Most people have no idea what to do with their face and body when a camera points at them. That's normal. You're not a model. You're a professional who needs a good photo.
The good news: headshot posing is simple once you understand a few principles. The bad news: most of the advice online is written for photographers, not for the person standing in front of the camera. This guide is for you, the subject.
The Foundation: Body Position
Everything starts with how you position your body relative to the camera. Get this right and the rest falls into place.
Turn Slightly
Never face the camera straight on with your shoulders squared. It looks like a mugshot. Instead, turn your body about 20-30 degrees to one side. This creates a natural, three-dimensional look and makes your shoulders appear narrower.
Your photographer will direct this, but knowing it in advance helps you understand what they're asking for.
Weight on the Back Foot
If you're standing, place one foot slightly behind the other and shift your weight onto the back foot. This opens your posture and creates a subtle lean toward the camera that reads as confident and engaged. Putting weight on the front foot makes you look like you're about to fall forward.
Shoulders Down and Back
Under stress, shoulders creep up toward your ears. It's the most common tension tell in headshot photography. Before each shot, take a breath, drop your shoulders, and pull them slightly back. Not exaggerated, just enough to open your chest and look relaxed.
A good photographer will remind you to do this every few minutes. Do it even if they don't.
Posture Without Stiffness
Sit or stand tall, but don't lock up. There's a difference between good posture and rigid posture. Think "confident" rather than "military." A slight natural curve in the lower back is fine. Ramrod straight looks uncomfortable because it is uncomfortable.
The Face: Where People Actually Look
Your body position is the frame. Your face is the photo. Here's what makes the difference.
The Jaw
The single most impactful posing tip in headshot photography: push your forehead slightly toward the camera and tilt your chin down a fraction. Photographers call this "turtle" or "leading with the forehead."
It sounds and feels awkward. It looks great on camera. It defines your jawline, eliminates the appearance of a double chin (even if you don't have one), and creates a subtle intensity in your expression. Every headshot photographer in the world uses this technique.
The key is "slightly." Push too far and you look like you're about to headbutt someone. A centimeter or two of forward movement is enough.
Eyes
Look directly at the camera lens, not at the photographer standing beside it. Direct eye contact through the lens creates connection. Looking slightly off-center creates disconnect.
That said, don't stare. Sustained hard eye contact looks aggressive. Keep your gaze soft. Think about something that makes you genuinely happy or focused, not about trying to "look professional." The camera captures the thought behind the expression, not the expression itself.
If you wear glasses, be aware of reflections. Tilt your glasses down very slightly on your nose or ask your photographer to adjust the lighting. Modern lens coatings help, but overhead lighting can still create glare.
The Mouth
The two safe options:
Closed-mouth smile. Slight upturn at the corners. This reads as confident, approachable, and professional. It's the default for corporate, legal, and medical headshots. The trick: think of something that actually amuses you. A forced "slight smile" looks forced. A real one involves your eyes.
Open-mouth smile. Shows teeth. More energetic and approachable. Works well for real estate, sales, creative fields, and anyone whose job involves building rapport with strangers. The risk: some people's natural smile looks different than they think it does. Ask your photographer for honest feedback.
What doesn't work: neutral/expressionless face (looks unfriendly), overly wide smile (looks manic), pursed lips (looks disapproving), biting your lip (looks anxious).
Head Tilt
A slight tilt can add warmth and approachability. The general guidance: tilt toward your leading shoulder (the one closer to the camera). This creates a subtle S-curve in the composition.
But this is industry-dependent. Corporate and legal headshots typically work better with a level head, which reads as authoritative. Creative and therapeutic fields can lean into a slight tilt, which reads as approachable.
When in doubt, keep it level.
What to Do with Your Hands
In a standard headshot, your hands probably aren't visible. The crop is shoulders-up. But if you're doing a three-quarter or environmental shot:
Arms crossed. Can work if done loosely. Cross your arms gently and let your hands rest flat on your arms. Don't grip your biceps (it looks tense). This pose reads as confident in corporate settings.
One hand on hip. Creates a triangle between your arm and body, which is visually interesting and slimming. Works better for women in most contexts. Keep it relaxed.
Hands in pockets. Casual and approachable. Works for tech, creative, and startup headshots. Leave your thumbs out for a more relaxed look.
Holding something. A pen, a coffee cup, a stethoscope. Props can create context but they also date photos and distract from your face. Use sparingly.
Best default: let your hands fall naturally at your sides and forget about them. Your photographer will direct you if they need your hands in the shot.
Preparation: Before the Session
Posing well starts before you walk into the studio.
Practice your expression. Stand in front of a mirror or your phone camera and practice the subtle jaw extension and soft eye contact described above. It will feel strange at first. Give it five minutes and it'll feel natural.
Relax your face muscles. Before the session, do some facial stretches: exaggerate a yawn, scrunch your face tightly and release, puff your cheeks out and exhale. This loosens the muscles around your eyes and mouth that tend to freeze under camera pressure.
