If you wear glasses every day, the people you meet know you in glasses. A headshot without them can look like a slightly different person, which is the opposite of what a headshot is for. But glasses bring one big worry: glare. Nobody wants a LinkedIn photo where their eyes are hidden behind two white reflections.
The good news is that glare is a lighting problem, and lighting problems can be solved. Here is how I handle headshots with glasses, and what you can do to help.
The short version
- Wear your glasses if you wear them most of the time. It is how people know you.
- Glare is fixed by where the light sits and small head angles, not by editing.
- Clean lenses matter more than you think.
- Thin or light frames are easiest. Heavy frames need a little more care.
- Take a few frames without glasses as well, for flexibility.
Should you wear glasses in your headshot?
A simple test: if a client met you tomorrow, would you be wearing them? If yes, wear them in your headshot. Glasses are part of your face and often part of your style. If you only wear them for reading or screens, leave them off for the main shot, or grab a couple of frames with them for variety.
How photographers avoid glare
Glare happens when light bounces off the lens straight back into the camera. Light reflects at the same angle it hits, so the fix is to move the light or the angle until the reflection points somewhere else.
- Raise the light. Lights placed higher, angled down, push reflections out of the frame.
- Move it to the side. Light at 45 degrees rather than straight on moves the glare off the lenses.
- Tip the head slightly. A tiny chin down, which also flatters the jaw, often tilts the lenses just enough.
- Tilt the frames. Lifting the arms of the glasses a few millimetres above the ears angles the lenses down. It is an old trick and it works.
I check the back of the camera constantly with glasses wearers, and adjust as we go. It is part of the session, not an afterthought.
What you can do
Glasses checklist
Before
- Clean lenses (bring a cloth)
- Check nose pads and fit
- Bring a second pair if you have one
Avoid if you can
- Transition lenses (they darken under strong light)
- Tinted or blue light lenses that shimmer
- Frames that slide down your nose
Reflections and editing
Small reflections can be tidied in editing, but big glare hiding the eyes is very hard to fix convincingly. That is why it is solved with lighting on the day. Some people ask about removing the lenses from their frames for the shoot. It can work, but most people prefer the natural look of real lenses, and good lighting makes it unnecessary.
Take both versions
Even if you wear glasses every day, it is worth taking a few frames without them. It gives you options for different uses, like a speaker bio or a press piece. Then choose the one that feels most like you.
More tips for the day are in how to pose for a headshot and what to wear for a corporate headshot.
Questions glasses wearers ask
Should I wear glasses in my professional headshot?
If you wear them most of the time, yes. Your headshot should look like the person people meet. Take a few frames without them too for flexibility.
How do you avoid glare on glasses in photos?
By positioning the light higher and to the side, adjusting head angle slightly, and sometimes tilting the frames a little. It is fixed on the day, not in editing.
Can glare on glasses be removed in editing?
Small reflections can be tidied, but large glare covering the eyes is very hard to fix convincingly. Good lighting avoids it.
Are transition lenses a problem for headshots?
They can be, as they may darken under strong light. Bring a clear pair if you have one.
More headshot guides: what to expect at a headshot session, LinkedIn profile photos and corporate headshot costs.
Ready to book? My headshots in Liverpool page shows which session suits you, whether it’s for acting or LinkedIn.
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Headshots in Liverpool lit properly for glasses, with a few frames without them too. Individual sessions £180.