Professional portrait guide

Professional headshot examples, annotated

Most galleries of headshot examples show a different person in every picture, each with a different outfit, background, and lighting setup, so you cannot tell which choice did the work. The six examples here are AI portraits in the same head-and-shoulders crop. Only clothing, background, and expression change, and every example is read against the same six elements.

6 examples

One example per field

6 elements

Details that make a face read well

1 crop

Same framing for comparisons

See the six examples What counts as a headshot

The anatomy

What you are looking at in a good headshot example

The image above carries six features that make a headshot easy to read. The numbers point to them from top to bottom.

1Crop: The head and a bit of shoulder, the half-portrait crop, and nothing more.

2Background: Calm and slightly blurred, it does not compete with the face.

3Gaze: Straight into the camera, taken at eye level.

4Expression: A real, relaxed smile beats a forced grin.

5Light: Soft and from the side, without hard shadows under the eyes and nose.

6Clothing: Calm colors matched to the field keep attention on the face.

Definition

What is a headshot?

A headshot is a tightly cropped business portrait used on LinkedIn or a company team page. It shows mainly the head and shoulders, and it should appear approachable and competent.

It is cropped tighter than a classic full-body or half-body portrait, which can show more of the body or the setting. A passport photo is purely formal, while a headshot is made for personal branding and lives online: as a profile picture, on an about page, in a speaker profile, or in a team overview.

Most people need one for their LinkedIn profile. Small companies increasingly use them on the about-us page and for a uniform team look, because a consistent set of portraits makes the whole company look more professional.

Side-by-side comparisons

Six headshot examples

All six are AI portraits in the same crop, so the relevant differences stay visible. There is no single perfect example. A strictly formal picture that looks assured in a law firm can look stiff and distant in a creative agency.

Office and administration

Calm and approachable

An open gaze and restrained colors keep attention on the face. The subtle smile stays friendly while the background remains matter-of-fact.

Clothing: Blazer over a light shirt in muted colors.
Background: Smooth light gray with no texture.
Expression: Friendly and matter-of-fact, with a subtle smile.

Creative, marketing and media

Warm without becoming casual

A fine knit and open smile show personality without looking unprofessional. The warm background supports the relaxed expression.

Clothing: Fine knit or open shirt with one color accent.
Background: Warm toned and slightly blurred.
Expression: Relaxed, open smile.

Care, social work and healthcare

Warmth carries the image

Soft light and a genuine smile make this example feel engaged. A calm color and trusting expression matter more here than formal clothing.

Clothing: Plain top in a calm color.
Background: Soft, light, and unobtrusive.
Expression: Warm, engaged, real smile.

Trades, technical and industry

Direct and credible

A neat collared shirt and direct gaze are more credible than forced formality. The gray background and small smile keep the picture self-assured.

Clothing: Neat collared shirt, no suit.
Background: Neutral mid-gray.
Expression: Calm, self-assured, small smile.

Leadership and management

Composed rather than hard

The dark suit and composed gaze convey authority without distance. A hint of a smile keeps the expression human.

Clothing: Dark suit and white shirt.
Background: Calm and somewhat darker.
Expression: Composed, assured, with a hint of a smile.

First job and entry level

Neat and alert

A clean shirt and open smile make a friendly first impression without expensive clothing. The light background leaves the face clear and easy to read.

Clothing: Simple clean shirt with no tie needed.
Background: Light and plain.
Expression: Open, friendly, alert.

Small adjustments

Three details that lift an example

Each of these changes how clearly the face reads, and each costs nothing.

Common version	Better version	Why
Gaze beside the lens	Gaze into the lens	A gaze just past the lens looks unsure. Looking straight into it creates contact at once.
Standing against the wall	About one meter from the wall	Right in front of the wall, hard shadows appear. Distance makes the background soft and calm so the face stands out.
Face centered	Eyes in the upper third	The crop looks professional and avoids excess forehead or ceiling.

Clothing and background are the two decisions the examples above vary on purpose. The clothing guide and the background guide take each of them further.

What to avoid

Bad headshot examples

Photographers do not usually show their failed pictures, so the common faults belong here. The contrast below is about posture, with more guidance in headshot poses.

Stiff and closed

The crossed, frontal stance looks tense and dismissive.

Turned and open

The upper body turns about 30 to 45 degrees while the face stays toward the camera. Open shoulders and a relaxed hand make the whole picture look more assured.

What goes wrong	Why it hurts	What to do instead
Hard light	Direct sun or ceiling lights create deep shadows and can make the face look tired.	Use soft daylight from the side of a window, ideally on a slightly overcast day.
Distracting background	Sockets, frames, furniture, or door frames pull attention from the face.	Choose a calm, light, single-color wall.
Outdated photo	A photo older than two years may no longer show how you look, which weakens credibility.	Replace it after visible changes to beard, glasses, hairstyle, or style.
Close-range selfie	A short distance distorts the face and can enlarge the nose or forehead.	Use the main camera on a tripod; taking a headshot at home covers the setup.
Over-retouching	Poreless skin, enlarged eyes, or an exaggerated smile look artificial in a professional portrait.	Keep facial features intact and retouch lightly.
Wrong crop	Too close feels intrusive, while too far makes the person look lost.	Crop from the upper chest to just above the head. For LinkedIn, check that the square crop also sits cleanly inside the round profile circle.

Generated portraits

AI-generated headshot examples: good and too artificial

You only notice AI when the result is badly made. A good AI headshot can look like a studio photo because skin, hair, and eyes stay lifelike; a weak result gives itself away through waxy skin, uncanny symmetry, or errors at the ears and collar.

Too artificial

Waxy poreless skin, glassy eyes, too-perfect symmetry, and collar artifacts reveal the result.

Looks like a studio photo

Visible pores, natural hair strands, a relaxed gaze, and soft studio light keep the face lifelike.

These examples start with a few ordinary selfies from different angles, preferably taken in daylight. Choose a LinkedIn or relaxed business style, then set clothing and background with the AI headshot generator; the first photo is free.

Use the examples well

An example is a direction, not a template

An example can show what works in a field, but it cannot replace your own face and presence.

A pose that feels foreign usually looks foreign in the finished picture. Leave out a detail that feels unnatural, because an honest, relaxed photo is more convincing than a perfectly copied template.

Create your own headshot When a photographer is the better choice

Questions

Headshot examples FAQ

What does a good headshot look like?

It keeps the head and a little shoulder in frame, with a calm background, a direct gaze, soft light, and clothing that suits the field.

What is the difference between a headshot and a portrait?

A headshot is a tight business portrait built around head and shoulders for online use. A portrait can show more of the body or setting, while a passport photo is purely formal.

Should I smile in a headshot?

Use a real, relaxed smile. In the leadership example, it is only a hint of a smile, because a composed expression can fit that setting.

Can I make an example like these with my own selfies?

Yes. Upload a few ordinary selfies from different angles in daylight so your features remain clear, then choose the clothing, background, and style for the new image.