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The Headshot Guide
How to prepare, what to wear, how to pose and how to use your photos, so your headshot looks like you on your best day. Fill out the form and your download appears right away.
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What's Inside the Headshot Guide
Choosing your look
Four lighting setups and five backdrops, matched to LinkedIn, corporate, executive and actor headshots.
Before + what to wear
Booking, the week before, colors that work, black and white rules, fit, necklines and what to skip.
Glasses, grooming + makeup
Glare-free glasses, jewelry, makeup one level stronger, and hair and facial hair timing.
Posing + expression
The default pose, the squinch, a smile that reaches the eyes, and the forehead-forward jawline technique.
Session day + using your photos
How the 30 minutes run, retouching and delivery, and sizes for LinkedIn, web, casting and print.
Book Your Headshot Session
See what each session includes on the studio headshot sessions page, or see team and corporate headshots.
Example portraits are AI-generated illustrations created to show each look clearly. They are not photographs of Photography Shark clients.
Posing + Expression Techniques Inside
The posing chapters explain the small adjustments that separate a competent headshot from a great one. You don't need to memorize them; we direct every frame. For more, see professional headshot poses and the headshot wardrobe guide.
The squinch
A slight upward tightening of the lower eyelids, not a squint. It reads as focused and confident instead of surprised.
Forehead forward, chin down
Lead with your forehead toward the camera, then bring your chin down a touch. It defines the jawline and removes a double chin.
Angle the body, face the lens
Shoulders turned 15–25 degrees away, face back toward the camera. More shape, less "standing at attention".
Soft jaw, relaxed mouth
Lips touching but not pressed. Tension in the jaw shows in every frame.
A smile that reaches the eyes
Composed neutral, closed-lip warm smile or open smile, matched to how you will use the photo.
Breathe out before the frame
Exhale, drop your shoulders, then look into the lens. The moment after the breath is usually the keeper.
Headshot Guide FAQ
Is the headshot guide free?
Yes. Fill out the short form and the 15-page PDF download appears right away. It covers preparation, what to wear, posing and expression, and how to use your photos.
What is the squinch in a headshot?
A small upward tightening of the lower eyelids, not a squint. Wide-open eyes can read as surprised or uncertain; a slight squinch looks focused and confident. Keep the upper lids relaxed and stop well before your eyes close.
How do I get a more defined jawline in photos?
Push your forehead a few inches toward the camera, then bring your chin down a touch while keeping your shoulders back and relaxed. It stretches the skin under the jaw and separates the chin from the neck. Avoid lifting or tucking the chin.