A headshot is one of the most-seen photos of you. It sits beside your name on professional profiles, company websites, casting platforms, speaker bios and email signatures, often for years. Getting it right doesn't require a big budget or a natural talent for posing. It mostly comes down to a handful of decisions made in advance: where the photo will be used, what you wear, how it is lit, who takes it and what you're allowed to do with it afterwards.
Headshots is an independent guide to those decisions. We explain the essentials in plain language, link to official and expert sources, and give you a free shoot planner to prepare a brief. We're not a studio, and we don't sell or recommend photography services.
Start here
- Preparing What to wear, hair and make-up, posing and a checklist for the day.
- Uses LinkedIn and corporate, actors, children and teens, and team photos.
- Hiring Choosing a photographer, studio or location, copyright, and DIY phone headshots.
What makes a good headshot
A good headshot is sharp on the eyes, evenly lit, simply framed and current. It shows you relaxed and recognisable, on a good day. The background stays out of the way, clothes fit and don't compete with your face, and the expression suits the people who will see it. Technical polish matters, but the most important test is simple: would someone recognise you from it when you meet?
Popular guides
- What to wear for a headshot
- Posing and expression
- LinkedIn and corporate headshots
- Actor and performer headshots
- Copyright and image rights
- DIY phone headshots
Know where the photo will be used
Different uses call for different choices. A professional profile is usually seen as a small circle, so a tight crop and a plain background matter. LinkedIn Help states profile photos must be between 400 × 400 and 7680 × 4320 pixels, PNG or JPG, under 8 MB. A company website needs consistency with colleagues. Actors need a photo that looks exactly like them today. Passport photos are a different thing again, with strict rules from the Australian Passport Office about background, expression and size.
Light, background and framing
Soft, even light is the foundation of a flattering headshot. In a studio, photographers shape light with softboxes and reflectors; at home, a large window without direct sun does a similar job. Plain, mid-tone backgrounds read well at small sizes and suit most websites. Head-and-shoulders framing, with your eyes about a third of the way down, is the classic starting point.
Clothes and grooming
Solid colours that contrast with the background are the safest choice. Avoid fine stripes and checks that can shimmer on screens, check the fit while sitting, and bring two or three pressed options. Time haircuts and grooming a few days to a week ahead so they settle, keep skin care unchanged, and use a little powder or blotting paper to manage shine under bright lights.
Choosing a photographer
Look at headshot-specific portfolios, ask clear questions about session length, retouched images, file formats, turnaround and licensing, and compare written quotes for the same deliverables. You can check a business's ABN on the Australian Business Register. The ACCC explains that services come with consumer guarantees, including acceptable care and skill.
Who owns your headshot?
Paying for a session doesn't automatically give you copyright. The Australian Copyright Council explains that, for commissioned photos taken on or after 30 July 1998, photos for private or domestic purposes generally belong to the client, while photos for other purposes, which includes most business headshots, generally belong to the photographer unless you agree otherwise. Get a written licence that covers all the ways you plan to use the images.
Children's photos
If you are arranging headshots for a young performer, keep styling natural, stay present during the session and think carefully before sharing images online. The eSafety Commissioner suggests avoiding details such as full names, school uniforms and locations in shared photos.
Use the shoot planner
Our free shoot planner turns what you need the photo for into a simple brief, covering framing, background, expression, outfits and what to bring. It runs entirely in your browser, and nothing you choose is sent anywhere.
About this site
This web address was once home to a headshot photography studio's website, which later closed. Headshots is a new, independent site with original content and no connection to any previous operator. We never invent prices, statistics, quotes or testimonials.
