quality headshot. 

Imagine increased credibility and recognition by leaving a lasting impression on your employers and investors with a professional headshot. Today, we will discuss the importance of headshots of men, posing tips, grooming tips, expressions, and lighting tips. Let’s dive into how you can elevate your headshot game.

What Makes a Great Headshot for Men?

A professional headshot is more than just a photograph, it’s a tool to establish yourself as a leader in your industry. A professional headshot for men reflects your attention to detail, professionalism, and confidence. This approach is a strong form of communication, whether you’re applying for a new job, seeking new clients or investors, or using it as a LinkedIn profile picture. Let’s see how men’s business headshots can vary in the following ways:

  1. Corporate industry: In a corporate culture, professional headshots for men convey authority and leadership skills. Best suitable for executives, finance professionals, and consultants. 
  2. Creative fields: For professionals in industries like acting, modeling or marketing, a creative backdrop can work wonders. For a male business headshot, smart casuals are preferred to portray their personal style and expressions. 
  3. Commercial use: For sales or business development projects such as real estate or event management, a friendly and charismatic approach is best suited. It helps establish trust among potential clients. 
  4. Entrepreneurial benefits: Entrepreneurs can benefit from a professional headshot in various ways. For instance, using it as a LinkedIn profile picture or website banner image. 

What to Wear for Professional Male Headshots?

Below are the best outfits for a professional male headshot:

  • Business Attire: For formal settings, blazers and suits work best. You can choose to coordinate with a tie. Opt for neutral tones such as black, white, or navy blue. Avoid busy patterns. 
A man posing for headshot in Business attire
Pexels
  • Casual Looks: A casual male headshot portrays your friendly approach while maintaining professionalism. Opt for solid shirts with jackets and relaxed sweaters accessorized with minimal accessories. Avoid bulky styles and bright colors. 
A man giving a casual look for his headshot
Pexels
  • Outfit Coordination: A flattering business headshot for men is a blend of the right background and color combinations. Achieve a professional male headshot by selecting the right shades as per the background. For instance, light backgrounds benefit from dark colors, and vice versa.
A properly coordinated outfit
Pexels

Posing Tips for Men in Professional Headshots

Take a look at the business headshot men posing tips:

  • Posture and Confidence: A professional man's headshot combines the right posture, facial expressions, and angles. Standing or sitting upright with your shoulders back to show confidence. Or slightly lean forward for better engagement with viewers. 
  • Facial Expressions: Consider a slight smile to portray friendliness, warmth, and approachability. For leadership and executive positions, a serious expression may be appropriate to convey authority. 
  • Head Angles and Eye Contact: Angles can play a major role in the final look of your headshot. For a dynamic and flattering look, tilt your head slightly (around 10-15 degrees). Maintain strong contact by looking directly at the camera, creating a sense of trust and authority. 

Grooming Tips For Mens’ Professional Headshot

  • Hairstyle for Headshots: Opt for neat, classic cuts such as a clean crew cut, slick back or side part. It’s recommended to schedule a haircut a few days before your shoot for a natural look. 
  • Facial Hair Grooming: Men should consider basic trimming for a natural look. Whereas, shaving is the best option for a clean and neat look. 
  • Grooming Tips for Healthy Skin: Wash your face thoroughly and moisturize for radiant skin. Exfoliate with a gentle face scrub to remove dead skin cells. 
  • Makeup for Men’s Headshots: Men’s business headshots require minimal makeup to conceal blemishes or dark circles. Use light concealer, matte foundation, and lightweight bronzer to add some definition to your face. 
  • Final Grooming Touches: Avoid hair color or dying right before your headshot. Schedule your hair one or two weeks prior. Trim your beard nicely or opt for a clean shave. Get a good night’s sleep, skip wearing heavyweight sunscreen, and drink lots of water. 

Expressions That Work for Men’s Professional Headshots

Your facial expression plays a huge role in how your headshot is perceived:

  • Smiling with Confidence: A genuine smile conveys trust, confidence, and friendliness. Practice poses before the shoot to help guide you for the best male headshot. 
Smiling man in blue blazer
Pexels
  • Neutral Expressions: Slightly tilt your chin down and stick it out slightly to maintain confidence. For a refined jawline, clench your teeth. 
A man giving neutral expression for headshot
Pexels

Lighting Tips for Male Headshots

Below are a few ways to capture the perfect headshot for men:

  • Natural vs. Studio Lighting: Natural lighting, especially during the golden hour, i.e., one hour prior to sunrise or after sunset, offers a flattering glow. It’s ideal for a casual male headshot, making it perfect for creative industries. Whereas studio lighting involves a key light to illuminate the face. It results in a bright and polished male headshot—perfect for executives and tech consultants.  
  • Highlighting Facial Features:  Men's professional headshot tips involve using a 45-degree angle to create depth to enhance jawlines and cheekbones. Consider catchlights and allow shadows to fall naturally on one side of the face to add dimension. 
  • Best Lighting for Different Looks: For corporate and professional headshots for men, focus on neutral lighting. Make use of softboxes or right to create even and structural lighting. Consider a simple, neutral background that complements your headshot. 

Examples of Professional Male Headshots

A professional headshot example for males involves a confident, slight smile that is suitable for LinkedIn, corporate websites, and business cards. Professional male headshot examples for creative professionals are set in an outdoor or textured background. Whereas for corporate and technical headshots of men, an authoritative expression with a subtle background is recommended.   

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. How should a man pose for a headshot?

Stand or sit straight, slightly lean forward, and keep your shoulders back to convey confidence and engagement.

  1. Should men smile in headshots?

Yes, a natural smile conveys warmth and approachability, ideal for most professional settings. Serious expressions suit more conservative roles.

  1. What do men wear for professional headshots?

Choose a tailored suit or blazer in neutral colors like navy or gray. Avoid loud patterns to keep focus on your face.

  1. How to look more photogenic as a male in a headshot?

Maintain neat grooming, choose flattering lighting, practice natural expressions, and wear well-fitting clothes to enhance your features.

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