Should you smile for a corporate headshot?
One of the most frequent questions I get asked by my business clients is whether or not they should smile for their corporate headshots or their profile picture on networking platforms such as LinkedIn.
And one of the commons reasons for the question is the misconception that looking more serious will mean they get taken more seriously. But whether you are just starting out in your career or are the CEO of a major multinational, a friendly and approachable demeanour can contribute massively towards creating a positive first impression.
As I’ve mentioned in other posts, a recent study conducted by psychologists showed that it takes just one tenth of a second for people to make a lasting impression of others by looking at their photograph, and one of the most significant factors in creating a positive first impression is whether or not the subject is smiling.
A genuine smile in your headshot can convey warmth and openness, making you more relatable to potential clients or employers. It can help break down barriers and establish a connection right from the start. But genuine is the key word.
It’s important to strike a balance. A smile should be natural and not forced, as an overly cheesy or exaggerated smile may come across as insincere or unprofessional. Remember, you want to represent yourself authentically while still portraying a professional image.
Given that most people would rather go to the dentist than have their photograph taken, it’s a huge part of the professional headshot photographer’s job to make sure that their clients feel sufficiently comfortable to allow genuine expressions to emerge. It’s a general rule of thumb that if you feel awkward when you’re having your photograph taken, you’ll look awkward.
As David Bailey once said, ‘taking a portrait is 90% conversation and 10% clicking a shutter’, and my job isn’t to say ‘cheese’, it’s to communicate authentically with my clients so that when I do press the shutter, it’s at the exact moment when they are expressing genuine warmth and engagement.
Of course, when you’re considering what image you want to portray, the nature of your business sector and the type of clients you are targeting may have some bearing on the best way forward, so I’ll always suggest going for a range of looks during a business headshot session, both in terms of outfits and expressions – from more formal and serious to more casual and smiley – to ensure that clients have a good variety of options to use on different platforms.
Ultimately, the decision to smile in your corporate headshot is up to you and depends on the image you want to present, but remember the old adage: “You only get one chance to make a positive first impression”.
