The internet is full of bad advice. One of my favorites? That men and women should pose differently for headshots. That is an outdated idea. There is a lot more that goes into it.
Allow me to explain.
What is considered a professional headshot?
A professional headshot is a clean, well-lit portrait of your head and shoulders. That’s it. Not you standing in a blazer with arms crossed. Not leaning casually on a stool. And definitely not a half-body “branding photo” that shows off your shoes.
You’ve got about two seconds to make a first impression on a website, LinkedIn profile, or business card. That means your face, your actual face, needs to be front and center, looking like someone people want to know.
Do men and women pose differently in headshots?
Short answer: No. They shouldn’t.
What actually affects how someone should pose in a headshot isn’t gender. It’s:
- Bone structure
- Body shape
- Neck length
- Shoulder width
- How the light interacts with your features
- Your best angles
- What we are trying to convey in the image
It’s geometry, not gender.
I’ve never thought, “This person needs to pose like a man.” Or “tilt like a woman.” That’s not how good headshots work. It’s about presence, posture, and subtle changes that create the best version of you, not a character you’re trying to play.
How should you pose for a professional headshot?
Forget Pinterest poses. You don’t need to practice anything in the mirror. You don’t need to “stand like this” or “smile like that.”
Your job is simple: show up. A good photographer will handle the rest.
When someone’s in front of my lens, I will be coaching and guiding you. Interacting with you like you are an actual person. When that happens, tons of little things,”micro expressions” are happening the entire time.
I’m constantly watching:
- How their face changes when they think or laugh
- How the light wraps around their cheekbones or jaw
- What angles make them look open, relaxed, confident
Sometimes I’ll give direction. Sometimes I’ll make you laugh. Sometimes I’ll move the light one inch and everything clicks. What I won’t do is plug you into a gendered posing formula. That stuff’s outdated and it never looks real.
What is the difference between a headshot and a branding photo?
This comes up a lot.
A headshot is all about your face. It’s tightly framed, cropped to the shoulders or just below, and designed to make a strong first impression.
A branding portrait gives more room to play. You might be seated. Standing. Crossed arms. Background elements come into play. It’s a bigger image for a bigger story.
Both are valuable,but they’re not the same thing. Too many people try to use a branding photo as a headshot. It doesn’t work. It’s not clear enough, close enough, or personal enough.
How can I look confident in my headshot?
You look confident when you feel like yourself.
Confidence isn’t about power stances or forced smiles. It’s about being present in the moment. That’s where I come in.
I don’t expect you to know how to pose. I’ll guide you every step of the way. We’ll review images as we go, so you’ll actually see what’s working.
You’ll walk out with a headshot that looks like you on your best day, not someone trying too hard to be impressive.
It doesn’t matter what your gender is for your professional headshot or how you pose.
What matters is that you look like the best version of yourself.
A good photographer will know how to find your best angles quickly and how to get genuine expression. That’s where the magic happens, and that’s what makes a headshot actually work.
