Why a great photo of you isn’t enough

Most headshots fail at their actual job. Not because they’re bad photos. Quite the opposite: image quality is better than ever, and excellent lighting can be achieved relatively easily.

The issue is that most headshots show a person putting on a performance for the camera, acting as a sort of cardboard cutout of themselves. Viewers can feel that sense of distance instantly when they look at the image, and it happens below conscious thought. 

Most folks aren’t evaluating the lighting or other technical details, they’re asking is someone actually here? Would I like to work with this person? These questions get answered in a fraction of a second.

They’re looking for something real. Something that makes this person this person. Not a vacant stare and half-hearted smile. Or worse, a coached expression, maybe something picked up from a YouTube tutorial. While it’s true these looks can create images that look nice, they tend to lack a genuine sense of presence that helps the portrait connect with the viewer.

AI can create a reasonable facsimile of what your face looks like, but that’s not what a headshot photo is really for. A good headshot is an act of communication. And what it communicates, a genuine sense of connection with the viewer, is something that an algorithm simply can’t manufacture. An AI headshot just pushes the cardboard cutout even further: when a photo reads as AI, the viewer stops seeing a person and starts seeing output.

The best headshot isn’t simply a flattering photo, but one that helps the viewer feel like they’ve already met you.

See for yourself. Whenever you look at a headshot, ask whether you feel a sense of connection to the person or if it’s simply a nice “Hi there, I’m having my picture taken” expression. Once you see it you can’t unsee it.