8 Ways to Make the Most of Taking Headshot Photos

• February 2, 2026

By Chris Gillett

In business, your headshot is more than a picture. It’s a visual handshake, a silent introduction that conveys confidence, likability and professionalism in a single frame. Like a handshake, it can be firm and reassuring—or limp and forgettable. The difference often lies in small but critical choices.

If you have a face, you have a brand. And a strong brand puts you in control of the story others tell about you, instead of leaving it to chance. Perhaps surprisingly, likability sometimes beats credentials. Executives often assume their resumes, degrees or track record are what set them apart. But in reality, people do business with those they like and trust, and that perception is built in seconds.

Here are eight do’s and don’ts of headshots to help you make the most of your visual handshake:

1) Do use genuine expression. Confidence is communicated through the eyes, likability through the mouth. Together, they create the balance of authority and warmth that makes people lean in. Forced smiles or stiff stares fail that test. If your smile doesn’t reach your eyes, it is fake.

2) Don’t ignore body language. Slight posture cues—a tilt, crossed arms, leaning too far back—can signal defensiveness or disengagement. Tilting your head towards the shoulder closest to the camera makes you look weak.

3) Do consider the message you want to send. A law partner may want gravitas while a startup founder may want energy. The headshot should serve that purpose, not just “look good.”

4) Don’t disappear. Crowded markets punish sameness. I had a client whose peers all used the same generic corporate headshots and jargon-filled bios. We rebuilt his brand around clarity, confidence and personality. Now he’s the first call when people think of his specialty.

5) Do invest in your image. Executives who show up online with blurry iPhone selfies or, worse, AI-generated headshots, which are basically saying, “I don’t take myself seriously.” I’ve watched clients flourish after updating their professional headshots because perception creates opportunity.

6) Don’t rely on selfies or casual snapshots. What may work for personal social media rarely translates into professional credibility.

7) Do refresh periodically. If your appearance has changed meaningfully, update your headshot. Mismatched expectations can erode trust before you’ve even said hello. A headshot from 10 years ago or an AI shot is professional catfishing.

8) Don’t over-edit. Excessive retouching may erase authenticity and make you look like you lack confidence. A headshot should present the best version of you, not an unrecognizable one.

A strong headshot doesn’t just open doors; it can also align a team’s brand. When a firm or company presents cohesive, polished headshots across its leadership, it communicates unity, credibility and attention to detail. Conversely, mismatched or outdated images suggest inconsistency and a lack of care and resources. In an age where clients, investors and partners often vet online before meeting, those subtle cues matter.

Chris Gillett is a professional headshot photographer and expression coach based in Houston. He helps executives, attorneys, and entrepreneurs master the “visual handshake” by combining confidence and likability in every image.