Photos By C&P Media
A corporate headshot is a professional portrait that represents your personal brand and showcases your personality. It can be used for various purposes, such as your LinkedIn profile, your website, your business card, or your resume. Therefore, it is important to choose the right facial expression for your corporate headshot, as it can make a big difference in how you are perceived by potential employers, clients, or partners.
However, choosing the right facial expression for your corporate headshot can be tricky, as different expressions can convey different messages and emotions. For example, a smile can indicate friendliness and confidence, but it can also look fake or forced if it is not genuine. A serious expression can imply professionalism and competence, but it can also appear cold or arrogant if it is too harsh. A neutral expression can suggest calmness and reliability, but it can also seem boring or indifferent if it is too bland.
So, how do you choose the right facial expression for your corporate headshot? Here are some tips to help you out:
1. Consider your industry and target audience
The first thing to consider when choosing your facial expression is your industry and target audience. Different industries and audiences may have different expectations and preferences for what kind of facial expression they want to see in a corporate headshot. For example, if you work in a creative field, such as advertising or design, you may want to show some personality and flair in your expression, such as a smile or a smirk. However, if you work in a more conservative field, such as law or finance, you may want to opt for a more formal and professional expression, such as a serious or neutral one.
Therefore, before you take your corporate headshot, you should do some research on what kind of facial expression is appropriate and common for your industry and target audience. You can look at some examples of successful corporate headshots from people in your field or similar fields and see what kind of expressions they use. You can also ask for feedback from your colleagues, mentors, or friends who work in the same or related industries and see what they think.
2. Match your expression with your personality and message
The second thing to consider when choosing your facial expression is your personality and message. Your facial expression should reflect who you are and what you want to communicate to your target audience. For example, if you are a friendly and outgoing person who wants to convey warmth and approachability, you may want to smile in your corporate headshot. However, if you are a serious and reserved person who wants to convey authority and competence, you may want to have a more stern or neutral expression.
Therefore, before you take your corporate headshot, you should think about what kind of impression you want to make and what kind of qualities you want to highlight. You should also be honest and authentic with yourself and avoid trying to fake an expression that does not match your personality or message. You should aim for an expression that feels natural and comfortable for you and that showcases your best features.
3. Practice your expression in front of a mirror or a camera
The third thing to consider when choosing your facial expression is how it looks in front of a mirror or a camera. Sometimes, what you think is a good expression may not translate well on camera or may look different from what you intended. For example, you may think that you are smiling warmly, but on camera it may look like you are grinning awkwardly. Or you may think that you are looking serious, but on camera it may look like you are frowning angrily.
Therefore, before you take your corporate headshot, you should practice your expression in front of a mirror or a camera and see how it looks. You should try different angles, lighting, and distances and see which ones work best for your expression. You should also experiment with different variations of your expression and see which ones look the most natural and flattering. For example, you can try smiling with or without showing your teeth, raising or lowering your eyebrows, tilting or straightening your head, etc.
Conclusion
Choosing the right facial expression for your corporate headshot can be challenging, but it can also be fun and rewarding. By following these tips, you can find an expression that suits your industry, target audience, personality, message, and appearance. A good facial expression can enhance your corporate headshot and help you stand out from the crowd.