Quick Answer
The choice between DIY and professional headshots depends largely on your intended use for the photos, budget, and how much effort you can allocate. For professional personal branding needs where quality images are make-or-break for achieving goals, hire a pro photographer to maximize visual impact through technical expertise, art direction and polish. But for everyday social media use where authenticity trumps perfect portraits, DIY smartphone selfies often resonate better as more genuine representations of true self. Ultimately, evaluate the impressions you want to convey, alignments with particular objectives whether commercial, professional or personal, budget available, and time investments required to strike the ideal balance between professionally crafted shots verses organic, unfiltered DIY self-portraits for your needs.
Introduction
Taking a great photo can make all the difference in how you present yourself across professional, personal or social branding purposes. In the era of camera phones and social media profiles, headshots have become an essential personal asset for projecting how we want to be perceived.
When seeking to update your professional profile picture on Linkedin, select a lead photo for online dating profiles, or simply capture sharable moments for Instagram, a strong headshot makes a pivotal first impression.
With both professional photographers and do-it-yourself smartphone tools at our disposal for capturing images, determining the best route for your headshot needs requires evaluating options. Should you invest in a pro photography session, or just snap some selfies and call it a day?
Deciding between DIY and professional headshots depends greatly on how you intend to use the photos, how much polish matters for your purposes, what impressions you wish to convey, and how much effort or funding you can allocate.
This guide covers key benefits, limitations and best practices for getting quality headshots either through hiring professional photographers or doing it yourself. Read on for tips to assess your needs, maximize results either way, and determine what balance of budget, authenticity and personal brand alignment guides best next steps.
What Are the Benefits of a Professional Headshot?
Technical Expertise
Professional photographers and videographers have years of experience getting exposure, angles, framing and lighting just right for headshots. They use high-end DSLR cameras and equipment like soft box lighting that go beyond built-in flash or limited smartphone capabilities. This specialized gear combined with an artful eye leads to superior technical results.
Creative Direction
An experienced professional headshot artist knows how to help people look natural instead of stiff and awkward, bringing out real personality and drawing attention to key features through direction on expressions, poses, framing and more. They make adjustments through the shoot to get variations that work.
Flattering Editing
Pro headshot editors enhance photos through meticulous retouching that flatters without distorting reality. They can edit multiple shots to pick the best features from each one to combine into an ideal portrait. From removing blemishes or stray hairs to enhancing eyes, sharpening jawlines and brightening smiles, subtle editing polish elevates shots.
Brand Messaging Alignment
Professional headshot photographers discuss intended usage to customize imagery that conveys desired messaging, whether that’s authoritative, casual, warm, approachable or more depending on branding needs. They conceptualize tone and feel to realize a vision.
Photogenic Location
Having access to ideal backdrops and environmental enhancements lends itself well to headshots. Locations with options to tweak lighting, walls, foliage and more enable crafting a composition aligned with the image you wish to project. The setting influences perception, so professionals select locations intentionally.
What Can I Get Out of DIY Headshots?
Cost Savings
Taking headshots yourself means you don’t spend any money hiring a professional. Even basic equipment provides enough capability to get usable shots. While results may not match a seasoned photographer’s work, you skip the hourly rate or session fee.
Convenience Factor
You don’t have to book appointments or accommodate someone else’s schedule when you DIY it. Just set up a camera whenever and wherever it's convenient for you. Spontaneity or shooting frequently enables capturing natural moments without pressure for perfection.
Quick Turnaround
No waiting for edits or delivery of final files needed when you hop on your smartphone cam and snap some pics. Immediate access to photos enables sharing across social media or using for other purposes right away rather than days or weeks later.
Control Over Shooting
Without a pro directing you into certain poses or taking all creative license over framing and editing choices, you retain all control when photographing yourself. This can enable capturing shots that feel like an authentic representation of how you see yourself.
Key Differences Between Professional and DIY
Equipment Quality
Pro level DSLR cameras, lenses and lighting setups enable capturing top-notch detail, color, contrast and dynamic range. Smartphone cameras continue to evolve but cannot match capabilities required for truly professional results.
Technical Skill Behind the Lens
Simply having an expensive camera does not automatically make someone a qualified professional photographer. There’s an artistic eye and finesse needed to craft an engaging, thoughtful portrait that flatters. Pros develop this through extensive training and experience. No preset filters substitute for human creative direction.
Post Production Polish
Professional editing makes a world of difference by bringing out tones, removing imperfections, enhancing features and adding stylistic flourishes. DIY shots typically get used straight out of camera without adjustments that could dramatically improve them.
Backup Options
Working solo, if you don’t love how shots turn out then you may be out of luck. Professionals always take loads of images and have capabilities to enhance them post-shoot. More variety equals more options to end up with some portfolio-worthy gems.
Brand Alignment
DIY headshots risk coming across as amateurish unless you have professional photography direction. It takes an outside eye to execute intentional styling and composition suited to the brand image you want reflecting.
