This is the single reference for every common headshot question. Getting your first headshot or updating one from five years ago? The answers are here.

General Questions

What is a professional headshot?

A professional headshot is a tightly framed photo of your head and shoulders with controlled lighting against a clean background, used for business purposes like LinkedIn, company websites, and conference materials. It differs from selfies, portraits, and casual photos by its specific framing, lighting quality, and professional intent.

The technical definition: a tightly framed photo of your head and shoulders, taken with controlled lighting against a clean background, intended for professional use. It appears on LinkedIn, company websites, business cards, conference bios, and professional directories.

It's not a selfie, not a portrait, and not a casual photo. For a detailed breakdown of how headshots differ from other photo types, see headshot vs. portrait vs. profile photo.

Why do I need a professional headshot?

LinkedIn profiles with professional headshots receive 14x more views and 36% more messages than profiles without. Your headshot appears everywhere: company websites, email signatures, conference materials, Zoom profiles, and professional directories. It creates first impressions before you ever speak to someone, communicating competence and credibility or undermining it entirely.

Beyond LinkedIn, your headshot shows up everywhere: company websites, email signatures, conference materials, Zoom profiles, and professional directories.

Your headshot is often someone's first impression of you. A professional one communicates competence and credibility. A bad one, or no photo at all, communicates the opposite.

How much does a professional headshot cost?

From a photographer: $150-400 in most markets, $400-800+ in major cities like New York or San Francisco. This typically includes 3-10 edited photos.

From an AI generator: $29-50 for 40-200 photos depending on the tool. Narkis.ai charges $29 for 200 photos.

For a complete pricing breakdown including hidden costs, see our headshot pricing guide.

How often should I update my headshot?

Every 1-2 years as a baseline, or immediately when your appearance changes significantly (new hairstyle, weight change, glasses). Actors should update every 6-12 months. Real estate agents annually.

Full guidance: how often to update your headshot.

Preparation Questions

What should I wear for a headshot?

Solid colors in jewel tones (navy, deep green, burgundy) work well across skin tones. Avoid busy patterns, pure white, and pure black. Match the formality to your industry. Jewel tones photograph better than pastels, and solid colors keep the focus on your face rather than your clothing.

Full wardrobe guide: what to wear for a headshot.

What should you not wear for a headshot?

Avoid busy patterns, pure white, pure black, logos, and anything too trendy or revealing. Patterns create distracting visual noise. Pure white blows out under studio lighting. Pure black creates a harsh contrast. Logos date the photo and distract from your face. Choose timeless, solid colors that complement your skin tone instead.

Sleeveless tops often look too casual for professional headshots. Avoid turtlenecks unless your industry is exceptionally formal. Statement jewelry should be minimal. The goal is timeless professionalism, not fashion-forward style.

Do I need makeup for a headshot?

Yes for women, recommended for men. Makeup evens skin tone and reduces shine under professional lighting. For women: matte foundation, neutral eye makeup, natural lip color. For men: tinted moisturizer and translucent powder on the T-zone prevents oily shine. Professional lighting amplifies every skin imperfection, so even minimal makeup improves results.

Full makeup guide: headshot makeup tips.

How should I pose for a headshot?

Turn your body 20-30 degrees from the camera. Push your forehead slightly toward the lens and tilt your chin down a fraction. Drop your shoulders. These three adjustments transform a snapshot into a headshot.

Full posing guide: how to pose for a headshot.

What background should I use?

Solid gray is the universal safe choice. Dark blue works for corporate and legal. Light backgrounds work for healthcare. Blurred environments add context for real estate and creative fields.

Full background guide: headshot background ideas.

Getting Your Headshot

Can I take a professional headshot at home?

Yes. You need a smartphone (rear camera, not selfie), a window for natural light, a clean wall for background, and a tripod or stable surface. Use portrait mode and take 50-100 photos.

Full DIY guide: how to take a headshot at home.

How do AI headshot generators work?

You upload 10-20 casual photos of yourself. The AI trains a model on your facial features, then generates new photos with professional lighting, composition, and backgrounds. The output looks like studio photography.

Tools like Narkis.ai complete training in about 3 minutes and generate results in seconds.

Are AI headshots good enough for professional use?

In 2026, yes. The best AI tools produce photos indistinguishable from professional studio shots for standard uses like LinkedIn, company websites, and business cards.

Where AI still falls short: highly creative editorial photography, environmental portraits in specific locations, and industries where photo provenance matters (such as model agency submissions).

Full comparison: AI headshots vs. professional photographer.

How do I choose a headshot photographer?

Look for consistent quality across different subjects in their portfolio. Good photographers show natural expressions, not stiff poses, demonstrate strong lighting technique, and provide clear pricing that includes retouching. Check for positive client reviews, reasonable session length, and usage rights clarity before booking.

