What’s a headshot?

Simply put, a headshot is an image from the shoulders up! It includes a bit of the chest - it’s important to still have a good sense for the outfit a person is wearing. At the top, it’ll end right above the hair, with the eyes usually coming in at around the top third of the frame. Headshots can be in either horizontal or landscape orientation, too! There’s a huge range of looks that can be achieved with a headshot because there are endless combinations of backdrops, lighting looks, wardrobe options, posing, technical choices, and the list goes on. So the one thing that will unite all headshots is that they are ONLY from the shoulders up.

So, what’s a portrait, then? And isn’t a headshot a portrait? Yes! 

Every headshot is a portrait, but not every portrait is a headshot!

Portraits come in even more flavors because the amount of a person’s body in the shot can differ. A ¼ length portrait can probably also be described as a headshot. Beyond that, you’ve got ½ portraits which are waist-up, ¾ length which end mid-thigh, and full-length portraits which go to the floor. 

Generally speaking, the more of a person’s body is in the frame, the more of the background you’ll see, as well. Longer portraits can work really well for environmental images where you really want to see where the person is. In the context of branding photos, maybe you need to see an artisan baker in front of their racks of dough with the ovens in the background. 

Wider portraits give a sense of space.

As you tighten up on just the head, the face can really take center stage. The background becomes less important and a viewer's gaze is drawn toward the eyes. Here, expression and posing become really important. Sometimes it’s just the tiniest tilt of the neck, move of the chin, or turn of the face that can transform an image. Now, it’s all about creating a connection from the image to the viewer. 

Tight portraits or headshots emphasize the connection between subject and viewer.

This is why headshots are so important to get right. They’re a first impression, and sometimes the only visual one a person gets to make. A great headshot, whether it’s a corporate or more artistic style, has a simple goal - to give the viewer a glimpse at the subject’s personality.

Here are some examples of headshots and portraits. Check out the incredible diversity available!