Situations Better Suited for Professional Headshots
Corporate Profile Images
For a polished, authoritative portrait conveying leadership qualities, employ a pro. Corporation standards often dictate formal corporate headshot parameters best executed by experienced commercial photographers accustomed to art directing executive portraiture.
Public Figures and Influencers
Those in the public eye rely on their personal branding to attract opportunities and convey expertise. Investing in professional headshots illustrates commitment to quality presentation critical for personal PR outreach.
Online Dating Profile Pictures
First impressions matter enormously on dating sites/apps. Poor quality selfies can tank prospects for even good looking people. The environments, poses and camera optics pros utilize take profiles up a notch.
Actors / Models / Performers
Performance artists need top-notch professionally captured headshots both for compositional quality and to be taken seriously in competitive industries that expect it. Waiving rights to images also matters for commercial usages.
Making a Bold Impression
If trying to land a job, score an investment pitch, establish prominence in an industry, or convey personal style to stand out from peers, a professional headshot lines up with making an bold impression.
Situations Conducive to DIY Headshots
Everyday Social Media Use
For casual posts to standard personal social feeds like Facebook or Instagram, smartphone selfies usually suit fine. Quick impromptu shots in common environments gel with authentic interaction.
Young Professionals Establishing Online Presence
New graduates or those starting careers benefit from social media profiles but likely don’t need top-tier professional portraits yet while in entry-level roles. DIY shots work for now.
Documenting Progress Over Time
Instead of one marquee professional photo shoot, regular selfies or casual DIY shots using consistent angles illustrates development over weeks, months or years well for things like fitness goals, styling changes or hairstyle adjustments.
Under 18 Youth
Minors under age 18 require extra legal considerations so parents may prefer managing their own photos of kids. Plus homemade shots likely feel more age appropriate for young profiles vs overly polished pro images.
Cost Calibration
Independent creative professionals, side hustlers or budget conscious folks launching online brands may need to conserve funds and skip pro headshots until revenue warrants the investment at a later phase.
Maximizing DIY Headshots: Tips and Gear Recommendations
For those occasions when professional photography services get ruled out, make efforts to still produce the best possible DIY headshots using these tips. Also consider investing in some key accessories like those recommended below to majorly upgrade self-portrait capabilities over basic smartphone selfies and boost quality.
Focus on Flattering Angles and Posing
• Elevate phone or use self timer to capture shots from above
• Frame close-up for defined jawlines or slight side profiles
• Adjust neck, chin and head tilt for most slimming effects
• Body angled 45 degrees with shoulders back exudes confidence
• Smile naturally or give subtle smirk depending on desired vibe
Optimize Natural Lighting Setups
• Outdoor, bright but shaded spots like porch achieves even light
• Indoors, set up near large clean windows with pleasing backgrounds
• Shoot when sunlight high overhead for minimal shadows on face
• Cloud cover creates a giant softbox for wonderfully diffused lighting
• Turn off unflattering yellow overhead indoor lights
Composition and Styling Strategies
• Simple solid color tops read well on camera for balanced focus
• Avoid busy patterns or distracting jewelry when face focal point
• Eyes draw viewers; play them up with darker liner/lashes for pop
• Matte products avoid shine on skin but add gloss just to lips
• Posture - chin parallel to ground, engage core muscles
Gear Investments to Step It Up
• Clip-on ring light for directly flattering even illumination
• Remote Bluetooth shutter release avoids camera jiggle blur
• Tripod stabilizes angles plus enables self timer group shots
• External lens kits boost aperture, focus range and shutter speed
• Affordable backdrop kits block out distracting environments
Using the right approach, DIY headshots certainly can still generate nice-looking portraits suitable for many purposes. But evaluate whether certain professional situations warrant allocating budget to work with a seasoned expert photographer or photo studio to really maximize visual impact.
If trying to land prestigious positions, conveying elite authority and influence for commercial gain, or aiming to widely broadcast a personal brand then hiring pro help proves well worth the spend. Research options in your area, vet portfolios closely, read reviews, ask for pricing transparencies upfront and determine if sample
More Considerations When Choosing Between DIY and Pro Headshots
What Backdrops Should I Use?
When selecting backgrounds for headshots, consider what tone you want to set with the imagery. DIY shoots likely rely on available environments like inside your home or office. Professionals often suggest more intentional backdrop options:
Corporate
Simple gray or blurred cityscapes project professionalism for executives, lawyers, bankers etc. White backgrounds read clean as well.
Creative Fields
Textured walls, urban brick, foliage and graffiti can reflect more artistic industries well like designers, architects, photographers.
Performers / Models
These fields draw attention to talent, so muted colors that don’t compete with the subject work best. Black backgrounds spotlight too.
Lifestyle Branding
Influencers, coaches and personalized services should consider warm, inviting backdrops. Natural wood tones and greenery send approachable signals.
How Much Retouching is Needed?
Some people shrink from the idea of retouching as inauthentic while others want glamour shot levels of digital makeovers. The ideal approach lies somewhere in between:
Minor Retouching
Light complexion evening, blemish reduction, minor skin smoothing, whitening teeth, brightening eyes. Focuses on flattering without distorting reality.
