If You Must Use an iPhone for a Headshot
There are typically three reasons why people settle for taking a headshot with an iPhone.
Professional Headshots Cost too Much
If you shop around for headshots in a city like Los Angeles – and likely other major cities – you can start to uncover that a lot of photographers charge a lot of money for headshots. But that is not always the case. It is possible to get a premium quality headshot for around $100 and with better results than if you had paid someone else $300 to $500.
The trick to find it is easy, though most people don’t want to bother with it. The trick is to spend a little time to do your homework. We’re not talking about an hour of your time, just a few extra minutes. Expand your search beyond just 2-3 miles near you and consider 10-15 miles. Though it might be 30 minutes more of a drive, it can be the difference of several hundreds of dollars and better quality on top of that.
I Don’t Have the Time to Get a Professional Headshot
You can get a professional headshot done in less than a couple of hours all in: finding a photographer, booking the session, dressing up, driving to and from, and the session. This time spent is a worthwhile investment because it is a quality headshot you can use for years. Remember the point of a headshot is that you are using it for commercial reasons: people are literally staring at it to help them decide if they want to do business with you – a casting director looking for the right-look actor, a headhunter on your LinkedIn profile, a customer on your website, and so on.
I am Uncomfortable in Front of the Camera
There are some people that just can’t be comfortable in front of the camera. To help with this, practice for a couple of nights before your session in front of a mirror. A bathroom mirror is usually a great place for this. Just make the facial expressions you are wanting out of your headshot – smile with teeth and without, stand tall and comfortable, and so on.
Also, during the headshot session, ask your photographer if they can review the photos with you as you go, roughly each 10-20 shots or so. This way you will know if the shots are on track with your expectations and if they are not you can adjust.
But it is important they you muscle through getting a professional headshot because, as mentioned, there is a lot of potential business riding on it.
Getting a professional headshot is an investment in yourself, not just for business reasons but also for self-worth. There is proven data behind how a good headshot of yourself can help your self-esteem, make people look at you more positively, and most importantly consider you that much more for that gig. So, you probably don’t want to rely on your iPhone for a headshot.