Beginner Headshot Photography Tips

Beginner Headshot Photography Tips - Scott James Reeves

- February 22, 2026

It depends on what type of headshots you're looking to do. Acting headshots have a fairly standardized set of expectations that's different from corporate, and both are different from modeling, and all of those are different from small business/author/artist shots.

The general ideas that are more universal are to have the subject well lit, and separated from the background. It should be distinct enough to be easily recognizable as the person in a small thumbnail of the photo, but there's not too much else similar.

Overall you can use one of your lights for a key-light and the other as a rim-light or fill, but even then there's a lot of variation depending on how you want the end product to look. There's too much variation just within headshots to give one solution.

Backgrounds are another factor- Sometimes a solid backdrop is best, but for other styles it works better to integrate the subject into the scene. Sometimes a bokeh blurred background is fine, other times you may want a wider depth of field, and part of that will also depend on how you plan to light it all.

When I started with headshot photography, I found that the key was to keep things simple at first and focus on the subject. Here are a few tips that helped me improve my headshot game:

Lighting: Since you already have two continuous lights and softbox attachments, try experimenting with different lighting positions to find the most flattering look for your subject. I often position one light at a 45-degree angle from the front to create a nice, even illumination, and use the second light as a fill light to eliminate harsh shadows.
Background: Keep the background simple and unobtrusive to maintain focus on the subject. Solid colors work best, and you can always add some depth by using a slightly out-of-focus background.
Posing: Guide your subject to relax and maintain a natural expression. I usually chat with them a bit to ease any nervousness and get them comfortable. It's important to direct them on how to pose their head and shoulders to achieve a flattering angle.
Lens and distance: A moderate telephoto lens (around 85mm) can work wonders for headshots, providing a pleasing perspective and keeping the subject sharp while blurring the background. Keep a reasonable distance from your subject to avoid distortion.
Communication: This is a big one. Talk to your subject throughout the shoot, and give feedback on their poses and expressions. Positive reinforcement goes a long way in making them feel more at ease.

These tips have helped me refine my headshot photography. The more you practice, the better you'll get!