Heavy Retouching
Slimming features, removing wrinkles, airbrushing skin texture, modifying face or body shape. Veers into unrealistic territory.
Makeup Services
On professional shoots, hire qualified makeup artists to address shiny skin, under eye circles, blemishes, etc to reduce digital retouching needed.
What Extra Fees Could I Expect?
If hiring a professional photography studio, clarify what exactly your session fees and packages include plus what extras may tack on additional charges:
Travel Fees
For shoots on location, travel expenses like mileage and travel time get billed on top of session rates.
Rush Delivery Fees
Extra rush fees if needing edited photos turned around unusually quickly like under 5 days.
Makeup Artists
Having studio makeup artists prep you on site costs more but saves heavy retouching.
Usage Licensing
Negotiating expanded commercial usage rights for the shots costs more but proves worthwhile if planning to profit off the images.
How Do I Book and Communicate My Needs?
Contact pros early, especially for specialty backdrops/locations. Explain your vision, desired vibes, brand and any particular goals. Collaborate on styling direction. Share sample photos of inspiration. Time the session for ideal lighting advantages relative to shoot location. Bring multiple outfit changes if wanting variety. Relax and follow cues!
Advanced Tips for Getting pro-Style Results DIY
If sticking with Do-It-Yourself headshots, implementing more professional techniques can drastically elevate outcomes without breaking the bank.
Invest in Entry-Level DSLR Camera
Consumer point and shoot or mirrorless digital cameras provide more manual controls, interchangeable lenses and superior image quality over smartphone cameras. Great for stepping up selfies.
Learn Shutter Speed, Aperture and ISO Techniques
Getting schooled on critical exposure triangle basics enables properly adjusting settings like light sensitivity and depth of field for tack sharp professional shots.
Use Burst Mode and Pick Best Frames
Instead of just taking one pic, hold down the shutter in burst mode to capture 20+ sequential images to review and select only the top couple non-blinkers!
Try After Hours Shoots
Scheduling later shoots means accessing office buildings when closed or avoiding crowds for unique night backdrop opportunities.
Tap Friends for Help
Enlist a willing friend with a good eye to direct poses while managing the camera coaching. Way better than futzing with self timer!
Edit Selectively Using Apps Like FaceTune 2
Subtle editing tweaks go far. Using selective tools to adjust brightness, smoothness, stray hairs etc without going overboard keeps it realistic.
| Category | Professional Headshots | DIY Headshots |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | - Session fees $100-$500+ - Travel fees if on location - Licensing fees for commercial use - Potential makeup artist fees |
- Just costs of any gear purchased - Editing app subscriptions - No filming fees |
| Convenience | - Schedule shoot in advance - Travel to studio location - Timeshoot and outfit changes - Return for pick-up/delivery |
- Shoot anytime anywhere - No travel or coordination - As long or short as desired |
| Quality | - Professional full frame DSLR - High end lenses and lighting - Years technical experience - Retouching expertise |
- Smartphone limits - Entry-level gear still limits - Learning technical skills - Basic editing capabilities |
| Control | - Pose and gear expertise - Directs shots aligned to goals - Collaborates on creative vision |
- Total autonomy shooting - Full control over editing - Unfiltered creative freedom |
| Time Investment | - Shoot duration 1-3 hours - Editing done off site |
- As brief or long as desired - Edit immediately after |
| Turnaround Time | - Shoot to delivery 2 weeks+ - Rush fees for faster delivery |
- Photos instantly available - No waiting for edits |
| Backup Options | - Take hundreds of shots - Can re-edit files later |
- Limited photos to choose - Must retake from scratch |
| Brand Suitability | - Style and guide session - Optimize lighting and poses |
- Guesswork on impression - Limited art direction |
| Authenticity | - Balance editing polish - Potentially less genuine |
- Warts and all reality - Unfiltered authenticity |
Conclusion
Taking the time to carefully consider your personal or professional branding goals is key in determining whether to invest in professional headshots or take the DIY approach. There are compelling advantages on both sides of the conversation.
Hiring an expert photographer brings technical mastery combined with artistry and editing polish that typical phone selfies cannot replicate. Studios create flattering, on-brand assets suitable for the cover of magazines or corporate brochures. Big moments in life and career often warrant capturing images through the lens of a seasoned professional at the top of the field.
Yet in many casual circumstances, creating a polished personal image matters less than projecting authenticity. Especially for everyday social media life moments, carrying around extensive lighting gear seems silly and excessive. Quick smartphone selfies often resonate more genuinely.
Ultimately by weighing factors like budget, personal brand alignment, intended usage and more, one can strike the right balance between professionally crafted headshots and organic do-it-yourself captured images. Consider how to best blend these two routes with some shots entrusted in an expert’s hands during major milestones, while also sprinkling in genuine impromptu moments unconcerned with perfection.
Determining what proportion of pro photos vs candid DIY pics to include in your portfolio depends greatly on the image you wish to convey at various stages in life and career. But blending these two categories leads to the most honest and impactful personal branding over the long term.