Why a great photo of you isn’t enough

Most headshots fail at their actual job. Not because they're bad photos. Image quality is better than ever, and good lighting is easier to get than it's ever been.

The problem is that most headshots show someone putting on an act for the camera. A cardboard cutout of themselves. There’s the face someone puts on because a camera is pointed at them, and then there’s the face you meet when you shake their hand. I don’t think they’re the same thing. You can feel the difference.

Most folks looking at a headshot aren't judging the lighting. They're looking at the person. Is someone actually here? Would I want to work with this person?

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 picked up from a YouTube tutorial. Those can produce a nice-looking photo. They rarely produce a person.

AI can make a reasonable facsimile of what your face looks like, but that’s not what a headshot is really for. A headshot is an act of communication. Reproducing your face is easy. Being present in a photograph is a different thing entirely.

To me, a good headshot isn’t simply a flattering photo. It makes the viewer feel like they’ve already met you.

See for yourself. Next time you look at a headshot, ask if you feel any connection to the person, or whether you’re looking at a nice “Hi there, I’m having my picture taken” expression. Once you see it you can’t unsee it.