Headshot photography is similar in many ways to portrait photography, but headshots are often used in different ways. Headshots may be used for professionals in specific businesses or models as part of a portfolio. Actors often use them as part of an introduction when applying for a role in a production, and some photographers offer headshot sessions for social media and other uses.
Headshot Photo Sessions
Booking a session with a photographer specializing in headshot photography is often the best way to get professional headshots that meet your needs. While a portrait can often seem similar to a headshot, they differ in a few ways.
Headshots often have very simple backgrounds that allow the viewer to focus directly on the person in the photo, and most of the time, the shot only includes the subject from mid-chest up. The idea is to minimize anything that doesn't need to be in the picture and focus on presenting the subject at their best.
For models and actors, the casting department may be looking for a specific type of person for a project, and they don't care about anything but the person's face. The headshots allow them to focus on the facial features and determine if that person is a good fit for them, so retouching and editing the headshots should be kept to a minimum.
Headshots For Business
Many industries use headshot photography for images used on websites, business cards, advertisements, and other literature. The real estate industry, large businesses that need corporate photographs, and law firms often use headshots because they can pull the background out of the picture and focus solely on the individual to advertise thee business.
Often a real estate agent will pay for headshot photography to add a professional picture to their business card, so the client remembers them when they come into the office. This marketing technique is common in industries where people depend on repeat business or commission sales.
Stylized Headshots
Some headshot photography can be more stylized to meet the client's needs, and the photographer capturing the images may set up the session in a specific place to get a particular look or feel to the photos. While this kind of headshot photography is not typical for business professionals, you can use it in many ways to create something a little more appealing to the client.
Professional social media images often fall into this genre of headshot photography but will often have a specific environment or mood to them that allows the photographer to capture the client in a way that better reflects their personality. Often headshot sessions like this require some planning, so you may need to meet with the photographer providing the service to discuss the best place for the headshot photography before the shoot.
For more information on headshot photography, contact a company like Jackson Davis Photography.
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