Expressions should look natural, not stiff. Check for good lighting technique, clear pricing that includes retouching, and positive client reviews. Ask about session length, number of final photos, and usage rights.

Full guide: how to choose a headshot photographer.

What's the best AI headshot app?

Narkis.ai offers the best combination of quality and value at $29 for 200 photos. For native mobile apps, Aragon AI is strong. For teams, HeadshotPro has useful admin features.

Full comparison: best AI headshot apps.

Technical Questions

What size should my headshot be?

For LinkedIn: 800x800 to 1200x1200 pixels. For email signatures: 160x160 to 300x300 pixels. For company websites: 600x600 to 1200x1200 pixels. Most social platforms display photos as circles, except GitHub (square) and Slack (rounded square). Higher resolution always beats lower, so export at maximum quality.

Platform-dependent. LinkedIn: 800x800 to 1200x1200 pixels. Email signature: 160x160 to 300x300 pixels. Company websites: 600x600 to 1200x1200 pixels. Most social platforms display them as circles, except GitHub (square) and Slack (rounded square).

Full dimensions guide: headshot size and dimensions.

What lighting is best for headshots?

Soft, front-facing light. A large window on an overcast day is ideal for DIY. Professionals use studio flash with softboxes. Five named setups exist (butterfly, Rembrandt, loop, split, flat), each creating a different mood.

Full lighting guide: headshot lighting.

How much retouching should my headshot have?

Light retouching is standard and appropriate: remove temporary blemishes, lighten under-eye circles, even skin tone, clean up flyaway hairs. Avoid heavy skin smoothing, feature reshaping, or dramatic age reversal. Apply the "video call test": would you be comfortable if someone compared your headshot to your actual face on a live call?

The "video call test": would you be comfortable if someone compared your headshot to your face on a live video call?

Full retouching guide: headshot retouching.

Is it safe to upload my photos to AI headshot services?

Reputable services use your photos only to train your personal model and generate your headshots, then delete them within 30-90 days. Check for explicit data deletion timelines, confirmation that your photos will not be used for general AI training, and self-service data deletion options. Avoid services that claim permanent rights to your images.

Check for explicit data deletion timelines, confirmation that your photos aren't used for general AI training, and self-service data deletion options.

Full privacy guide: AI headshot privacy and safety.

Industry-Specific Questions

What should a corporate/executive headshot look like?

Professional, authoritative, composed. Solid background (gray or blue), business attire, confident expression. Level head, direct gaze.

Full guide: corporate headshots.

What do clients notice in a lawyer headshot?

Authority and trustworthiness. Conservative background, professional attire, direct gaze, measured expression. Among the most formal headshot styles.

Full guide: lawyer headshots.

What makes a good doctor headshot?

Approachability and competence. Patients choose doctors partly based on whether the headshot makes them feel comfortable. Warm expression, white coat optional, light background.

Full guide: doctor headshots.

What do casting directors look for in actor headshots?

You, not a character. Range, authenticity, and current appearance. Multiple expressions showing versatility. Minimal styling to avoid locking into one type.

Full guide: actor headshots.

What about headshots for other professions?

We have dedicated guides for: real estate, nursing, teaching, financial advising, therapy, consulting, engineering/tech, music, modeling, pastoral work, dentistry, and military.

For a complete overview: types of professional headshots by industry.

Situational Questions

Should I put a headshot on my resume?

Depends on geography. In the US and UK, generally no. In Germany, France, and most of Europe, yes. In Asia, usually yes.

Full guide: headshot on resume.

What headshot do I need for Zoom/video calls?

A clean, friendly headshot recognizable at small sizes (40x40 pixels in participant lists) works best. Apply the same standards as LinkedIn but can be slightly more casual. Upload to all platforms: Zoom, Teams, Slack, Google. Your profile photo appears in every meeting invitation and participant list, creating impressions before you speak.

Same standards as LinkedIn but can be slightly more casual. Upload to all platforms: Zoom, Teams, Slack, Google.

Full guide: headshot for Zoom and video calls.

I'm graduating. Do I need a headshot?

Yes. Before you graduate, not after. Your LinkedIn headshot affects every recruiter interaction. University career services often offer free sessions. AI generators cost $29. No excuse.

Full guide: graduation headshots.

My company needs team headshots. What's the best approach?

For consistency and logistics, AI generators work well at scale. Each person uploads their own photos on their own time, and you set guidelines for background, clothing, and expression to ensure visual consistency. This avoids scheduling conflicts, travel, and the logistical nightmare of coordinating 20+ people with a photographer.

Set guidelines for background, clothing, and expression to ensure visual consistency.

Full guide: AI headshots for business teams.

Still Have Questions?

Start with our overview of all types of professional headshots for a comprehensive starting point, or browse the specific guides linked throughout this FAQ.