How should I photograph a professional headshot for a CV or résumé?
Asked 2/16/2011
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2 answers
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I need to make a professional headshot/business portrait for a CV or résumé. What are the main things to consider to make it look polished and appropriate?
In particular, what should I pay attention to for:
- focal length
- lighting
- background
- crop/composition
- whether it’s better to photograph someone else rather than attempt a self-portrait
Originally by user3912. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user3912
15y ago
2 Answers
19
You are looking for a "headshot", or "business portrait". There are a few different characteristics that define the style, which I will touch on as I go.
Focal length:
The standard "portrait" focal length is about 85mm, but any short-telephoto will be ideal. The idea is that you want to 1) Get a nice closeup of your subject, and 2) Use a telephoto, which unlike a normal or wide-angle lens, will provide "background compression". Basically, this will make the image feel a little flatter, so you can avoid the really long nose look.
Lighting:
This depends on your subject, but usually, Rembrandt Lighting is a good option.
Background:
This is also dependent on your subject, but commonly, a dark, neutral background will work well. For some professions, such as an attorney, there is an expected background (bookshelves for instance), but most of the time, you want the background to be neutral and free from distractions.
Crop:
The standard look is a portrait layout (taller than wide), with the subject centered in the frame, and eye-level placed on the top third mark.
Originally by user67. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user67
15y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
For a CV/résumé photo, think in terms of a professional headshot or business portrait.
A short telephoto lens is usually the safest choice: around 85mm is a classic portrait focal length, but any short telephoto works well. This helps avoid the distortion you can get with wider lenses and gives a more flattering look.
Lighting matters a lot. A simple, flattering portrait setup is best; Rembrandt-style lighting is a common choice, and beginner-friendly headshot lighting setups such as the classic “headshot in a corner” can work well.
For the background, keep it neutral and unobtrusive. A dark or otherwise plain background is commonly used so attention stays on the subject.
Compose it as a headshot/business portrait with a clean, professional crop rather than an overly casual or dramatic framing.
If possible, avoid doing it as a self-portrait unless you already have solid experience with lighting, posing, and camera setup. It’s usually much easier to get a strong result when another person photographs the subject, and best of all is to hire a local professional portrait photographer if that’s an option.
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