Arrive early. Rushing in from the parking lot means you start your session stressed. Give yourself 10-15 minutes to settle in, check your outfit, and get comfortable in the space.
Move between shots. Don't hold a pose for extended periods. Shift your weight, look away from the camera, shake out your shoulders, then reset. Natural movement keeps your expression fresh. Held poses get progressively stiffer.
Talk to your photographer. A conversation about your work, your interests, anything keeps your face animated and natural between shots. The best headshots often come from the moments between posed shots, when you're genuinely engaged and your expression is unguarded.
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I position my body for a headshot?
Turn your body 20-30 degrees to one side, never face the camera square-on. Shift weight to your back foot to create a subtle forward lean. Drop shoulders down and back to release tension. Push forehead slightly toward camera and chin down a fraction to define your jawline. Maintain soft, direct eye contact with the lens.
What is the best facial expression for a professional headshot?
A closed-mouth smile with slight upturn at corners works for corporate, legal, and medical fields. Open-mouth smile showing teeth suits real estate, sales, and creative roles. The key: think of something genuinely pleasant so your eyes match your mouth. Avoid neutral expressionless faces, overly wide grins, and pursed lips.
Can I use AI headshots instead of posing for photos?
AI headshot generators like Narkis.ai eliminate posing anxiety entirely. Upload everyday photos and the AI handles body angle, jaw position, lighting, and expression automatically. At $29 for 200 headshots, it removes both cost and performance pressure. Ideal for people who freeze on camera or lack time for studio sessions.
How do I avoid looking stiff in headshots?
Move between shots rather than holding poses. Do facial stretches before sessions to loosen muscles. Think about genuine experiences that make you happy instead of forcing professionalism. Relax shoulders, keep eye contact soft rather than hard stare, and breathe naturally. Talk with your photographer between shots to stay animated and engaged.
What should I do with my hands in a headshot?
Most headshots crop at shoulders, so hands aren't visible. For three-quarter shots: cross arms loosely without gripping biceps, place one hand on hip to create triangles, put hands in pockets with thumbs out, or let them fall naturally at sides. Avoid props that date photos or distract from your face.
Posing by Profession
Different industries have different expectations, and the same person might need different poses depending on context.
Corporate and executive: Square shoulders, level head, confident expression. The pose should communicate authority and competence. Arms crossed or hands clasped work well for three-quarter shots. Read our corporate headshot guide
Lawyers: Similar to corporate but often even more conservative. Level head, direct gaze, closed-mouth smile or neutral expression. The pose should say "I will handle your problem." Read our lawyer headshot guide
Doctors and medical professionals: Approachable but competent. A slight smile goes a long way in healthcare headshots. Patients are choosing from a list of strangers, and warmth matters. White coat on or off depends on your institution. Read our doctor headshot guide
Real estate agents: Energy and approachability. Open smile, engaged expression. You're trying to be the agent someone wants to spend weekends with house hunting. Stiff poses lose clients. Read our real estate headshot guide
Actors: Range matters more than a single look. Casting directors want to see you, not a pose. Multiple expressions. Serious, warm, intense, approachable. That versatility matters. Minimal posing, maximum expression. Read our actor headshot guide
Therapists and counselors: Warmth and safety. Soft expression, slight tilt, genuine smile. The person viewing your headshot is often in a vulnerable state and choosing who to trust. An intimidating or overly corporate pose will lose them. Read our therapist headshot guide
Tech and creative: More freedom. Relaxed posture, genuine expression, less structured. The headshot should match the culture you work in. A startup founder and a Fortune 500 engineer need different energy. Read our engineer headshot guide
For a complete overview of profession-specific headshot standards, see our guide to all types of professional headshots.
The AI Option: Posing Without the Pressure
One of the biggest advantages of AI headshot generators is that they eliminate the posing anxiety entirely. There's no studio, no photographer watching, no pressure to perform on command.
With Narkis.ai, you upload everyday photos and the AI generates professionally composed headshots with natural, flattering poses. The technology handles the body angle, jaw position, lighting, and expression automatically. You review the results and pick the ones that look best.
This is particularly useful for people who freeze up on camera, don't photograph well under pressure, or simply don't have time to prepare for and attend a studio session. At $29 for a full set, it removes both the cost barrier and the performance anxiety.
Of course, a skilled photographer brings something AI can't replicate: real-time direction and coaching, plus the ability to capture a genuinely spontaneous moment. If you have the budget and enjoy the process, a professional session is still valuable. But if the camera makes you uncomfortable, AI headshots let you skip the hardest part.
Quick Reference
Always: Slight body turn, shoulders down, jaw slightly forward and chin down, soft eye contact
For authority: Level head, squared shoulders, closed-mouth smile, direct gaze
For approachability: Slight head tilt, open smile, relaxed shoulders, warm expression
Avoid: Squared-on mugshot stance, shoulders hunched, hard stare, forced grin, rigid posture
For more on headshot preparation, see our guides on what to wear for a headshot and how much professional headshots cost.
