How to Pose for Professional Headshots

Pose #1: The Standard

Straighten your back, turn your chest 10 to 45 degrees from the camera, and lean slightly toward the camera.

Pose #2: Arms Crossed

Want to convey a bit more charisma than the standard pose? Cross your arms to create a powerful/tough impression on the viewer. A slight or full smile can help balance out the crossed arms to create a strong, yet friendly impression.

Pose #3: Hands at Hips

A bit more fun than standard posing, placing your hands on your hips gives the viewer the impression of you being hard at work.

Pose #4: Over the Shoulder

An over-the-shoulder pose is fun and candid. It creates the impression that the photographer “snuck up on you” for a less staged feel. This style is perfect for actors, models, or business professionals who want a personality picture along with their business headshot.

Pose #5: Play With Glasses (or Any Other Prop)

A couple shots with your favorite pair of glasses can do wonders for appearing thoughtful in your portrait session. This is a great pose for designers, artists and thought-leaders.

Pose #6: Lean Sideways

Similar to the over-the-shoulder pose, a sideways lean against a wall creates a candid vibe for your headshot. When striking this pose, make sure that the wall is clean and brightly lit — a dirty wall will be distracting.

Pose #7: Lean In

Leaning toward the camera while seated can be a great way to appear relaxed during your session. This posture is also perfect for clients who are hoping to hide a double-chin. (No judgement here!)

Pose #8: Cross-Candid

While difficult to get just right, a cross-candid pose can be an awesome asset for personal branding projects with consultants, entrepreneurs and thought-leaders.

The term “cross-candid” means that the photo is both candid (the subject is not looking into the lens), plus their head is turned “across” the camera.