Playbook: How to Take A Headshot

Made by Michael.

This playbook will help you take a legit headshot using only a smart phone and a nearby location.

While everyone has the power to take photos with smart phones, not all images are created equally. You want to make sure you have a legit headshot to use across all of your accounts: LinkedIn, Gmail, Medium, TKS.life.

Say good bye to these profile pictures

Your headshot will set the stage for first impressions as you meet people, be your avatar on slack and tks.life as people get to know you. Make it authentic and have high standards.

🔑 Yes, update all of your accounts with this photo or your directors will call you out.

1. Set yourself up for success with a good camera set up

Have a latest smart phone with portrait mode (Iphone 8 and above, and Google Pixel 3 + up, etc).

The later the model, the better the camera will be. Borrow your parents, borrow a friends, or make a new friend to borrow their phone for an afternoon to get a legit photo.
Portrait mode will help make you sharp and in focus and blur out the background.
Download an app that will allow you to take RAW photos. These allow for better editing afterwards.

ACTION: Watch these videos 👇

2. Get a good shot with lighting and pose

The environment

Diffuse Lighting The quality of the shot is directly proportional to the quality of lighting. Bad lighting will ruin a good shot.

Have good diffuse lighting that highlights you as the subject. There should be no shadows on your face, and you should be brighter than the background.

Tip: Cloudy days are the best way to get perfect diffuse lighting. Or you can stand in front of a window.

✔ Do use diffuse, soft lighting (hint: put white t shirt in front of light)

✔ Do have your whole self lit up

❌ Don't have harsh shadows (don't use single point lighting)

❌ Don't have harsh shadows covering your face

Clean background with contrast Make sure the background does not detract from you as the subject. Have depth, blur and contrast between you and your background.

✔ Do

❌ Don't

Plain white or single colored background

Indoors with good depth

Vibrant color with abstract shapes

Outdoors with good depth

He blends in with the background and has too much going on

Don't take your photo at school. The environment makes you look like a kid.

Be intentional with what you wear. No suit and tie but also no ripped hoodie. Be authentic to you and make sure you clothing is clean. Don't have it be a distraction or focal point of your photo.

Make sure camera angle is at eye level and you are centered looking straight at the camera

Tip: Make sure this photo is all about you. You are the focal point. Not your clothing, not the background, and not bad lighting.

3. Make your photo tell a story

Reveal something about you. The best photos tell a story. It's in your body posture, your eyes, and facial expression. Here are some prompts for helping your photo tell a story.

Boss Mentality

Imagine yourself in 10 years. You are the CEO and leader of a multi-million dollar startup. Embody that confidence now.

Curiosity

Imagine you are right on the verge of finding a universal vaccine to prevent the next global pandemic. Get the

Enthusiasm

Bring the energy and have some fun! Do something that makes your full body laugh and then take a portrait.

Tip: Work with a friend or family member and have fun with making a shoot. Some times the best shots are the ones in between poses, so be sure to get candid shots in there. The more photos you take the more you can chose from in post processing.

4. Edit your photo to make it pop

Edit the contrast and colors so your photos pop. Check out the photo editing playbook for tips.

You can also use preset edits, such as VSCO app.

Tip: Editing cannot make a bad photo and make it good. Make sure you have 1-3 down. Editing helps a good photo and makes it great.