With everyone today taking selfies, you wonder if there is a need for professional headshots? I am here to say yes. A headshot could make or break an opportunity for a job or promotion, and the time you take and the money for a professional headshot are well worth it.

For numerous years I have been doing the headshots for a local medical group of all their new providers, The arrangements are not ideal, but you don’t need a lot of areas; you need a space. The above picture was taken in a hallway. During the Covid time, we needed to be created because the work still needed to be done. We took it from an entrance outside of a building in a rainstorm to get it done. I did a video on this, and you can see.

I mainly go with a two-light setup. A key light (softbox) and a fill light. Most of the time, a large umbrella. In the above video, I needed to go with a sphere from Magmod because of the winds. An umbrella would have blown all over. I use a Westcott Background, in this case, gray. Sometimes I do use a 3rd light as an edge light or change the color of the background. Sometimes I use three lights for a High Keylight when the background needs to be white. Most of my mind has been Gray per request.

But what about the cost. For what you get and what you are using your picture for, well, I might be biased, but it’s priceless, and if you are competing for a job or promotion, will a professional headshot get. You the job or a typical selfie from a phone? Light does make a difference so much that I did a selfie of myself in a small room to update my profile.

Once again, a two-light setup, and I use my phone to trigger my camera for the picture. I needed an updated photo for a talk that I will be giving in May. Headshots are essential, and work on what you want. Do I want a portrait look? Do I want a High Key (White Background) or Gray background? The choice is yours.