Stephen Walton Photography Workshops

If you’re a portrait photography wanting to take better headshots for your portfolio then check out these 5 little tips that can make your shots easier to achieve, faster to take and a way more enjoyable experience.

You might be taking headshots for a business or just for personal progression, either way, creating a relaxed environment is crucial to getting the results you want.

1. Remote Shutter Release Trick

Raid Amazon (or any good photographic stockist) for a remote shutter release cable or button. Connect, or pair, it up to your digital camera so you can take the shot without being right behind the camera or having to touch the camera at all.

Why is this helpful? It means you can frame up your shot, check the exposure, lock in focus and then take the shot when your subject is at their most relaxed.

Standing behind the camera looking through the viewfinder creates a barrier between you and the subject which makes creating a connection/rapport much harder without eye contact. A remote shutter button allows you to chat candidly and take the shot without that barrier.

2. Wait 5 Minutes Before Shooting

Hi, hello, sit down there, let’s take some photos…..woah! Hold your horses!

When you’re doing something for the first time an introduction goes a long way – same for photography. If your headshot subject has never had their portrait taken before get to know them a little bit first.

Tell them what you’re going to do, what you expect of them (try not to overwhelm them) and how you intend the photo to look. You’re basically buying yourself time to allow your subject to get comfy with the surroundings before you start shooting.

Lost for something to talk about? Ask about them. What they do, how their day has been etc just to get the ball rolling. Wait about 5 minutes from their arrival before you consider even taking a shot.

3. Angle Those Shoulders in Portraits

When you are taking headshot photographs most of the shots are cropped just below the shoulders, but this still shows the widest part of the body. If you want to keep your audience’s attention on the subject’s face (which you do) then angle their body away from the camera, so they look side on.

Ask your subject to look back at the camera so the body appears narrower taking the attention off the shoulders and back to the face. It makes the body look slimmer too in case your subject is conscious of that.

4. Focus on the Eyes

When deciding where to place your focus point with headshot photography know this – don’t put it anywhere apart from the eyes! The eyes are the first element we look at on a portrait, no matter how quick or subconsciously we register it. It sets the tone for the portrait and the overall feel for the photo so getting the eyes sharp is key.

I tend to use AF-S single spot focus point in most of my individual headshot photos with great success. Wide or Zonal focusing modes are better for group photos rather than headshots.

If your subject is turned side on place the focus point on the nearest eye to the camera.

5. Be Confident

Such the easiest title to write, but the hardest tip to act on. But I promise you if you act confident about what you’re doing and how you direct your subject they’ll feel in safer hands – relaxing them quicker.

You don’t need to overload them with technical speak to sound confident. Just be positive with what you say. Give them praise, simple directions and show them some of your favourite shots as you take them (of course, skip any of the ‘bad’ ones!).

Headshot Photography Summary

I hope these headshot photography tips have been useful for you and make your shoots easier and more fun.