1. Wear professional clothes. Opt for classic, timeless designs in your clothing and jewelry. In five years if you haven’t taken a new headshot, you don’t want to look dated. Dress for your industry — if you work in PR, that may mean you can be more creative, whereas accounting will mean to go more conservative.

2. What not to wear. Avoid white which can reflect light, and if you’re shooting against a light background, can make you look like a floating head. Avoid bright colors which can detract from you. If your shirt has a logo on it, swap it out for one that doesn’t. Also, avoid patterns and opt for solid colors instead. The emphasis should be on you, not the loud Pucci print you’re wearing.

3. Shoot in the shade. If you’re facing into the sun, the result will be a photo with you squinting — not flattering. Shoot in the shade so you can relax your facial muscles and produce a better headshot. For best results, make sure you have even lighting.
4. Stand up straight. The camera adds 10 pounds. Good posture makes you 10 pounds less. You do the math.
5. Crop tight. The standard headshot will include your head, neck, and shoulders. Zoom in and crop everything else out. On LinkedIn and Twitter where the profile pictures are small, a tight crop will be in your favor. Here is an example of a tighter crop.

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