How to Pose for a Headshot Without Looking Stiff

“I never know what to do with my face.” I hear it at almost every session. Most people do not photograph badly. They just freeze when a camera points at them, and freezing is what makes headshots look stiff. The fix is not a complicated pose. It is a handful of small adjustments and something real to think about.

As a photographer who also acts, I spend a lot of time on both sides of the lens. These are the simple ways to pose for a headshot so you look relaxed, confident and like yourself.

1. Angle the body, face the camera

Standing square to the camera makes most people look wider and more formal. Turn your shoulders slightly away, around 20 to 30 degrees, and then bring your face back towards the lens. It instantly looks more natural and more flattering.

2. The forehead trick

This is the one that surprises people. Gently push your forehead forward towards the camera, and tip your chin down very slightly. It feels odd, but from the lens it sharpens your jawline and stops the soft area under the chin. It is subtle, like a tortoise leaning out of its shell by a centimetre, not a full stretch.

3. Shoulders down, neck long

When we are nervous, shoulders creep up towards our ears. Roll them back and let them drop. Imagine a string lifting the top of your head. Good posture reads as confidence before anyone has looked at your eyes.

4. What to do with your hands

For a tight headshot, hands are usually out of frame, so just let them relax. For a wider business portrait, hold something naturally (a coffee, glasses, a notebook), fold your arms loosely, or lean on something. The key is that nothing looks clenched.

5. Think, do not pose

This is where most headshots are won or lost. A forced “say cheese” smile only uses the mouth. A real smile reaches the eyes. So instead of smiling on command, think of something: a friend who always makes you laugh, the moment you nailed a presentation, the person you most want to impress with this photo. In my sessions I give you prompts to react to, and that is when the good frames happen.

• Approachable: think of greeting someone you like.
• Confident: think “I have got this”. A slight squint of the lower eyelids helps.
• Warm and serious: think of listening to a client you care about.

6. Breathe

People hold their breath without noticing, which tightens the whole face. Take a breath in, let it out, and let me shoot on the out breath. It sounds too simple to work, and it works.

You do not have to do this alone

The truth is you should not have to remember any of this on the day. A good photographer directs you through it, one small change at a time. See what to expect at a headshot session, and if you wear glasses, headshots with glasses covers glare and angles.

Questions people ask

More headshot guides: what to wear for a corporate headshot, getting a great LinkedIn photo and matching team headshots.

Ready to book? My headshots in Liverpool page shows which session suits you, whether it’s for acting or LinkedIn.