Tips for Beautiful Selfie Headshots

In today’s digital landscape we present ourselves using headshots all across the web in the form of profile pics and avatars. Often a quick selfie we took plays the role, but how can we elevate that selfie to look professional? Read on for two simple and powerful tips I received from the boudoir photographer and former model, Candace Perry, for achieving a beautiful selfie headshot. 

Keep it simple

As one of Candace’s new Studio Managers, she asked for a headshot for the website to highlight the Beautiful You Studios all-women team. She gave some great initial tips and assured us that an iPhone alone could produce a high-quality image. A plain background does so much to highlight the subject. Our brains love a balance of positive and negative space (composition), busy backgrounds can be distracting to the eye. I found a selfie from my iphone and photoshopped the background out. I then submitted the headshot below to Candace.

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Already an improvement. No longer is the viewer looking to see what’s going on in the background, but rather focusing on my face. When I sent this to Candace she met me with some great coaching to get an even better headshot.

Let there be light

A great headshot is well illuminated. “Take another picture with no hat against a white background and face straight on to the camera,” directed Candace. “If the window is in front of you too instead of behind it would be better, you’ll get great light. Bathrooms typically work well too for more light on the face!”

So, I did just that.

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I stood in my bathroom in front of the window and snapped a couple of selfie headshots. The difference it made was amazing! Using an already plain backdrop made way more sense than having to photoshop anything out, too (and let’s face it, that’s a skill best left to the professionals).

Lighting was the biggest factor in achieving this professional-looking headshot. The in-depth knowledge of light Candace has makes it clear why she chooses to photograph in natural light only. Using these tips my eyes twinkle more and my cheeks reflect back the glow of the sun.

Understanding the difference

These simple tips came to me as a casual email from Candace, so you can imagine the guidance you’d receive in-person during one of Beautiful You Studio’s boudoir sessions. Candace gives head to toe direction, shoots only with high-end equipment and then, of course, each photo is professionally processed.

Even though the photos pictured here can be taken with iPhones and a little knowledge of light, they’re just not high enough resolution for quality printing. Beautiful You Studios only focuses on boudoir photography; no branding or headshot specific sessions. When you book a boudoir session with Candance, you do receive ONE 5-minutes complimentary business headshot, because why not, you’re all dolled up anyway!